News

Tech exports rise 10.8% in April, SME shipments up for fifth straight quarter

2025/05/14 17:00

Korea's ICT exports as well as exports by its small and mid-sized businesses are staying strong. Findings show overseas shipments of information and communication technology products jumped close to 11 percent on year last month to amount to almost 19 billion U.S. dollars. Notably semiconductor shipments surged over 17 percent to some 12 billion U.S. dollars marking an all-time high for April. Similarly shipments by small businesses during the FIRST QUARTER of this year totaled 27 billion U.S. dollars UP 0-point-7 percent on year. By product exports of cosmetics raked in one-point-8 billion dollars and exports of used cars one-point-7 billion U.S. dollars.

Robots and AI help to enhance the library experience

2025/05/13 17:00

Over in Ulsan City. Imagine a local library for children where robots help with book borrowing and where AI assists with book reading. Lee Eun-jin has more. As children start their search for a book they want to read, a robot sets out to guide them. This library robot named "Romi" not only helps the young visitors navigate through the library, but also helps with the returning and lending of books. "It was a lot fun! I want to come again with my mother." This is a children's and young adults' library at the Jongha Innovation Center in Ulsan, the first of such an experience-based digital media library. There are a total of some 42 thousand books at this library, made up of donations from both the public and private sectors, with 26 thousand books given by the Undang Nanum Foundation. "During the building of the Jongha Innovation Center, we felt the need for a program with good content. That led to the creation of the Undang Nanum Foundation, and its first project was a donation project for this library." Storybooks are read to children using AI. And beyond just reading books, there are various interactive programs and lectures available. While the library is open to all children and young adults, borrowing books and signing up for some of the programs are exclusively for Ulsan residents. Ulsan City plans to further expand its various learning programs and experiences. "It is the first library in Ulsan exclusively for children and young adults, a new pride. This library will serve as a foothold for reading culture for the children and young adults in Ulsan." The Jongha Innovation Center will continue to develop as a complex cultural space. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Technique to maintain strawberries' freshness raises export competitiveness

2025/05/07 17:00

Strawberries are among the key exports for farmers here and their sales are looking very bright as a technique developed by a government agency ensures their freshness and flavor from local farms to foreign tables. Cha Yun-kyung explains. Since 2021, the Rural Development Administration has used the "controlled atmosphere technique" to maintain strawberries' freshness for export markets. The technique does this and delays spoiling and decay by removing oxygen while increasing levels of other "preservative" gases. Introducing the CA technique, allowed growers to increase their shipments and also use container ships for exports as opposed to just air transport. This saved distribution costs of up to 16 billion Korean won. The simultaneous complex management technique, removes air from containers and introduces carbon and chlorine dioxides. The former gives strawberries a firmer texture, while the latter prevents mold infestation. This decreases decay of the strawberries by up to 20 percent. "We can deliver high-quality products, and we can send as much as we can since the technique can maintain the freshness of the fruit." The RDA spread the related technology to sixteen export centers for strawberries, as overseas shipments increased massively due to the introduction of the technology. The amount rose 5-fold from 2007's 9-hundred-and-86 tons to 5-thousand-and-12 tons in 2024. "We received a great response from importers and consumers, with strawberries being sold out within four days at markets they are shipped to." The RDA is continuing to integrate management models to systematize the exports of strawberries. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Technique to maintain strawberries' freshness raises export competitiveness

