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Lee Kyung-min

Korea Times AI content 2 team Reporter

Value context and insight. lkm@koreatimes.co.kr

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Korean Heritage

UAE residents take Korean traditional music from classroom to stage

From a 9-year-old child to adults in their 40s, 40 residents of the United Arab Emirates took to Korean traditional music this month, learning to play the traditional "janggu" drum and culminating their lessons with a live performance in Abu Dhabi. The Korean Cultural Center UAE held its 2026 Overseas Korean Traditional Music School in partnership with the National Gugak Center from Oct. 5 to Thursday at Arirang Hall inside the center. The program introduced participants to the fundamentals of Korean traditional music, including basic rhythms and ensemble playing, before they demonstrated their skills at a showcase on Thursday. Kwon Oh-sung, an instructor affiliated with the National Gugak Center and a certified practitioner of "Namsadang Nori," a traditional Korean performing art designated as an intangible cultural heritage, led practical lessons for two classes. Participants learned the janggu's basic structure, playing posture and stick techniques before practicing traditional rhythms and coordinating their performances with one another. Organizers said bringing together participants

Oct 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
UAE residents take Korean traditional music from classroom to stage
Companies

Chaevi wins all 4 government EV charging subsidy categories

Electric vehicle (EV) charging operator Chaevi has achieved a rare clean sweep in this year's government EV charging facility subsidy program, securing qualifications across all four categories in both network operation and hardware manufacturing. The company was selected as an operator and manufacturer of fast, medium-speed and slow charging facilities under a program overseen by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. The selection marks Chaevi’s ninth consecutive year as a designated charging facility operator and its first selection in newly introduced manufacturer categories, according to the company. The four categories cover operators of fast and medium-speed chargers, operators of slow chargers, manufacturers of fast and medium-speed chargers, and manufacturers of slow chargers, allowing Chaevi to participate in the government’s subsidy program through 2027. The government revised its evaluation system this year to assess operators and manufacturers separately, with manufacturers facing additional scrutiny of technological development, product quality and charging pe

Oct 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Chaevi wins all 4 government EV charging subsidy categories
Companies

Hyosung Heavy Industries doubles export capacity with Changwon factory

Power transmission equipment manufacturer Hyosung Heavy Industries opened a new factory in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday, doubling its production capacity for extra-high-voltage circuit breakers rated at 420 kilovolts (kV) and above as it prepares for surging global demand for power infrastructure. The facility, covering about 18,996 square meters, will exclusively manufacture circuit breakers rated at 420 kV, 550 kV and 800 kV for export markets, strengthening the company's ability to fulfill large overseas orders. Hyosung Heavy Industries reorganized its existing circuit breaker operations to focus primarily on domestic models, while the new facility handles export products rated at 420 kV and above. The factory integrates component manufacturing, assembly, testing and shipping under one roof, creating a streamlined production system designed to improve efficiency and delivery times. Production capacity for insulation components, which are critical to circuit breaker performance, has also doubled, according to the company, which said it is the only domestic power equipmen

Oct 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Hyosung Heavy Industries doubles export capacity with Changwon factory
Health

Korea's favorite budget meal 'gimbap' passes safety check but falls short on nutrition

In the fluorescent-lit aisles of Korea’s ubiquitous convenience stores, the humble "gimbap," or seaweed rice roll, has long served as a lifeline for cash-strapped students, busy office workers and night-shift commuters. Priced between 2,800 and 3,600 won ($2 to $3), these tightly wrapped cylinders of rice, seaweed and various fillings offer an unbeatable combination of speed and affordability. Yet as inflation drives more diners away from traditional restaurants and toward budget-friendly grab-and-go counters, a recent consumer watchdog report reveals that convenience comes with hidden nutritional compromises. According to a comprehensive quality and safety evaluation released Thursday by the Korea Consumer Agency, popular convenience store gimbap lines — spanning major chains like GS25, CU, 7Eleven and Emart24 — meet strict food safety standards but present a striking dietary imbalance. While laboratory testing confirmed that all 12 evaluated products are entirely free of harmful heavy metals, microbiological contaminants and excessive preservatives, the findings highlight a persi

Oct 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea's favorite budget meal 'gimbap' passes safety check but falls short on nutrition
People & Events

Seoul concert turns local shopping receipts into front-row seats

A quick bite at a neighborhood eatery or a purchase from a local shop could score music fans a front-row spot at Seoul Plaza, where a two-day festival is turning everyday consumer spending into concert tickets as part of efforts to give small businesses a boost. Seoul Global Art Night with Receipt Concert, sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by Seoul Shinmun Daily, will run Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. on a specially built stage at Seoul Plaza. Visitors who present receipts totaling at least 30,000 won (about $22) from small businesses in Seoul during October can access a designated seating area near the stage, with multiple receipts accepted and verification limited to once per person each day. Admission remains free for visitors without qualifying receipts, although seating areas will differ depending on verification. The festival aims to encourage spending at restaurants, cafes and shops around City Hall before and after performances, while giving visitors a chance to discover Korean music and dance. Friday’s program will feature traditional Korean music per

Oct 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul concert turns local shopping receipts into front-row seats
Companies

