South Korean biotechnology firm Seegene on Wednesday said that it has introduced a new platform technology that automates steps involved in “molecular diagnostics” such as DNA analysis.　Seegene’s newly developed “real-time PCR” platform technology, the “SGsilico,” is able to automate the dozens of steps involved in the “molecular assay” procedure -- analyzing the given components of a substance, such as human genes.Molecular diagnostics can determine and diagnose what kind of disease or conditio

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has organized an insect food tasting event in Seoul, with the aim of improving the public perception of edible insects and promoting the growth of the insect food industry. The event will run from Aug. 4-17 at the Nonghyup Hanaro Club in Yangjae-dong of southern Seoul and feature 19 insect-based food items made by four food companies, the ministry said.Visitors can try out diverse foods that contain edible insects -- such as cookies, noodles, e

South Korean tech giant Samsung Group is working to expand its biosimilars business beyond Samsung Bioepis, the group’s drug developing unit specializing in making biosimilar drugs, according to industry sources on Wednesday. 　Archigen Biotech Ltd., a joint venture between Samsung BioLogics and U.K.-based AstraZeneca, on June 20 applied for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval to initiate phase 3 clinical trials for SAIT101, a biosimilar drug referencing Biogen’s Rituxan (rituximab).

Yanolja, a South Korean motel booking app operator, on Tuesday said it will lead the way in transforming public perceptions of local motels from unclean, shabby spaces for sex to high-quality, affordable lodging options for locals and foreigners.While Westerns perceive motels as simplistic, cheap lodging facilities, Koreans have long considered motels -- often referred to as “love motels” here -- as private spaces rented usually for the objective of sex, rather than for accommodation.Yanolja fou

The South Korean government on Tuesday announced plans to invest a total of 200 billion won ($181 million) into building more public charging stations for electric vehicles, with the aim to nurture the growth of the local EV market.　The Ministry of Trade Industry and Energy and the state-owned Korea Electric Power Corp. plan to build 150 public charging stations in Seoul, Jejudo Island and other parts of the country by the end of this year.　The 150 public charging stations -- 60 in Seoul, 60 in

South Korean network operator SK Telecom and Nokia on Tuesday said they have jointly developed a backpack-size portable Long Term Evolution network system tailored for rescue operations and emergency services.Compact enough to fit inside a backpack, the new portable LTE network system is equipped with a standalone base station as well as additional communications solutions, according to SKT.“The portable all-in-one PS-LTE system is a ground-breaking solution that enables communication among firs

CJ Foodville on Monday said it is opening a new character exhibition at the “N Seoul Tower” located in central Seoul, showcasing famous characters such as Hello Kitty and Marvel Comics heroes.　CJ will operate two exhibits — “Hello Kitty Island” showcasing diverse Hello Kitty-themed exhibits and activities and the “Ssentoy Museum & Showroom” featuring limited-edition animation figures, Marvel heroes and diverse spaces that utilize virtual reality technology.“We decided to open this character exhi

The recent decision by the South Korean customs agency to impose a purchase limit at the country’s tax-free outlets is dampening the sales outlook for local cosmetics firms which generate a major part of their sales via duty-free channels.　On July 11, the Korea Customs Service notified all Korean duty-free operators -- including Lotte, Shilla and Shinsegae -- to limit the number of purchases made by each customer to 50 cosmetics and perfume products, and 10 bags and watches at each brand. Touris

The explosive popularity of Nintendo and Niantic’s GPS-based mobile game “Pokemon Go” around the world, including South Korea, has thrust into the spotlight the core technology behind the game -- augmented reality.What exactly is augmented reality? It's a technology that overlays (or augments) digital images onto a person’s view of the world, merging one’s physical reality with digital imagination. In the case of “Pokemon Go,” the app utilizes gamers’ real-world locations to make Pokemon charact

The Korea Communications Commission, the state media regulator, on Thursday said it plans to investigate Kakao Corp., operator of South Korea’s top mobile messenger KakaoTalk, over the legality of its in-app notifications.　The move came after a local civic group accused Kakao of unilaterally sending out messages notifying users of purchases, orders and deliveries made through the app -- which costs nominal data usage fees -- without obtaining the consumer’s consent.The civic body had asserted th