2025/05/07 10:00

Growers of fruits such as strawberries used to face problems in selling them overseas since they tended to spoil and decay easily. The Rural Development Administration, however, introduced a technique in 2019 that maintained their freshness. Cha Yun-kyung reports. Since 2021, the Rural Development Administration has used the "controlled atmosphere technique" to maintain strawberries freshness for export markets. The technique does this and delays spoiling and decay by removing oxygen while increasing levels of other "preservative" gases. Introducing the CA technique, allowed growers to increase their shipments and also use container ships for exports as opposed to just air transport. This saved distribution costs of up to 16 billion Korean won. The simultaneous complex management technique, removes air from containers and introduces carbon and chlorine dioxides. The former gives strawberries a firmer texture, while the latter prevents mold infestation. This decreases decay of the strawberries by up to 20 percent. "We can deliver high-quality products, and we can send as much as we can since the technique can maintain the freshness of the fruit." The RDA spread the related technology to sixteen export centers for strawberries, as overseas shipments increased massively due to the introduction of the technology. The amount rose 5-fold from 2007's 9-hundred-and-86 tons to 5-thousand-and-12 tons in 2024. "We received a great response from importers and consumers, with strawberries being sold out within four days at markets they are shipped to." The RDA is continuing to integrate management models to systematize the exports of strawberries. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Technique to maintain strawberries' freshness raises export competitiveness

2025/05/06 12:00

Growers of fruits such as strawberries used to face problems in selling them overseas since they tended to spoil and decay easily. The Rural Development Administration, however, introduced a technique in 2019 that maintained their freshness. Cha Yun-kyung reports. Since 2021, the Rural Development Administration has used the "controlled atmosphere technique" to maintain strawberries freshness for export markets. The technique does this --and delays spoiling and decay --by removing oxygen while increasing levels of other "preservative" gases. Introducing the CA technique, allowed growers to increase their shipments and also use container ships for exports as opposed to just air transport. This saved distribution costs of up to 16 billion Korean won. The simultaneous complex management technique, removes air from containers and introduces carbon and chlorine dioxides. The former gives strawberries a firmer texture, while the latter prevents mold infestation. This decreases decay of the strawberries by up to 20 percent. "We can deliver high-quality products, and we can send as much as we can since the technique can maintain the freshness of the fruit." The RDA spread the related technology to sixteen export centers for strawberries, as overseas shipments increased massively due to the introduction of the technology. The amount rose 5-fold from 2007's 9-hundred-and-86 tons to 5-thousand-and-12 tons in 2024. "We received a great response from importers and consumers, with strawberries being sold out within four days at markets they are shipped to." The RDA is continuing to integrate management models to systematize the exports of strawberries. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Discussion on AI ethics during a time of disruptive technological shifts

2025/05/02 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. The rise of artificial intelligence has become one of the most disruptive technological shifts of our time. From large language models shaping the way we communicate, to algorithms influencing financial markets, medical diagnostics, and even justice systems, AI is now deeply embedded in the fabric of modern life. But AI also brings ethical concerns— from bias and inequality to data ownership and creative authorship. With global powers competing to lead the AI race, the question is no longer whether AI should be used, but how it can be used responsibly. To delve deeper into how we can coexist with artificial intelligence, we connect to Professor Agustin Rayo, Dean of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Welcome to the program. 1. Professor Rayo, Generative AI such as OpenAI's models has already become an essential part of our daily lives. In your view, what has enabled AI to so rapidly integrate into our lives in such a short period of time? 2. As AI technologies advance at a rapid pace, AI ethics is being increasingly discussed. For starters could you explain what "AI ethics" exactly is? And why do you believe it should be emphasized, particularly at this point in time? 3. So in the context of AI ethics, issues like algorithmic bias and personal data protection have also emerged. From your perspective, what is the most critical ethical challenge that AI currently poses? 4. In a separate interview last year, you cited inequality as one of the major threats posed by AI. Could you elaborate on the reason for this? And what kind of real-world impact might inequality caused by flawed ethical standards have on our society? 5. Lately in Korea, there has been a trend where people used image-generating AI to transform their own photos into a style of Japanese animation, referred to as "Ghibli-style." This sparked debates around copyright infringement and creative ethics. To what extent do you think laws and ethical standards should intervene in AI-generated creative works? 6. Places such as the EU and South Korea are proposing various regulatory frameworks to ensure the safe use of AI. However, some critics argue that current AI regulations still remain vague. How do you think ethical standards should evolve in response to the advances in AI technology? 7. Some argue that AI ethics is not merely a technical issue, but a human one. As an expert in the field, what is your take on this perspective? 8. Educating those who develop and use AI seems crucial in cultivating ethical awareness and guiding the future direction of AI development. What educational initiatives has MIT introduced in this regard? 9. As the global AI race intensifies, there is still a long way to go in terms of implementing clear value standards and systematic institutionalization, either through private self-regulation or national frameworks. In your opinion, what approaches are necessary to ensure a balanced coexistence between humans and AI?

