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Jhoo Dong-chan

Korea Times AI content 2 team Reporter

Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.

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Companies

SK Telecom tests AI-RAN to power Korea's digital highway

SK Telecom said it has been selected to carry out a government-backed "Hyper-AI Network Infrastructure" pilot project to build a next-generation "AI-RAN" network — which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize wireless base stations and run computing tasks on cellular hardware — and test three physical AI services under the initiative led by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency. The two-year project supports Korea's "AI Highway" policy initiative, which aims to build ultra-low-latency, highly reliable networks for physical AI such as robots. AI-RAN refers to networks in which cell towers provide AI computing power in addition to standard communication service, shifting some of a robot's AI processing load onto the network itself. SK Telecom will build and test AI-RAN equipment from four manufacturers — Samsung Electronics, HFR, Ericsson and Nokia — within a single project, comparing performance across different computing configurations. Three physical AI services will be demonstrated: a four-legged patrol robot for industrial safety mo

Jul 14, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
SK Telecom tests AI-RAN to power Korea's digital highway
Companies

Domino's Pizza Korea unveils shrimp-steak pizza collaboration with Musinsa

In one of the year's more unexpected lifestyle crossovers, Domino’s Pizza Korea is teaming up with Musinsa, Korea’s dominant online fashion and beauty platform, to serve up a new collaboration that bridges youth streetwear culture and fast food. Launching nationwide Thursday, the partnership will debut the "Mujinjang Shrimp Steak Pizza." The name of the menu item plays on "mujinjang," a signature slang term deeply associated with Musinsa's brand identity that roughly translates to "endless" or "limitless." Operating under the concept of "enormous toppings, an overflowingly full pizza," the joint venture is designed to deliver an over-the-top feast. The premium pizza features what the companies describe as a decadent surf-and-turf combination. It is loaded with jumbo shrimp designed to offer a firm, springy texture and rich seafood flavor, alongside savory, thick-cut steak slices. To add extra depth, the center of the pizza is layered with crispy truffle cream hash browns and sweet corn mayonnaise, offering a rich, savory blend of textures and flavors from the very first bite. The "Mu

Jul 14, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Domino's Pizza Korea unveils shrimp-steak pizza collaboration with Musinsa
Korean Heritage

Foreign students dive into Korean craftsmanship in 2-week heritage program

A specialized national university has wrapped up a two-week immersive program designed to give foreign exchange students hands-on experience with Korea's traditional craftsmanship, cultural heritage and historic preservation. The K-Heritage Field Study program, which ran from July 2-13, was organized by the K-Heritage International Center under the Korea National University of Heritage (KNUH). Now in its third year, the summer initiative pairs academic lectures with intensive fieldwork across three of the country's major historic hubs: Buyeo, Jeonju and Seoul. To deepen the experience, organizers introduced a joint format this year, pairing eight international exchange students with four Korean peers to foster direct cultural exchange throughout the program. The curriculum was structured around four distinct phases: material, technique, fieldwork and reflection. At KNUH’s main campus and the Buyeo National Museum, participants studied under specialists in traditional ceramics, architecture, clothing and food, and practiced the intricate art of traditional Korean knot-tying. The student

Jul 14, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Foreign students dive into Korean craftsmanship in 2-week heritage program
Korean Heritage

Korea debuts 'K-Heritage' pavilion as UNESCO meeting lands in Busan

The Korea Heritage Service will run a series of exhibitions and events at "K-Heritage House," a pavilion inside BEXCO Exhibition Hall 1 in Busan, during the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, running July 19-29. The pavilion itself will operate from July 20-29. Several government agencies will host booths inside the pavilion. The National Archives of Korea will display 20 UNESCO Memory of the World-listed items and about 100 records. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will promote "getbol," Korean tidal flats, a UNESCO World Heritage site, alongside Korean seafood, while the agriculture ministry will highlight Korea's traditional "jang" fermentation culture, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage practice, through tastings and multimedia displays. Buddhist heritage sites, including the mountain monasteries known as Sansa and Haeinsa Temple, home to the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks, will also be featured in exhibits, alongside pavilions on the Buddhist rites Yeongsanjae and Jingwansa Gukhaeng Suryukjae. The Justpeace Foundation, whose honorary chair is singer G-Dragon

Jul 14, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korea debuts 'K-Heritage' pavilion as UNESCO meeting lands in Busan
Arts & Theater

Seoul to open Sejong center rooftop as public garden with palace views

Seoul will soon have a new, elevated vantage point where residents and visitors can take in the capital’s ancient imperial history and dramatic mountain skyline, completely free of charge. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that it has cleared the final architectural and administrative hurdles to transform the flat, underutilized roof of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts into a lush public garden and observation deck. Groundbreaking is scheduled for September, with plans to open the space to the public by the end of the year. The Sejong Center, a grand concrete-and-granite complex, has long served as a prominent anchor of the city's cultural life. Yet, while audiences have packed its concert halls, public access to its expansive rooftop has remained restricted. City planners now view the roof as a crucial link to tie Gwanghwamun Square, the arts center and Gyeongbok Palace into a single, cohesive cultural corridor. The project is part of a deliberate municipal campaign to carve out open-air vantage points for everyday citizens in the densely packed capital. City pl

Jul 14, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul to open Sejong center rooftop as public garden with palace views
Environment & Animals

