Meta, formerly Facebook, said Wednesday it has launched a joint research center with Seoul National University to study extended reality (XR) technology and metaverse policies. The new facility, called XR Hub Korea, is part of Meta’s ”XR Program Research“ which kicked off last year as a collaborative research project with prestigious institutions worldwide. SNU has been participating from the beginning, the company said. The center will help form networks among scholars, and

Construction company Daewoo Engineering & Construction said Wednesday that it has been participating in a community service project to improve the housing environment for descendants of independence fighters. The construction company took part in the project — hosted by nonprofit volunteer organization Habitat for Humanity Korea — by donating 200 million won ($154,621) in February, and repairing seven homes belonging to the descendants of activists who fought against the 1919-1

Italian luxury fashion brand Gucci on Wednesday launched its new “Gucci Pet Collection,” catering to canines and felines that enjoy extravagant lifestyles. The product line is part of a larger collection titled “Gucci Lifestyle,” which was launched in September 2021. The pet attire and accessories are all made from recycled cotton and polyester, and Gucci’s own eco-friendly fabric called Demetra that is made from sustainable, renewable sources. Pet owners can now

Special limited edition medals and banknotes to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, went on sale Monday. Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corporation (KOMSCO) said the commemorative items were made to wish the South Korean national football team good luck on the upcoming 2022 Qatar World Cup, while serving as a reminder of the national unity Korea experienced during the 2002 tournament. The “FIFA World

South Korean retail and finance company, TGS Holdings, said Thursday that it has produced a TV commercial featuring former professional Go master Lee Se-dol last month. Lee Se-dol, who competed with Google’s artificial intelligence program AlphaGo in 2016 during the peak of his career, signed a contract to become the face of TGS in Novermber 2021. The newly produced commercial introduces TGS’s new smart currency called C-Cash. It is the world‘s first hybrid smart currency t

Posco said Thursday that it kicked off its annual community service event, “Global Model Citizen Week,” on June 14. The 12-day event will have 63,000 Posco employees worldwide participating. It consists of over 1,000 volunteer projects that give back to society, such as helping disadvantaged groups, preserving the ecosystem and supporting welfare centers. As part of the event, Posco Vice Chairman Kim Hak-dong planted red roses and honey tree saplings with other Posco employees at

Line Plus, the global arm of messaging app provider Line Corp., said Monday that it will implement a new work system called “Line Hybrid Work 2.0” in July, which includes guidelines on working remotely from abroad. Starting July 1, Line Plus employees will be able to work remotely from anywhere in the world that has a time difference of less than four hours with Korea, for up to 90 days. This will allow employees to work from the company’s major markets including Japan, Taiw

South Korean petrochemical company SK Geo Centric said Monday that it has started exporting renewable benzene from last week, as part of its cooperation with European firms in creating a regional value chain for renewable chemicals. Benzene is an organic compound used to make plastic, resin and synthetic fiber. It is traditionally produced by processing fossil fuel-based feedstocks. Finnish oil company Neste Corp. provided its Korean counterpart with feedstock made from recycled materials. S

Inspire Entertainment Resort said Tuesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Futurenet to build a high-end LED signage system in its resort under construction in Incheon, South Korea. The agreement established a consortium between Samsung and the Hyundai Department Store Group’s ICT platform unit, Hyundai Futurenet, on Monday to offer dynamic and futuristic ICT experiences for vacationers. As part of the consortium, Samsung Electronics

South Korean construction company Daewoo Engineering & Construction said Monday that it is developing wearable robots that can be used at construction sites to prevent injuries while maintaining productivity. The company was chosen Tuesday in a contest held by the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement to work in cooperation with local robotics startup WIrobotics and the Korea Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Center to develop a smart work care service involving wearable robots. The

Lime, the world’s leading operator of rented electric scooters and bikes, said in a statement on Wednesday that it will be withdrawing its operations from South Korea on June 30. Constant traffic law revisions and differing local government policies were named by the company as the primary reasons behind this “tentative suspension” of operations. Lime saw a sharp drop in its customers in 2021, when a law that made wearing helmets mandatory for people riding electric scooters

The largest fair in South Korea for startups wishing to go abroad kicked off on Thursday in Seoul. The aim is to help the nation‘s budding enterprises attract investment and forge partnerships with big corporations. The annual event titled NextRise is hosted by the Korea International Trade Association and Korea Development Bank. This year’s event will be held for two days, starting on Thursday and ending Friday. The event, taking place at COEX, Samseong-dong, Seoul, features pres

Honorary Chairman Cho Seok-rae of South Korean conglomerate Hyosung Group was awarded the 2022 14th YoungSan Diplomat Award on Tuesday for leading economic cooperation between South Korea, Japan and China. 　　 The nonprofit Seoul Forum for International Affairs presents the YoungSan Diplomat Award each year to individuals who have contributed in improving Korea’s image and national interests on the international stage. 　 “As a leader of the business sector and a graduate of engineer

KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo and Tomas Anker Christensen, Denmark’s ambassador for climate change, discussed the role of the financial sector in achieving carbon neutrality, officials said Friday. In the meeting held Thursday, Yoon explained KB’s efforts in promoting awareness of a low-carbon economy and shifting the group’s strategy in line with carbon neutrality. KB is currently pursuing its net-zero goals with a strategy called “KB Net Zero S.T.A.R,&rdq

South Korean data processing solution developer DataStreams said Wednesday that it has been chosen as a preferred bidder by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency, or NIA, to participate in a project to create a big data platform for infectious diseases. DataStreams is currently in negotiations with the NIA and is set to officially sign the deal later this month. The project worth 7 billion won ($5.5 million) will create a database to integrate informatio

Budding cosmetics brand Barenbliss is garnering success in the Southeast Asian market, seeing rapid growth in online sales and receiving rave reviews from local media less than a year into its debut. In an interview with The Korea Herald, Barenbliss co-founder Jina Kim attributed her brand’s success to its “unique philosophy and insightful observations.” “Every product was produced on the basis of Bare Essential Plus, No Harm Plus, and Bliss Moment, the philosophies

A hole-in-one should be a cause for rejoicing on the golf course, but the cost of such celebrations are driving more golfers to insure themselves against their own success. An ace can be costly in Korea, as the golfer traditionally pays for an after party, donates a commemorative tree, pays for a follow-up match and tips the caddies. Short-term golf insurance products that cover holes-in-one are becoming increasingly popular in South Korea. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, the insurance

Fast-food chain McDonald’s Korea said Monday that it has relaunched its limited edition side menu McWings. McWings is a fried chicken snack that comes with a complimentary dipping sauce. First released in 2014, McWings created a fad in 2019 when it sold out earlier than expected. It has since become a favorite seasonal menu among chicken maniacs for its crispiness and salty flavor, according to the burger franchise. “McDonald’s is presenting a wide range of chicken menus, i

JM Solution, the skin care brand from South Korean cosmetics company GP Club, said Thursday that it has recently started supplying products in Europe through local retailers. Its Believe in Nature face mask line is the first to hit the European market. The firm said it will continue diversifying its product lineup in phases. For the latest European push, the firm has partnered with two German retailers, Muller and dm-drogerie markt, which boast a combined 4,359 stores in 15 countries in Euro

Local builder Hyundai Engineering & Construction opened a model house for its new Hillstate Yangju Okjeong Patio Foret housing complex on May 13. Customers can tour the model house until June 12 after making a reservation through Hillstate Patio Foret’s official website. A virtual tour is also available. The new building can accommodate up to 809 households in 84-square-meter block houses. Each three story house was designed to include two parking spaces and an electric vehicle charg