S. Korea confirmed as final contractor of Czech nuclear power project

2025/05/01 10:00

South Korea is set to sign a contract next Wednesday to build two nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic, marking South Korea's first nuclear plant export in 16 years and also securing a foothold in Europe. Our Lee Soo-jin starts us off. South Korea has been officially confirmed as the contractor for the Czech Republic’s new nuclear power plant project. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Wednesday that a contract to build two reactors at the Dukovany power plant will be signed with the state-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power on May 7th. This comes as the Czech government announced that it will take an 80 percent stake in a subsidiary of its state-run energy company CEZ in charge of construction to finance the project, resolving one of the key hurdles to finalizing the nuclear power deal with Korea. CEZ had been pursuing alternative financing options after the government expanded the project from a single unit to two, estimated to cost more than 26 trillion won, or around 18 billion U.S. dollars. The project marks the first export of a nuclear power plant by a South Korean company since the Barakah nuclear plant in the United Arab Emirates in 2009. And if the Czech government later confirms plans to add two new units to the Temelin nuclear power plant, Korea is expected to be granted priority negotiation rights for that project too. A consortium led by the KHNP was selected in July 2024 as the preferred bidder to build the nuclear reactors, beating France's EDF and Westinghouse from the U.S., thanks to its competitive pricing and ability to follow tight construction timelines. While deal was supposed to finalized in March this year, it was delayed following complaints filed by EDF and Westinghouse against the decision. But the path to moving forward with the deal was cleared as Westinghouse and KHNP in January reached an agreement in January to settle their intellectual property dispute, and Czech authorities dismissed EDF appeals in April. The trial operation of the first nuclear unit is set for 2036, with the second to follow shortly after, aligning with the Czech Republic’s goal of having 50 percent of its energy generated by nuclear power by 2050. South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said that it "welcomes the announcement of the official contract signing date and that it will "make every effort to ensure a successful signing ceremony." The ceremony is expected to take place in Prague with representatives from KHNP and the CEZ subsidiary as well as government officials from both countries. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Spain, Portugal restore power, still no explanation on what caused blackout

2025/04/30 20:00

The lights are back on in Spain and Portugal following the recent massive blackout, but what caused the incident remains unclear. Lee Eun-jin has more. Power was restored to normal in Spain and Portugal by 11am on Tuesday, local time, after they experienced one of Europe's most severe blackouts. Despite the recovery, both Spain and Portugal remained in a state of emergency on Tuesday. A sudden loss of 15 gigawatts of power in a matter of five seconds around noon on Monday, local time triggered the blackout, but authorities are yet to give an explanation into what caused this sudden loss of power. When the power failure struck around noon on Monday, airports, railways, traffic and hospitals were paralyzed and phone services and ATMs were shut down. Emergency workers in Spain said they had rescued around 35-thousand passengers on Monday stranded along railways and the underground rail system. The Spanish national electricity system operator had detected two incidents of power generation loss that could have caused the energy instability. And while the agency ruled out cyber-attack as the cause, Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez said the government would not rush to conclusions in finding out what happened in those five seconds. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Amazon denies it planned to disclose cost of U.S. tariffs on its website

2025/04/30 10:00

In the United States, tech giant Amazon on Tuesday denied reports that it planned to display U.S. tariff costs on product listings, following a backlash from the White House. The company refuted claims that it intended to show tariff-related costs on its main website. It clarified that while its discount platform, Amazon Haul, had internally considered listing import charges on certain products, the idea was never approved or implemented. Initial reports of such claims led to criticism from the White House, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt describing the alleged plan as "hostile" and "political," adding Amazon should have displayed cost increases caused by inflation during the previous administration.