Korea dangles $0.60 discount to push coffee drinkers away from plastic

Hoping to nudge consumers away from a deeply ingrained culture of convenience, Korea's environment ministry announced a sweeping pact, Tuesday, with 23 of the country’s largest food and beverage chains to phase out single-use plastics across more than 22,000 stores nationwide. The agreement, signed at the Seoul Upcycling Plaza, brings together global giants like Starbucks and McDonald’s alongside major domestic brands such as Paris Baguette and Ediya Coffee, as well as 150 independent cafes. Organized by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the initiative represents a highly coordinated effort to normalize eco-friendly habits in a country famous for its bustling, fast-paced coffee culture. Under the new guidelines, which will take effect in September, participating outlets will offer substantial financial incentives to customers who bring their own tumblers. By combining store-specific discounts with the government’s "carbon neutrality points," consumers can save up to 800 won ($0.60) per beverage. To further reduce daily waste, single-use items like plastic straws wil

Jul 14, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korea dangles $0.60 discount to push coffee drinkers away from plastic
Travel & Food

Actor Park Bo-gum headlines Korea's new cinematic push for tourists

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization will release a new overseas tourism promotional video on July 15 built around celebrated Korean actor Park Bo-gum, framed as a short film rather than a traditional ad. The video launches the tourism organization's 2026 global campaign, "Begin to Hear Korea." Park, who is serving his second consecutive year as honorary tourism ambassador for Korea, appeared in last year's campaign discovering various parts of the country. In this year's installment, he plays a "music director" who travels around Korea with Danish musician Ki, collecting everyday sounds and turning them into a single piece of music. The campaign is built around listening rather than sightseeing, aiming for what the tourism organization described as full auditory immersion. It draws on a travel trend known as "dailycation" — a blend of "daily" and "vacation" describing visitors who want to experience ordinary local life rather than typical tourist activities. The video features sounds that may seem unfamiliar to foreign visitors but are distinc

Jul 14, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Actor Park Bo-gum headlines Korea's new cinematic push for tourists
K-pop

CORTIS' 'REDRED' sets record for most days at No. 1 on Spotify Korea chart

CORTIS, the rookie boy band under Bighit Music, has set a new record for the most days at the No. 1 spot on Spotify's Daily Top Song Korea chart among any K-pop group song with its hit single "REDRED," the label said Tuesday. "REDRED," the title track from CORTIS' second mini album, topped Spotify's Daily Top Song Korea chart for the 70th time on the July 12 chart. Spotify is a global audio streaming platform, and the daily chart tracks the most-streamed songs in Korea each day. The milestone broke a record that had stood for three years and four months. "REDRED" first reached No. 1 on the April 27 chart. It hit its 50th day at the top on June 20, breaking the record for a boy group song, and has continued to top the chart since. On Spotify's Weekly Top Songs Korea chart, which covers July 3-9, the track marked its 11th week at No. 1, the longest run at the top of that chart by any K-pop group song. CORTIS' monthly listener count on Spotify has also reached 12.67 million, ranking among the top three highest figures recorded by any Korean boy group, the label said. The group's popularity h

Jul 14, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
CORTIS' 'REDRED' sets record for most days at No. 1 on Spotify Korea chart
Travel & Food

Korea orders suspensions for hotels hiding rates or overcharging guests

Korea will impose an immediate five-day operational suspension on hotels and lodges caught price-gouging or failing to transparently list their rates, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Monday. The strict new administrative measure, which takes effect Tuesday, represents a dramatic escalation in the government’s campaign to curb predatory pricing in the hospitality sector. Previously, accommodations caught overcharging guests or hiding their price lists faced only minor warnings or nonbinding improvement orders — penalties that officials acknowledged did little to deter opportunistic spikes during peak holiday seasons. Under the revised enforcement regulations of the Public Health Control Act, the leniency is gone. A single infraction for overcharging or failing to display prices will trigger an immediate five-day shutdown. Repeated violations will meet escalating penalties: a 10-day suspension for a second offense, 20 days for a third and the permanent revocation of the establishment's business license upon a fourth strike. Significantly, the mandate expands beyond the physical

Jul 13, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korea orders suspensions for hotels hiding rates or overcharging guests
Travel & Food

Seoul's Jung District expands Dynamic Travel Pass, adding spa, cable car packages

The Jung District Office in central Seoul announced Monday a major expansion of its mobile tourism pass, doubling its product offerings to capitalize on a postpandemic rebound in domestic and international travel. The "Seoul Jung-gu Tour Pass," initially launched in April of last year, will expand from two options to four. The system offers prepaid, time-limited mobile entry and discounts to local attractions, restaurants and cultural experiences. District officials said it has sold 5,500 passes since its inception, providing a measurable boost to smaller alleyway businesses that traditionally sit in the shadow of major commercial strips. Under the new tier system, the district will continue to offer its basic 24-hour pass for 9,900 won ($7.30). It has introduced a Namsan Cable Car package for 21,900 won, a "K-jjimjilbang" package for 21,900 won featuring free admission to the popular Sparex traditional bathhouse in Dongdaemun and a comprehensive all-inclusive pass for 30,900 won. The expansion is specifically engineered to diversify the foot traffic of international visitors, whose iti

Jul 13, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul's Jung District expands Dynamic Travel Pass, adding spa, cable car packages
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