Nexon founder Kim Jung-ju on Friday officially stepped down from the company's board, following his indictment earlier in the day on suspicious stock transactions and bribery.Kim is charged with providing some 920 million won ($821,000) in bribes to Jin Kyung-joon, a South Korean senior prosecutor and college friend of Kim. Jin was arrested and indicted on Friday, and subsequently dismissed from his post.“I express my deepest apology to everyone,” Kim said in a statement. “I committed a grave wr

South Korean telecommunications firm KT said Friday that it posted an operating profit of 427 billion won ($379.6 million) in the second quarter, marking its highest quarterly performance in four years.　The company disclosed that its operating profit rose 15.8 percent on-year during the April-June period, thanks to its strong performance in its wireless network, landline telecom and media businesses.KT’s second-quarter performance overtook that of SK Telecom, the country’s leading telecom compan

KARAOKE CONVENIENCE STORE — South Korea’s leading convenience store chain CU has opened a new karaoke-style outlet in Hongdae, northwestern Seoul. The specialized CU store is housed on the first floor of the Luxury Su noraebang, a local karaoke bar franchise. The new store has been decorated with neon signs and disco balls to resemble a noraebang and also offers a wide variety of eateries and goods catered to local noraebang-goers, said CU’s operator BGF Retail. (BGF Retail)

Google Korea will open a free indoor entertainment space dubbed “Google Play Arcade” at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Friday, with aims to introduce and bring mobile games closer to the wider public.From taking the stage to become the South Korean champion of “Clash Royal” to physically climbing up the virtual steps on “Infinite Stairs,” visitors to the arcade can experience a wide range of mobile games in new and interactive ways.A view inside the “Google Play Arcade” which opens Friday a

South Korean network operator SK Telecom said Wednesday it has partnered with Israel-based 3-D sensor processing developer Inuitive Ltd. to step up its development of solutions based on augmented and virtual reality technology.SKT and Inuitive signed a memorandum of understanding in Seoul on the day, agreeing to jointly work on new AR-and VR-based solutions under development by SKT for mobile phones and small electronic devices.SKT plans to merge its AR and VR tech brand “T-Real” with Inuitive’s

South Korean Internet giant Naver said Wednesday that it will spin off its mobile video messaging app Snow as an independent company next month, encouraged by the app’s surging popularity across Asia.Camp Mobile, Naver’s mobile business unit, plans to separate out Snow as an independent company, to be named Snow Corp., on Aug. 1 with aims to nurture the app’s future growth with more efficiency and responsibility, according to Naver.Snow, a video and photo-sharing mobile messenger developed by Na

LG Household & Health Care on Tuesday said it delivered its highest second-quarter earnings to date this year, buoyed by the success of its luxury cosmetics brands Whoo and Su:m37. 　Its net sales during the April-June period of 2016 surged 18.5 percent on-year to 1.6 trillion won ($1.46 billion) while its operating profit rose 34.1 percent on-year to 225 billion won.The sales hike was led mainly by LG H&H’s cosmetics business, which saw its sales increase 33.1 percent on-year to 820 billion won

South Korea’s National Tax Service is conducting an investigation into Huawei Korea, the local branch of Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies, the company said Tuesday.　Investigators from the Seoul branch of the National Tax Service are currently conducting a tax audit on Huawei Korea, the firm said, calling it a regular process that takes place every five years.“The NTS has been investigating our company as part of a regular audit that takes place every five years,” a Huawei Korea spokesperso

U.S.-based biopharma company Zafgen Inc. has suspended the development of beloranib, an obesity drug originally created and licensed out by South Korea’s Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. in 2009.Zafgen’s decision, announced on July 19, came six months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked the company to halt the drug’s clinical trials following the death of two patients.(123RF)Beloranib, administered through an injection, had been considered a promising treatment for Prader-Willi

South Korean network provider SK Telecom said Monday that it was terminating its plan to merge its IPTV unit SK Broadband and the country’s top cable TV operator CJ HelloVision.The decision came a week after the Fair Trade Commission officially opposed the 1 trillion won merger deal ($875 million), citing concerns over a market monopoly by SKT in the competitive paid TV business.In November 2015, SKT had announced that it would acquire a 53.9 percent majority stake in CJ HelloVision from its own