Spain, Portugal restore power, still no explanation on what caused blackout

2025/04/30 10:00

Power is back on in Spain and Portugal, after the European countries experienced the worst blackout in their history. Residents are returning to normal life, but authorities have yet to say what caused the blackout. Lee Eun-jin reports. Power was restored to normal in Spain and Portugal by 11am on Tuesday, local time, after they experienced one of Europe's most severe blackouts. Despite the recovery, both Spain and Portugal remained in a state of emergency on Tuesday. A sudden loss of 15 gigawatts of power in a matter of five seconds around noon on Monday, local time triggered the blackout, but authorities are yet to give an explanation into what caused this sudden loss of power. When the power failure struck around noon on Monday, airports, railways, traffic and hospitals were paralyzed and phone services and ATMs were shut down. Emergency workers in Spain said they had rescued around 35-thousand passengers on Monday stranded along railways and the underground rail system. The Spanish national electricity system operator had detected two incidents of power generation loss that could have caused the energy instability. And while the agency ruled out cyber-attack as the cause, Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez said the government would not rush to conclusions in finding out what happened in those five seconds. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

China successfully launches Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship

2025/04/25 17:00

China launched its Shenzhou-20 mission with three astronauts to the Tiangong space station late Thursday afternoon. This latest mission marks the nation's 15th manned spaceflight. About seven hours after liftoff the rocket docked at the space station. The three astronauts on board will spend six months at the station conducting spacewalks and field experiments. They will replace the Shenzhou-19 crew members who have been at the station for one-hundred-75 days and are scheduled to return to Earth on April 29th.

China successfully launches Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship

2025/04/25 10:00

China has successfully launched its Shenzhou-20 crewed mission, sending three astronauts to the Tiangong space station. This marks the nation's 15th manned spaceflight. On Thursday at 5:17 PM local time, the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft lifted off on a Long March 2F rocket from a satellite launch center in northwest China. Approximately six and a half hours later, it docked with the Tiangong space station. Mission commander Chen Dong, on his third spaceflight, and first-time astronauts Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie will spend six months on the space station, conducting spacewalks and field experiments. They will replace the Shenzhou-19 crew, who have been aboard Tiangong for 175 days and are scheduled to return to Earth on April 29.

World IT Show 2025: S. Korean firms tap AI in everyday life, localization to stay ahead

2025/04/24 20:00

A tech trade show currently underway here in the capital is demonstrating the tangible presence of AI in modern homes and workplaces to promote comfort and convenience. Lee Soo-jin reports. An AI-generated human dances to a K-pop beat against a traditional hanok courtyard backdrop, inviting others to join in. South Korea has put AI in the spotlight at its biggest ICT show,.. as the country pushes to lead the global race in the technology. The 2025 World IT Show,.. which will be held for three days, kicked off on Thursday in Seoul under the slogan "Driving Digital Transformation with AI." "And the products from a record 400-plus companies from Korea and abroad show that AI is already embedded in nearly every part of daily life, from AI assistants to our cars." LG Electronics is offering visitors a chance to experience the company's upcoming AI-powered mobile home system that comes with an assistant that can identify visual information to pick out and summarize books. And when you draw pictures on a pad, it's able to create and narrate stories based on those pictures. And because AI is such an integral part of the future, LG Electronics, a consumer electronics giant, is now even expanding its reach into smart mobility through in-vehicle systems. "We believe that the future lies in developing AI so it's integrated into every part of our environment, including cars." SK Telecom is also showcasing how AI can enhance everyday life with tools designed to boost work efficiency. Its AI-powered assistant acts like a virtual participant in meetings, listening to conversations, using natural language processing to identify key points, and generating a concise summary that includes what was discussed and who attended. "Both foreign and domestic companies see AI investment as a necessity, not a choice. That's why we wanted to showcase how AI is transforming and will continue to transform our daily lives." But these AI breakthroughs, and those to come, are only possible through semiconductors. That's why companies like Telechips, a local semiconductor firm, are advancing AI technologies for automobiles to meet rising demand, while also focusing on localization to stay competitive amid growing trade pressures. "There are global risks in the 주요 세계 강국들 간의 무역 긴장으로 인해 공급망에 글로벌 위험이 존재하기 때문에 현지 생산이 중요하며, 이것이 현재 우리의 가장 큰 강점이라고 생각합니다." He added this has let the company supply major clients like Hyundai without trade disruptions, part of a growing shift toward self-reliance as firms avoid import-risk regions to stay competitive in the global AI race. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

