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Lee Kyung-min

Korea Times AI content 2 team Reporter

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Companies

YouTube creators pump $2.3 bil. into Korean economy, report says

YouTube’s creator ecosystem contributed more than 3.5 trillion won ($2.3 billion) to Korea’s gross domestic product in 2025 and supported an equivalent of over 85,000 full-time jobs, according to the YouTube Impact Report 2025 released Thursday. The report, commissioned by YouTube and prepared by Oxford Economics, said creators in Korea are evolving beyond content production and into a new class of trusted professionals who generate economic, cultural and educational value through their platforms. According to the report, 75 percent of Korean viewers who use YouTube for news said the platform provides high-quality current affairs information, while 74 percent said they value the diversity of content and viewpoints available on the service. The report highlighted several creators as examples of trust-based influence. Financial and current affairs channel Shuka World and women’s health channel Our Neighborhood OB-GYN were cited for building strong relationships with audiences through expertise and careful fact-checking. The study also underscored the growing role of creators as publi

Jun 11, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
YouTube creators pump $2.3 bil. into Korean economy, report says
South Korea

Gov't launches camps to help families manage kids’ screen time

For parents navigating the anxieties of the digital age, the smartphone has become both an indispensable babysitter and a source of deep domestic guilt. In Korea, where high-speed connectivity is ubiquitous, the battle over screen time starts early. Now, the government is stepping into the living room to help families manage the digital deluge. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in tandem with the Korea Press Foundation, announced on Wednesday the launch of "Miri Camp 2026," a nationwide media literacy initiative tailored specifically for first- and second-grade elementary school students and their parents. Expanding on a successful pilot program from last year, the camp will run from July 30 to Aug. 15 across six major regional hubs, including the Seoul metropolitan area and Sejong, as well as the Gangwon, Gyeongsang, Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. The ministry said the three-day program is not designed to demonize technology, but to treat media consumption as a skill to be mastered. Operating out of regional media centers and public libraries, the camp will bring together

Jun 10, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Gov't launches camps to help families manage kids’ screen time
South Korea

Seoul turns QR codes into portable libraries

Seoul is turning its open-air libraries into hybrid reading rooms, turning a QR code into a gateway to thousands of e-books under a new pilot program launched with Korean e-commerce company Yes24. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it has partnered with Yes24 to introduce a location-based e-book service called “Crema Club QR” at three major outdoor library sites across the city. The service is being rolled out at Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggye Stream, all of which have become central hubs of the city’s outdoor reading initiative. Officials said the system allows users to access free e-books on site simply by scanning a QR code and completing a GPS-based location verification process, eliminating the need for additional sign-ups. Once verified, readers can access selected titles for five days, turning a park bench into a temporary digital reading room. The initiative is part of Seoul’s broader effort to expand its outdoor library program, which converts public urban spaces into reading zones designed to make books a visible part of everyday city life. Ye

Jun 10, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul turns QR codes into portable libraries
Companies

GM’s next big bet: Turning EVs into power plants on wheels

General Motors is pushing the car beyond its form, unveiling a strategy that could transform electric vehicles into active participants in the energy grid and expand the company’s role in the rapidly evolving power economy. At its GM Empower event held in San Francisco, Monday (local time), GM outlined a sweeping vision for an integrated energy ecosystem connecting electric vehicles, homes, public charging networks and large-scale energy storage systems. The announcements centered on vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, technology, which allows electric vehicles to send electricity back to the grid and function as distributed energy resources during periods of high demand. Sterling Anderson, GM’s executive vice president of global product and chief product officer, said the world is approaching a turning point in how mobility, computing and energy infrastructure intersect. “GM is working to help reduce pressure on the grid by leveraging both grid-scale energy storage and distributed energy resources powered by electric vehicles,” he said. The company also introduced Energy Pass, a new service

Jun 10, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
GM’s next big bet: Turning EVs into power plants on wheels
Environment & Animals

Endangered mountain goats get 2nd chance at survival on Mount Songni

Six long-tailed gorals, a critically endangered mountain goat species, were released into the jagged crags of Mount Songni National Park Wednesday, marking a crucial step in Korea’s ambitious decade-long campaign to reestablish a self-sustaining wild population in the center of the peninsula. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, alongside the Korea National Park Service, timed the release to coincide with June’s peak growing season, when fresh vegetation and abundant wild greens maximize the animals’ chances of survival in the wild. The group consists of two females and four males, carefully selected from national conservation centers based on genetic diversity and a proven readiness for the wilderness. Known for their distinct backward-curving horns and remarkable agility on near-vertical rock faces, the long-tailed goral is designated as a Class I endangered species in Korea. The species has historically faced severe habitat fragmentation and illegal poaching, leaving its surviving populations scattered in isolated pockets along the country’s spine. By releasing th

Jun 10, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Endangered mountain goats get 2nd chance at survival on Mount Songni
K-pop

