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Lee Kyung-min

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Samsung Bioepis turns to China to accelerate biotech innovation

Samsung Bioepis is moving to deepen its global research footprint, signing a partnership with a major Chinese biotech platform to scout and develop next-generation therapies. The biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality biosimilars — lower-cost, clinically proven alternatives to expensive biologic medicines — said Wednesday it signed a memorandum of understanding with ATLATL Innovation Center, a biotech incubation platform, to expand its open innovation strategy and collaborate with emerging biotech firms. Under the agreement, Samsung Bioepis will identify promising startups and support their early-stage growth by providing access to ATLATL’s research facilities and infrastructure. The partnership marks the company’s first collaboration with an overseas open innovation institution. ATLATL Innovation Center operates shared laboratories, office space and contract research organization services across key biotech clusters, including Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Australia. The platform connects venture companies with global partners t

Apr 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Samsung Bioepis turns to China to accelerate biotech innovation
South Korea

Gov't identifies foreign trafficking victims, expands fast-track protections

Two foreign nationals were formally recognized as victims of human trafficking in Korea this week, in a case that underscores how labor and sexual exploitation continue to ensnare vulnerable migrants. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Wednesday it confirmed a Vietnamese national and a Filipino national as victims following a review by its Trafficking in Persons Case Deliberation Committee held Tuesday. Under government guidelines, the two victims will receive support covering living expenses, medical care, employment assistance and legal aid. Authorities said both individuals entered Korea for study or employment but were subjected to exploitation after arrival. The Vietnamese victim, identified as A, arrived in June 2023 to enroll in a vocational school. Officials said the victim faced poor-quality instruction and was placed in field training that violated Ministry of Justice regulations, where wages were not paid. Sixteen other international students in the same program were previously recognized as victims last year. The Filipino victim, identified only as B, arrived in

Apr 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Gov't identifies foreign trafficking victims, expands fast-track protections
South Korea

Universities take lead in spreading K-culture abroad

Korea is turning to its universities to carry K-culture beyond familiar strongholds, launching a new initiative that sends Korean students overseas to stage events in regions without Korean cultural centers. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday it is working with the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange to advance the Oullim Korea Culture Festival University Support Project. The program selects domestic universities through a competitive process and pairs them with overseas partners to host performances, exhibitions and seminars abroad. The effort is designed to broaden the reach of Korean cultural exports beyond K-pop and television dramas, incorporating academic exchange and locally tailored programming. Nine universities were chosen for this year’s initiative: Keimyung University, Far East University, Korea Nazarene University, Yonsei University, Chugye University for the Arts, Korea National University of Arts, Hansung University, Hanyang University and Kyonggi University. They will collaborate with partner institutions in countries such as Uz

Apr 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Universities take lead in spreading K-culture abroad
South Korea

Korea unveils sweeping plan to cut plastic use, curb oil dependence

Korea is moving to break its reliance on oil-based plastics, unveiling an ambitious plan Tuesday to slash waste and build a circular economy that officials say will reshape how materials are produced and reused. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said it presented the “Plastic-Free Circular Economy Transition Plan” at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, setting a target to cut the use of newly produced plastic materials by more than 30 percent from projected levels by 2030. The plan calls for reducing unnecessary plastic at the source while replacing unavoidable waste with recycled materials, the ministry said. Under current projections, plastic waste from households and businesses is expected to reach about 10 million tons by 2030, up from 7.8 million tons in 2024. The government aims to reduce that total by 1 million tons through source reduction and replace 2 million tons with recycled materials. Key measures include encouraging a shift to alternative materials such as paper, promoting lighter packaging designs and restricting excessive packaging in delivery services. Products

Apr 28, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea unveils sweeping plan to cut plastic use, curb oil dependence
South Korea

GKL showcases traditional ceramics at casino venue to promote regional arts

Korea is turning to an unconventional stage for cultural diplomacy, placing award-winning traditional ceramics inside a casino in Seoul in an effort to attract foreign tourists and promote regional arts. Grand Korea Leisure, which operates the Seven Luck foreigner-only casinos, said Tuesday it opened a special exhibition featuring master ceramists from Yeoju at its Coex branch in Gangnam District. The exhibition runs through June 30. The company said the display is part of a broader initiative to link tourism with regional culture and support local festivals, including the upcoming Yeoju Ceramic Festival scheduled to begin May 1. Two artists are featured in the exhibition: master ceramist Park Gwang-cheon and Yeoju city master potter Lee Hyeong-woo. Each has contributed five works, which are displayed on the third floor of the casino’s dedicated exhibition space. Grand Korea Leisure CEO Yoon Doo-hyun said the venue attracts more than 360,000 foreign visitors annually, making it a strategic platform for cultural outreach. Yoon said the exhibition is intended to introduce visitors to Kore

Apr 28, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
GKL showcases traditional ceramics at casino venue to promote regional arts
South Korea