World IT Show 2025: S. Korean firms tap AI in everyday life, localization to stay ahead

2025/04/24 17:00

A tech trade show currently underway here in Seoul is demonstrating the tangible presence of AI in modern homes and workplaces to promote comfort and convenience. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin reports. An AI-generated human dances to a K-pop beat against a traditional hanok courtyard backdrop, inviting others to join in. South Korea has put AI in the spotlight at its biggest ICT show,.. as the country pushes to lead the global race in the technology. The 2025 World IT Show,.. which will be held for three days, kicked off on Thursday in Seoul under the slogan "Driving Digital Transformation with AI." "And the products from a record 400-plus companies from Korea and abroad show that AI is already embedded in nearly every part of daily life, from AI assistants to our cars." LG Electronics is offering visitors a chance to experience the company's upcoming AI-powered mobile home system that comes with an assistant that can identify visual information to pick out and summarize books. And when you draw pictures on a pad, it's able to create and narrate stories based on those pictures. And because AI is such an integral part of the future, LG Electronics, a consumer electronics giant, is now even expanding its reach into smart mobility through in-vehicle systems. "We believe that the future lies in developing AI so it's integrated into every part of our environment, including cars." SK Telecom is also showcasing how AI can enhance everyday life with tools designed to boost work efficiency. Its AI-powered assistant acts like a virtual participant in meetings, listening to conversations, using natural language processing to identify key points, and generating a concise summary that includes what was discussed and who attended. "Both foreign and domestic companies see AI investment as a necessity, not a choice. That's why we wanted to showcase how AI is transforming and will continue to transform our daily lives." But these AI breakthroughs, and those to come, are only possible through semiconductors. That's why companies like Telechips, a local semiconductor firm, are advancing AI technologies for automobiles to meet rising demand, while also focusing on localization to stay competitive amid growing trade pressures. "There are global risks in the supply chain stemming from trade tensions between major world powers, so it's important to produce locally, which we think is our biggest strength right now." He added this has let the company supply major clients like Hyundai without trade disruptions, part of a growing shift toward self-reliance as firms avoid import-risk regions to stay competitive in the global AI race. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

World IT Show 2025: S. Korean firms tap AI in everyday life, localization to stay ahead