New exhibition traces K-culture’s deep regional roots

As Korean pop music, television dramas and cinema continue to capture global audiences, a new state-backed exhibition is turning its attention to a foundational question: What are the actual roots of the contemporary “K” phenomenon? The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Wednesday the opening of “Palsaekchanran: Regions Filled With K,” a special exhibition running through Dec. 31 at Cheong Wa Dae Sarangchae, a government-run cultural museum located directly in front of Korea’s presidential office. Rather than spotlighting sleek idol groups or modern streaming blockbusters, the showcase employs immersive digital displays and media art to demonstrate how centuries of regional history, traditional arts and local folklore became the bedrock of modern Korean content. The venue itself adds a layer of historic meaning to the exhibit. In traditional architecture, a “sarangchae” is a detached guest house used to entertain visitors. For decades, this building served as the official public information hall and presidential exhibition center. The current exhibit traces h

Jun 10, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
New exhibition traces K-culture’s deep regional roots
Companies

Baskin-Robbins bets on AI to answer franchisees’ questions in real time

Baskin-Robbins franchise owners in Korea may soon have a new source of support for everything from product launches to store operations: an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot designed to answer questions instantly. Hyundai Futurenet, the information and communications technology arm of Hyundai Department Store Group, said Wednesday it had signed a contract with BR Korea, the operator of Baskin-Robbins in Korea, to supply an AI assistant service for stores, with deployment scheduled within the year. The mobile-based chatbot is designed for franchise owners and store employees seeking quick answers related to day-to-day operations. Users can type questions into a chat interface and receive immediate responses, mimicking a natural conversation, the company said. The service will provide information ranging from newly launched products and promotional events to operational manuals and workplace guidelines, according to Hyundai Futurenet. The chatbot is being developed using OptiForce, Hyundai Futurenet’s integrated AI platform. The company said OptiForce is designed to understand the conte

Jun 10, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Baskin-Robbins bets on AI to answer franchisees’ questions in real time
Companies

BYD to debut signature hybrid vehicle technology at Busan Int'l Mobility Show

BYD Korea will showcase its proprietary hybrid vehicle technology at the Busan International Mobility Show 2026, stepping up its campaign to win over consumers in one of Asia’s most competitive auto markets. The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant plans to unveil its Dual Mode-intelligent (DM-i) eco-friendly technology at the exhibition, which runs from June 26 to July 5 at the BEXCO convention center. Operating under the theme “The Power of Duality,” the showcase is designed to highlight the company's dual focus on its established commercial vehicle lineup — now in its 10th year in Korea — and its rapidly expanding passenger vehicle division. BYD’s aggressive push into Korea comes as the brand hits a key milestone, recently surpassing 10,000 cumulative vehicle sales in the country. The company noted that the figure represents one of the fastest sales trajectories achieved by a foreign auto brand in Korea. Central to BYD's strategy is its DM-i system, an “electric-first hybrid” platform developed over 18 years that pairs a high-efficiency engine with a high-performance m

Jun 10, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
BYD to debut signature hybrid vehicle technology at Busan Int'l Mobility Show
South Korea

Rooftop pop-up brings Korea’s regional food destinations to Seoul

A rooftop overlooking Deoksu Palace's stone wall road is set to become a gateway to Korea's regional flavors, as Seoul prepares to showcase food, drink and travel experiences from across the country in a four-day pop-up event. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization said Tuesday that they will host “Local Trip Gourmet Pop-Up,” from June 17 to June 20 on the rooftop of the Regional Tourism Antenna Shop in central Seoul. The event is designed to give visitors a taste of regional culture without leaving the capital while encouraging future travel to destinations beyond Seoul. Located across from Seoul City Hall, the Regional Tourism Antenna Shop serves as a platform connecting Seoul with tourism destinations and cultural attractions throughout Korea. The lineup includes snack brands featuring regional ingredients, specialty food producers offering dishes inspired by regional culinary traditions and beverage makers presenting craft beer and traditional alcoholic drinks unique to their areas. Organizers said the event will be more than a conventional marketplac

Jun 9, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Rooftop pop-up brings Korea’s regional food destinations to Seoul
South Korea

Seoul museum opens Rubik’s Cube-inspired playground for babies, toddlers

What if a museum visit began not with an exhibit, but with a giant cube built for crawling, climbing and discovery? Seoul's Hanseong Baekje Museum officially opened an infant-focused children's play space Tuesday, unveiling what city officials describe as Korea's only cube-themed kids cafe designed exclusively for babies and toddlers. The facility, known as the Seoul Kids Cafe at Hanseong Baekje Museum, opens after about five months of pilot operations that began in December and is intended to expand cultural and educational opportunities for young children and their families. Unlike traditional museum spaces geared toward preschool and elementary school students, the new venue was designed specifically around the developmental needs of infants. At the center of the play area is a series of structures inspired by the Rubik's Cube, the iconic puzzle invented in Hungary. The installation encourages children to push, stack, climb and move through cubes of different sizes, creating an environment where physical activity and exploration become part of the learning experience. Museum officials s

Jun 9, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul museum opens Rubik’s Cube-inspired playground for babies, toddlers
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