CJ ONE launches global membership service for foreign visitors

CJ OliveNetworks, the digital and technology unit of CJ Group, is branching into the travel industry with a new global membership service that enables foreign visitors in Korea to earn rewards and redeem points at participating merchants, leveraging the country's tourism boom to drive new growth. The company said Thursday that its lifestyle membership platform, CJ ONE, had introduced CJ ONE Global, allowing international visitors to sign up using only email verification, without requiring a Korean phone number or domestic identification. The launch comes as interest in Korean food, shopping and culture spreads alongside the global popularity of Korean entertainment. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, about 12.8 million foreign tourists visited Korea from January through July, up 21.3 percent from the same period last year. Once registered, members receive a mobile barcode through the CJ ONE app that they can use to earn and redeem points at participating stores, as well as access new-member and birthday benefits. The service connects visitors with businesses spanning tourism, re

Oct 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
CJ ONE launches global membership service for foreign visitors
Companies

FADU unveils world's 1st file-semantic SSD to power AI workloads

Korean data center chipmaker FADU has unveiled what it calls the world’s first file-semantic solid-state drive (SSD), a storage technology designed to help artificial intelligence (AI) systems access data faster while reducing computing overhead and power consumption. The company introduced its file-semantic SSD, or FS-SSD, at the 2026 Open Compute Project Global Summit in San Jose, California, which ran from Monday to Thursday under the theme “Scaling Innovation for the AI Era.” Unlike conventional SSDs, which manage data through block addresses, FADU’s FS-SSD is designed to recognize and manage files directly, shifting tasks traditionally handled by a server’s central processing unit and operating system into the storage device itself. The technology uses FADU’s sixth-generation SSD controller, equipped with firmware that handles file searches, access permissions and file-to-address translation within the drive. By embedding file requests in standard Non-Volatile Memory Express commands, the system allows accelerators such as graphics processing units and data processing un

Oct 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
FADU unveils world's 1st file-semantic SSD to power AI workloads
People & Events

Seoul rooftop festival brings 7 regions' fall flavors, travel gems to city center

Seoul is bringing the flavors, festivals and hidden destinations of seven regions across Korea to a rooftop overlooking Deoksu Palace’s stone-wall road, offering city dwellers a chance to plan their next autumn getaway without leaving the capital. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Tourism Organization will host Local Trip Fall Picnic from Oct. 21-25 at the Regional Tourism Antenna Shop in central Seoul, with activities running daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. “This event is an opportunity to experience the unique charm of local regions right in the heart of Seoul and discover new travel destinations,” said Cho Seong-ho, director general of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Tourism and Sports Bureau. “We will strengthen tourism cooperation to ensure that journeys beginning in Seoul lead to actual visits to regional areas and help vitalize local economies.” The five-day event will feature tourism information, regional food and locally made products from Gyeonggi Province, Gangwon Province, South Chungcheong Province, North Gyeongsang Province, Andong, North Jeolla Prov

Oct 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul rooftop festival brings 7 regions' fall flavors, travel gems to city center
People & Events

Seoul promotes accessible tourism in campaign featuring 2 global artists

Seoul is inviting visitors to experience the capital on their own terms through a new campaign that showcases how the city's architecture, history and cultural landmarks can be enjoyed by everyone, including travelers with accessibility needs. The initiative brings together two internationally acclaimed artists who offer distinct perspectives on navigating the city. The Seoul Tourism Organization is releasing two videos under the campaign “Own Your Way, Find Your Seoul,” featuring Japanese wheelchair dancer Kenta Kambara and British contemporary artist Ryan Gander. The campaign promotes universal tourism, an approach aimed at making travel convenient and enjoyable for people with disabilities, older adults, pregnant women, families with infants and their companions. The first video, “Inspiration,” released Thursday, follows Kambara, who visited Korea to participate in the 2026 Korea International Accessible Dance Festival, known as KIADA 2026. His itinerary includes Dongdaemun Design Plaza, an architectural landmark known as DDP; Oil Tank Culture Park, a former petroleum storage

Oct 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul promotes accessible tourism in campaign featuring 2 global artists
South Korea

Korea opens 1st national sports museum to preserve historic triumphs

Korea opened its first national museum dedicated to sports on Thursday, bringing together thousands of artifacts documenting historic victories, Olympic milestones and moments that have shaped the country’s sporting identity. The National Sports Museum, located in Olympic Park in southern Seoul’s Songpa District, was established by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation to collect, preserve and showcase Korea’s sporting heritage. The museum houses about 70,000 sports-related artifacts and records, offering visitors a chance to revisit achievements that have inspired athletes and spectators across generations. Among its featured items are the gold medal won by marathon runner Suh Yun-bok at the 1947 Boston Marathon, soccer shoes belonging to Korean soccer pioneer Kim Yong-sik, the competition uniform worn by Yang Jung-mo, Korea’s first Olympic gold medalist, and the Olympic torch from the 1988 Seoul Games. The collection also includes the hoop used in the opening ceremony of the 1988 Olympics, recalling one of the event’s most memor

Oct 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea opens 1st national sports museum to preserve historic triumphs
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