2025/04/24 17:00

A tech trade show currently underway here in Seoul is demonstrating the tangible presence of AI in modern homes and workplaces to promote comfort and convenience. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin reports. An AI-generated human dances to a K-pop beat against a traditional hanok courtyard backdrop, inviting others to join in. South Korea has put AI in the spotlight at its biggest ICT show,.. as the country pushes to lead the global race in the technology. The 2025 World IT Show,.. which will be held for three days, kicked off on Thursday in Seoul under the slogan "Driving Digital Transformation with AI." "And the products from a record 400-plus companies from Korea and abroad show that AI is already embedded in nearly every part of daily life, from AI assistants to our cars." LG Electronics is offering visitors a chance to experience the company's upcoming AI-powered mobile home system that comes with an assistant that can identify visual information to pick out and summarize books. And when you draw pictures on a pad, it's able to create and narrate stories based on those pictures. And because AI is such an integral part of the future, LG Electronics, a consumer electronics giant, is now even expanding its reach into smart mobility through in-vehicle systems. "We believe that the future lies in developing AI so it's integrated into every part of our environment, including cars." SK Telecom is also showcasing how AI can enhance everyday life with tools designed to boost work efficiency. Its AI-powered assistant acts like a virtual participant in meetings, listening to conversations, using natural language processing to identify key points, and generating a concise summary that includes what was discussed and who attended. "Both foreign and domestic companies see AI investment as a necessity, not a choice. That's why we wanted to showcase how AI is transforming and will continue to transform our daily lives." But these AI breakthroughs, and those to come, are only possible through semiconductors. That's why companies like Telechips, a local semiconductor firm, are advancing AI technologies for automobiles to meet rising demand, while also focusing on localization to stay competitive amid growing trade pressures. "There are global risks in the supply chain stemming from trade tensions between major world powers, so it's important to produce locally, which we think is our biggest strength right now." He added this has let the company supply major clients like Hyundai without trade disruptions, part of a growing shift toward self-reliance as firms avoid import-risk regions to stay competitive in the global AI race. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

[K-wave] Growing trend of hyper-personalized preferences in culture and arts

2025/04/24 14:00

We live in an era of quickly growing integration of artificial intelligence and it is affecting not only how contents of culture and arts are created, but how people enjoy them as well. And while AI brings new contents with great convenience, it also raises new issues in our society, prompting us to find ways to address them. Lee Eun-jin tells us more. An elderly couple who have farmed pumpkins their whole lives is visited by messengers of death, which they fend off with their special pumpkin soup. This is a short fantasy horror film created with generative AI in just five days. It garnered international acclaim, winning both the Grand Prize and the Audience Award at the inaugural Dubai International AI Film Festival in February. This opened a new era for AI films. It's a glimpse into the future of filmmaking—one where AI can write scripts, edit visuals, and even generate sound effects. But this innovation comes with challenges. "When films use AI for scenarios, scripting, editing, or effects, we require creators to disclose its role to ensure transparency." These disclosures highlight growing legal and ethical questions. Who owns an AI-generated film? The creator, the AI developer, or both? And how do we balance artistic innovation with accountability? Beyond filmmaking, AI is reshaping how people consume culture. It's driving hyper-personalization, where algorithms tailor content to individual tastes, moving away from mass-market trends. "AI has amplified personal preferences. People now seek content that matches their unique interests, and this will shape the future of culture and arts." Yet, this trend has a downside. Hyper-personalization risks deepening social divides, as some embrace cutting-edge technology while others feel left behind. This digital alienation raises concerns about access and inclusion in an AI-driven world. As AI continues to transform the creative landscape, policymakers face a new challenge: fostering innovation while addressing its societal impacts. Striking this balance will define future cultural trends. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

SK hynix achieves earnings surprise in Q1 as HBM chip sales increase

2025/04/24 10:00

Meanwhile, the South Korea's tech giant SK hynix achieved an earnings surprise in the first quarter of this year. On Thursday, the company announced that its sales of memory chips, particularly the 5th generation HBM, had increased following market improvement. SK hynix also mentioned that, tentatively, operating profit for the first quarter rose by more than 157 percent on-year, and revenue grew by about 42 percent approximately 12-point-8 billion U.S. dollars. This marks the second-highest performance ever for the company, following record-high results in the fourth quarter last year.

