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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

Hyundai Motor, Kia unveil world’s 1st in-car UV sanitizer

Hyundai Motor and affiliate Kia said Thursday they have developed what they describe as the world's first ultraviolet (UV) sanitization system capable of disinfecting vehicle interiors while passengers are on board. The technology, called Plasma Care UVC, uses Far-UVC light — a shortwave UV wavelength in the 200–230 nanometer range — generated through a plasma lamp rather than the LED sources used in conventional UV sanitizers. Existing UV sterilization systems rely on wavelengths that can harm human skin and eyes, limiting their use to enclosed, unoccupied spaces. Far-UVC light, by contrast, cannot penetrate beyond the outermost layer of human skin but can reach the cellular DNA of bacteria and viruses, destroying them. The system also reduces odors by eliminating odor-causing microbes as part of the sanitization process. To adapt the technology for automotive use, Hyundai and Kia said they miniaturized the lamp and control system to fit inside a vehicle, reinforced it against vibration and temperature fluctuations and added an optical filter that blocks all wavelengths outside th

Jun 11, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Hyundai Motor, Kia unveil world’s 1st in-car UV sanitizer
Policy

Korea, Belgium form alliance to boost startup exchanges

Facing an increasingly volatile global trade landscape, Korea is turning its diplomatic focus toward Western Europe to secure new economic lifelines for its tech-driven small businesses and startup sectors. The Ministry of Startups and SMEs said Thursday it signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Belgium’s Ministry of the Middle Classes, the Self-Employed, and SMEs. The agreement, timed with the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, marks the first formal state-level policy coordination focusing on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The strategic pivot comes at a critical juncture for Seoul. With domestic markets saturated and ongoing Middle East conflicts disrupting traditional shipping routes and global supply chains, the Korean government is under pressure to mitigate risks for its export-dependent economy. Belgium, long regarded as the "heart of the European Union," offers an ideal strategic outpost. Despite its small domestic market, the nation boasts world-class research infrastructure, a highly regarded corporate environme

Jun 11, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korea, Belgium form alliance to boost startup exchanges
Companies

SeAH Steel wins contract to supply pipes for UK carbon capture project

SeAH Steel has secured a contract to supply approximately 1,750 metric tons of stainless steel pipes for a carbon capture project in Teesside, northern England, the company said Thursday, marking the Korean steelmaker's entry into Britain's government-backed decarbonization infrastructure push. The Teesside project is part of the U.K.'s East Coast Cluster, one of the country's first large-scale carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) initiatives. CCUS technology captures carbon dioxide emitted during power generation or industrial processes and stores it permanently in deep geological formations rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. SeAH Steel's pipes will be used in a gas-fired combined-cycle power plant to process and transport captured carbon dioxide in both gaseous and liquid states for deep-sea storage. The company said its pipes meet demanding physical and chemical requirements, including resistance to brittle fracturing at temperatures as low as minus 196 degrees Celsius and corrosion resistance under the high pressures of deep-sea environments. SeAH Steel also said

Jun 11, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
SeAH Steel wins contract to supply pipes for UK carbon capture project
Travel & Food

Korea taps K-pop quintet N.Flying to court global travelers

In its latest bid to transform the K-pop fandom into foot traffic, the state-run Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) named pop-rock quintet N.Flying as its newest honorary ambassador. The appointment, formalized at the high-tech HiKR Ground center in central Seoul, underscores a shifting strategy in how the country markets itself to a post-pandemic generation of global travelers. The choice of N.Flying reflects the strategic deployment of mid-tier Korean wave heavyweights with highly mobilized, transnational fanbases. Debuting in 2015 under FNC Entertainment, the five-piece band initially hovered on the periphery of mainstream domestic success until 2019, when their single "Rooftop" staged a rare "sleeper hit" resurgence to top local music charts. Since then, the group has successfully anchored its presence across Asia, cracked Japan’s competitive Oricon Top 10 and cultivated a distinct niche by blending traditional rock instrumentation with the polished ethos of the Korean music industry. Now, Seoul is betting that this musical footprint can be monetized into tourism revenues. The band

Jun 11, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korea taps K-pop quintet N.Flying to court global travelers
People & Events

Night markets become economic lifeline in Songpa District

The traditional open-air markets of Songpa District in southeastern Seoul have long served as the hyperlocal culinary backbones of their neighborhoods, anchored by vendors hawking everything from fresh produce to hand-pinched dumplings. But as shifting consumer habits and the relentless rise of e-commerce squeeze these historic commercial hubs, local authorities are turning to a vibrant, nocturnal strategy to lure back a younger generation of shoppers. Songpa District, a sprawling area in the southeastern part of the capital, announced that it will host a series of food and cultural night festivals across five traditional markets and commercial streets throughout June. The initiative marks a significant expansion of a pilot program that, at its peak last year, drew up to 3,000 visitors a day to the district's labyrinthine alleys. Organized by individual local merchants' associations, this year’s circuit includes two additional venues, reflecting an aggressive push by neighborhood vendors to boost foot traffic and stimulate local spending amid stubborn macroeconomic headwinds. The summe

Jun 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Night markets become economic lifeline in Songpa District
People & Events

Gov't enlists citizen filmmakers to rebrand national 'Culture Day' for weekly audience

