CJ OliveNetworks, the information technology solution developer of CJ Group, will share its expertise in big data and artificial intelligence with small and medium businesses and startups, the company said Monday. The CJ affiliate is participating in the South Korean government’s Data Voucher Support Project, which is part of the government’s Digital New Deal Initiative. The project aims to invigorate the big data ecosystem for small and mid-size enterprises across the country. S

Alarm bells are ringing over power security this summer, as the heat wave has driven electricity demand to historic highs already before August, the hottest month of summer, arrives. The electricity reserve margin, the difference between the supply capacity and demand, fell close to 10 percent last week, recording the season’s lowest 10.1 percent on Tuesday, with the remaining supply capacity dipping to 8.8 gigawatts. A reserve ratio under 10 percent, or a remaining capacity under 10 G

Construction project management firm HanmiGlobal will work with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, a cloud service provider, to promote South Korea as the next data center hub of Asia, the two firms announced Wednesday. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on the marketing and management of data center construction projects, as political uncertainties in Hong Kong are prompting foreign companies to consider relocating their data centers in Asia. Under the agreement, HanmiGlobal w

South Korean education service provider Vine Group has been expanding its businesses beyond teaching, entering into areas such as food and beverage, asset management and IT services, with continued investment in people and commitment to social responsibility. Behind its expansion has been the “100 Project,” an in-house venture program founded three years ago to promote diversity and creativity among company employees. The ultimate goal of the program, according to the company, is

LG Group affiliates operating in Vietnam have yet to receive any COVID-19 vaccines despite donating billions of won to help the Southeast Asian country secure the jabs, Korean media outlets reported Monday. Citing sources in Vietnam, the reports said LG Group employees working at the home appliance plants in Haiphong City have not received any vaccines. The parent group has contributed 1.55 billion won ($1.4 million) to Vietnam’s national vaccine fund. This is in stark contrast to oth

LG Group’s materials and components maker LG Innotek managed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 11 percent last year, from the previous year, the company said in a report released Monday. According to the firm’s 2020-21 Sustainability Report, it reduced emissions by an estimated 45,000 tons, which is equivalent to what 3.9 million trees would have absorbed over a year. In addition to that, the company was able to cut water usage by 7 percent from 2019, by expanding investment in

Starting from Monday, social distancing measures in the greater Seoul area will be raised to the highest in the four-tier system, as South Korea’s daily infection tally had spiked over 1,000 in the past few days. The new measures will remain in place for two weeks until July 25. Here’s what you need to know about the latest rules. Private gatherings Private gatherings of more than four people are banned. After 6 p.m., gatherings are limited to two people, even for the fully

Some 6 in 10 supporters of the main opposition People Power Party think Yoon Seok-youl is fit to be the next president of South Korea, dwarfing support for the established politicians of the party, a recent poll showed Thursday. The survey was conducted with 1,006 eligible voters by Realmeter and commissioned by OhmyNews, a left-leaning internet news outlet. According to survey results, the ex-prosecutor general received a 58 percent support rating among 383 respondents who said they suppor

South Korea plans to change parts of its visa policy to allow more skilled foreigners into the country, in a bid to tackle its declining population and aging society. The plans were unveiled Wednesday at a regular briefing held by the Ministry of Justice. According to the ministry, the government plans to lower qualifications to obtain long-term residency, or a F-2 visa, for talented foreigners in “promising industries” that require support on a “national level.” Exac

South Koreans set to join the military between July and September will be eligible for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Wednesday. The shots will be administered at regional inoculation centers starting next Monday to conscripted individuals and professional soldiers set to begin their service. The KDCA recommends that people apply for the program only if they can complete the two-dose regimen before joining the military, since vaccination

Anti-China sentiment and differing views on nationality could be fanning debate over a proposal to lower the entry barriers to South Korean citizenship. In Korea, any child born to a Korean parent is granted citizenship. In April the Ministry of Justice suggested tweaking the laws to open the door to citizenship for children born in Korea to foreign parents. Doing so would promote multiculturalism and boost Korea’s ultralow birth rate, said the ministry. The proposed change would aff

Park Sae-eun, 32, was named Etoile at the Paris Opera Ballet on Friday. She is the first Asian ballet dancer to obtain the title, which means star dancer, in the company’s 352-year history. The announcement was made after the “Romeo and Juliet” ballet performance began Thursday at the Bastille Opera in France. Park played Juliet alongside Paul Marque, who was designated star dancer in December. In 2011, she became an official member of the elite dance company in France an

Seoul Auction announced Friday that it would hold its 161st major art auction June 22. Works by famous Korean and international artists will be up for sale, for a total of 204 pieces both modern and antique, with a combined estimated value of 23 billion won ($20.68 million). This is the highest amount for any single auction in South Korea since the 2008 financial crisis, according to Seoul Auction. The works by renowned Korean modern artists will include Lee Jung-seop’s oil painting &

The British Council of Korea and the Korea Foundation on Friday announced that they were looking for creative ideas to tackle climate change. Cross-border teams from the UK and Korea can compete for funds to support their projects by submitting applications by July 2. “We hope this program can expand the cooperation and conversations between Korea and the UK about climate change issues we face,” said Sam Harvey, director of the British Council of Korea. Nationals from the two co

The country’s annual festival of short films is back, after an announcement earlier this year that it would be discontinued. Defying the odds, the 20th Mise-en-Scene Short Film Festival will run June 24 to June 30. Some changes have been made to the weeklong event, however, as the ongoing pandemic batters the film industry. This year’s festival will not have competition categories. Instead, the festival will screen 20 films that made a mark in the event’s two-decade history

Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel celebrates World Environment Day Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel in Songdo has partnered with social venture Tree Planet to raise awareness of environmental protection. “Green Project” will see the hotel plant one tree at a restoration forest in Gangwon Province per each companion tree bought by guests through the hotel. Each tree planted in the forest will be imprinted with the owner’s name. All hotel guests can participate in the project and rece

The “Hong Kong Week 2021@Seoul” event will be pushed back by two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts announced Wednesday. The change in schedule comes as the art center failed to get a green light from the government in February to have visiting artists from Hong Kong exempted from mandatory self-quarantine measures. The decision to postpone the event was made last week, an official from the Sejong Center said. The postponement was necess

Public art festival Coex Urban Park will kick off Wednesday for a four-day run, aiming to send a message of hope to people suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the theme of “Blossom the Hope,” the event was organized by the Gangnam-gu Office and members of the Coex Mice Cluster, a group consisting of Coex, the Korea International Trade Association and 14 companies. Public works or art, exhibitions and other activities will be held at multiple locations near the World Trade

The third Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism will run Sept. 16 to Oct. 31. The theme is “Crossroads, Building the Resilient City,” a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 46-day event will take place at various locations around Seoul, including Dongdaemun Design Plaza, the Seoul Hall of Urbanism and Architecture, and Sewoon Plaza in Jongno, central Seoul. Exhibitions and other activities will take place at each location. Works by internationally renowned architects, suc

Woori Financial Group said Friday it selected 17 companies to join its startup incubation program, beefing up its effort to find new partners and accelerate digital transformation. Established in 2019, “Dinno Lab” -- an abbreviation for “digital innovation lab” -- is a training program provided by the banking group to nurture tech startups. From among 274 applications for this year’s program, startups from seven sectors, including ecommerce, blockchain, artificia