S. Korea successfully launches fourth reconnaissance satellite from space base in U.S.

2025/04/22 20:00

South Korea successfully sent its fourth reconnaissance satellite into space on Tuesday morning, Korea Time. It's to enhance capabilities to monitor North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, regardless of weather conditions. Kim Bo-kyoung covers this latest launch. "Three, two, one. Ignition, engines full power, and lift off. Go Falcon, go Bandwagon-3." South Korea's fourth military reconnaissance satellite aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched from a U.S. space base Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, at 8:48 PM Monday local time, 9:48 AM Tuesday Korea time. 15 minutes after liftoff, the reconnaissance satellite was placed into orbit and it successfully communicated with the ground station at 12:27 PM Korea time, indicating the satellite's normal operation. "The fourth spy satellite, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, successfully separated from the launch vehicle, entered its orbit, and successfully communicated with a domestic ground station, confirming that the satellite is in good working order." The satellite launched this time was the third synthetic aperture radar satellite, part of South Korea's plan to deploy five reconnaissance satellites by the end of this year under the "425 Project." Aiming to enhance surveillance of North Korean military activities, South Korea launched its first reconnaissance satellite in December 2023, equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors capable of capturing detailed images. Two satellites with SAR sensors, which enable the collection of data regardless of weather conditions, were launched last year, in April and December. South Korean military is aiming to send the last one within this year, and once completed, Seoul will be able to monitor North Korea at two-hour intervals. The country is to deploy dozens of ultra-small satellites by the early 2030s, which is expected to further reduce that interval. "Our surveillance over North Korea would be much strengthened, and after launching ultra-small satellites as well, this will mark a very important step toward self-reliant national defense, as it will significantly reduce our dependence on the U.S. for intelligence capabilities." While bolstering the core assets that form the foundation of Korea's three-axis defense system, South Korea is aiming to pave the way to emerge as a strong space power in national defense. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

S. Korea successfully launches fourth reconnaissance satellite from space base in U.S.

2025/04/22 17:00

South Korea successfully sent its fourth spy satellite into space earlier on this Tuesday morning Korea Time. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung covers this latest launch. "Three, two, one. Ignition, engines full power, and lift off. Go Falcon, go Bandwagon-3." South Korea's fourth military reconnaissance satellite aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched from a U.S. space base Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, at 8:48 PM Monday local time, 9:48 AM Tuesday Korea time. 15 minutes after liftoff, the reconnaissance satellite was placed into orbit and it successfully communicated with the ground station at 12:27 PM Korea time, indicating the satellite's normal operation. "The fourth spy satellite, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, successfully separated from the launch vehicle, entered its orbit, and successfully communicated with a domestic ground station, confirming that the satellite is in good working order." The satellite launched this time was the third synthetic aperture radar satellite, part of South Korea's plan to deploy five reconnaissance satellites by the end of this year under the "425 Project." Aiming to enhance surveillance of North Korean military activities, South Korea launched its first reconnaissance satellite in December 2023, equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors capable of capturing detailed images. Two satellites with SAR sensors, which enable the collection of data regardless of weather conditions, were launched last year, in April and December. South Korean military is aiming to send the last one within this year, and once completed, Seoul will be able to monitor North Korea at two-hour intervals. The country is to deploy dozens of ultra-small satellites by the early 2030s, which is expected to further reduce that interval. "Our surveillance over North Korea would be much strengthened, and after launching ultra-small satellites as well, this will mark a very important step toward self-reliant national defense, as it will significantly reduce our dependence on the U.S. for intelligence capabilities." While bolstering the core assets that form the foundation of Korea's three-axis defense system, South Korea is aiming to pave the way to emerge as a strong space power in national defense. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Hyundai, Kia win seven honors at 2025 Red Dot Awards

2025/04/21 17:00

South Korean carmakers clinched seven awards at the 2025 Red Dot Design Awards. According to Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Corporation Kia's compact electric SUV the EV3 won the "Best of the Best" award in the Product Design category extending the carmaker's success in this category following wins for the EV6 in 2022 and the EV9 in 2024. Meanwhile Hyundai's IONIQ 9 and the Palisade SUV were also among those honored in their respective categories.