For years, Korea’s “Culture Day” was a monthly luxury — a single Wednesday evening where discounted movie tickets and extended museum hours offered a brief respite from the daily grind. As the government attempts a sweeping expansion to make the arts accessible every single week, it is turning to citizen filmmakers to convince a notoriously overworked public to change their routines. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosted an awards ceremony Wednesday afternoon at a cultural space in southern Seoul to honor the winners of the 2026 Culture Wednesday Promotional Video Contest. The competition was designed to raise public awareness of the newly rebranded “Culture Wednesday” — an expansion of the long-running “Culture Day” program, which previously offered discounts on movies, museums and performing arts only on the final Wednesday of each month. The grand prize, which carries a ministerial award and a 5 million won ($3,630) purse, was awarded to a short film titled “Mom’s Wednesday: Wednesday is Culture Wednesday,” directed by filmmaker Bae Min-seok. The

Jun 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Gov't enlists citizen filmmakers to rebrand national 'Culture Day' for weekly audience
Companies

Polestar 4 Coupe launches in Korea with chassis upgrades, price cuts

Swedish electric vehicle brand Polestar has launched the 2027 Polestar 4 Coupe in Korea, introducing a name change, chassis improvements and a price reduction of up to 2 million won ($1,450) on select trims, the company said Wednesday. Online sales opened at 3 p.m. The 2027 update drops "SUV" from the model name — the vehicle will now be sold as the "Polestar 4 Coupe" — and restructures the lineup into three trims: Rear Motor, Dual Motor, and Dual Motor Performance. On the mechanical side, the Rear Motor and Dual Motor trims gain a chassis package as standard equipment, comprising high-capacity passive dampers, new springs and anti-roll bars, and polyurethane rebound stops, along with improved steering precision. The updates are aimed at sharpening daily driving comfort and handling balance. Design changes include contrasting-color emblems — black for Storm and Electron exterior colors, grey for Snow, Magnesium and Space — replacing the previous body-color treatment. Inside, a black emblem has been added to the panoramic glass roof, while seat belts and rotary knob inserts are dif

Jun 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Polestar 4 Coupe launches in Korea with chassis upgrades, price cuts
Companies

Hyundai Motor brings FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign into Rocket League, Fortnite

Hyundai Motor said Wednesday it has partnered with Epic Games to bring its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign into two of the world's most popular video games, extending the automaker's sports marketing into the gaming space. Beginning Thursday, Hyundai will feature the IONIQ 6 N Line as a playable car item in Rocket League — a vehicle-based soccer game with tens of millions of players worldwide — along with exclusive World Cup sponsorship decal that changes the car's color scheme and design pattern. The in-game content runs through July 19. During the event, players can represent one of the 48 nations competing at the World Cup, with goals scored contributing to a cumulative national tally. Completing 10 in-game quests unlocks the IONIQ 6 N Line item, and players who drive 8,000 meters or more with the vehicle receive the decal. Hyundai will also sponsor a tournament, the Next Starts Now Cup, in which Rocket League influencers and professional players compete using only the IONIQ 6 N Line. Matches will be streamed live on participants' channels. Additionally, from June 25 through July 19,

Jun 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Hyundai Motor brings FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign into Rocket League, Fortnite
Companies

HD Hyundai partners with Canadian university in bid for submarine contract

HD Hyundai signed a research and development agreement with the University of British Columbia (UBC) as part of a broad campaign to win Canada's planned submarine procurement contract, the Korean shipbuilding conglomerate said Wednesday. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), the shipbuilding arm of HD Hyundai, signed the memorandum of understanding with the university on Sunday (local time) at the university's Vancouver campus. The agreement covers joint research into advanced digital and artificial intelligence-based ship design, digital twin simulation, autonomous navigation systems and next-generation naval vessel structures, including destroyers, unmanned ships and submarines. The two parties will also collaborate on eco-friendly advanced materials for warships and commercial vessels. The signing ceremony was attended by Jang Gwang-pil, vice president of HD KSOE's Future Technology Research Institute; James Olson, dean of applied science at the university; Mark MacLachlan, dean of science at the university; and Orlando Rojas, scientific director of the Bioproducts Ins

Jun 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
HD Hyundai partners with Canadian university in bid for submarine contract
Travel & Food

Korea pushes to make traditional markets more user-friendly

Korea’s tourism authorities are turning their attention to traditional markets, launching a standardized campaign Friday to target long-standing consumer friction points such as unlisted prices, poor hygiene and cash-only transactions. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, alongside the Korea Tourism Organization, will introduce a two-day "K-Tourism Market Smile Campaign" at Haeundae Market in the southeastern port city of Busan. The initiative aims to institutionalize a modern retail culture at the bustling open-air venue just ahead of the peak summer tourist rush and an influx of large-scale public performances. Haeundae Market is one of 11 traditional markets nationwide selected under a state-backed program designed to turn local, historic trading hubs into global tourist destinations. Launched in 2023, the government initiative funds infrastructure, curated tourism content and international marketing for markets showing high potential to attract foreign travelers. Haeundae Market was brought into the fold as part of the program's second cohort. The regulatory push anchors o

Jun 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korea pushes to make traditional markets more user-friendly
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