Korea exports anti-corruption model to Ethiopia in new training push

Korea is taking its anti-corruption playbook abroad this week, hosting Ethiopian officials for an intensive training program aimed at exporting what it calls a proven governance model. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission said Tuesday it began a five-day training program for nine officials from the Ethiopian Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. The program, which runs through Friday, is conducted in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency. The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed in June 2024 between the two countries to strengthen cooperation on anti-corruption policies. Ethiopian officials requested the program to learn from Korea’s legal and institutional frameworks, the commission said. The curriculum focuses on key laws, including the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act for public officials, as well as Korea’s structured anti-corruption education system. Sessions also cover training programs designed for future generations, the commission said. The agency said Korea has drawn

Apr 28, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea exports anti-corruption model to Ethiopia in new training push
South Korea

Korea rolls out tourism drive to woo holiday travelers from Japan, China

Korea is racing to turn a looming holiday travel surge into a nationwide tourism boost, rolling out discounts, events and targeted campaigns to draw visitors from Japan and China, despite rising airfares. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday that it is launching a series of initiatives with the Korea Tourism Organization timed with Japan’s Golden Week, which began Tuesday and runs through May 6, and China’s Labor Day holiday, which begins Thursday and runs through May 5. Officials expect between 180,000 and 200,000 visitors from the two countries during the period, including 80,000 to 90,000 from Japan and 100,000 to 110,000 from China, the ministry said. The campaign aims to spread tourism beyond Seoul by highlighting regional destinations and offering incentives tailored to different traveler groups. For Japanese tourists, particularly families, the government is working with airlines including Jin Air and Air Busan to offer airfare discounts of 1,000 to 2,000 yen per person and additional baggage allowances of up to 5 kilograms. Discount vouchers for duty-free

Apr 28, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea rolls out tourism drive to woo holiday travelers from Japan, China
Business

Missha wins shelf space in Costco stores in North America, Taiwan

A Korean cosmetics brand is making the leap into international brick-and-mortar retail, as MISSHA products hit the shelves of Costco stores across the United States, Canada and Taiwan in a coordinated global rollout announced Tuesday. Able C&C said its flagship brand MISSHA has secured placements in Costco warehouses across the three markets, marking a significant expansion beyond overseas online sales. The move follows a year of rapid growth in digital channels, where MISSHA established itself as a leading K-beauty brand on global platforms including Amazon and TikTok, the company said. The Costco launch represents more than a simple distribution deal, giving the products a strategic foothold in North America and Asia. Costco operates more than 700 locations across North America, including about 600 in the United States, offering brands immediate nationwide exposure through a single retail partnership. MISSHA has already built a presence in Japan, supplying products to more than 30 Costco stores. The latest expansion will add about 150 locations in the United States, 60 in Canada and 14

Apr 28, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Missha wins shelf space in Costco stores in North America, Taiwan
Business

Celltrion enters Japanese market for arthritis treatments with new biosimilar

Celltrion moved to strengthen its position in Japan’s competitive immunology market Tuesday with the debut of Avtozma, a biosimilar treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The launch grants the Korean drugmaker a first-mover advantage in a therapeutic segment traditionally dominated by high-cost brand-name biologics. The company said the launch of Avtozma follows a seven-month regulatory window after the drug received marketing authorization from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in September. The intravenous and subcutaneous formulations are approved to treat a broad range of inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Castleman disease and cytokine release syndrome. With the launch, Celltrion expands its autoimmune portfolio in Japan to four products, adding to its existing lineup. The company said it plans to directly sell through its Japanese subsidiary, leveraging its established sales network and supply capabilities to accelerate adoption. Ahead of the launch, the company engaged medical professionals at the 70th Annual Meeti

Apr 28, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Celltrion enters Japanese market for arthritis treatments with new biosimilar
Business

EV infrastructure leader Chaevi to list Wednesday on Kosdaq

Widely seen as Korea’s main challenger to Tesla’s Supercharger network, Chaevi is set to make its public market debut Wednesday as the company seeks to capitalize on rising demand for fast-charging infrastructure while emphasizing protections for investors. Chaevi will list on the secondary bourse Kosdaq, becoming the country’s top charging point operator, or CPO, to go public. The company drew strong retail interest during its April 20-21 subscription, securing about 4.18 trillion won ($2.7 billion) in deposits, the company said. Analysts said the offering structure, which limits immediately tradable shares to 21.03 percent of total outstanding stock, is designed to reduce early volatility and stabilize supply. Chaevi said it also adopted measures aimed at protecting investors, including a put-back option that allows shareholders to sell shares back to the company at 90 percent of the offering price if the stock falls below its initial price within a set period. The company set its public offering at 12,300 won per share, raising about 110.7 billion won in total. The number of sha

Apr 28, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
EV infrastructure leader Chaevi to list Wednesday on Kosdaq
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