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☆ South Korea to evacuate thousands of scouts due to expected typhoon
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Participants from UK prepare to leave the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Buan, South Korea, August 5, 2023. Yonhap via REUTERSSEOUL, Aug 7 (Reuters) - South Korea said on Monday that it would evacuate thousands of scouts taking part in a jamboree in the southwest of the country from Tuesday due to an expected typhoon. Kim Sung-ho, a senior interior ministry official, told a briefing that about 36,000 participants would be taken by bus to safer places that would not be in the path of the typhoon. Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed DaviesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kim Sung, Ed Davies Organizations: Yonhap, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Buan, South Korea, REUTERS SEOUL

[1/3] Participants play with a ball at the camping site for the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Buan, South Korea, August 4, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiSEOUL, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Organisers of the World Scout Jamboree raced on Monday to evacuate thousands of mainly teenage participants from their South Korea campsite before a typhoon is expected to hit the area just days after a debilitating heatwave. Typhoon Khanun, which has wreaked havoc in southern Japan, is forecast to reach southern South Korea on Thursday, near the jamboree's campsite in Jeolla province. South Korea's government has informed the group that they were planning an early departure from the campsite due to the typhoon, the World Organization of the Scout Movement said. South Korea has pledged to ensure the event's safety, and have laid on water trucks, air-conditioned spaces and medics.

Persons: Kim Hong, Ji, Khanun, Yoon Suk, Kim Kwan, Hyunsu Yim, Ed Davies, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, World Organization of, Scout Movement, Local, Scouts, ABC, Thomson Locations: Buan, South Korea, Ji SEOUL, Korea, Japan, Jeolla province, Seoul, North Jeolla, Australian, U.S, British

☆ Here are Credit Suisse's top picks for August, including healthcare and tech stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Credit Suisse refreshed its "top of the crop" stock picks for August, betting on some big-name stocks as investors continue to feed the markets with optimism. Credit Suisse recently highlighted several stocks the bank's analysts think can outperform this month. "It is increasingly clear that greater service levels in the form of faster delivery is leading to consumers assigning a higher value to Prime" memberships, Credit Suisse said. Credit Suisse also named electronics manufacturer Flex Ltd. as a top pick. Credit Suisse assigned a $126 price target on Merck, which implies 20% appreciation from Friday's closing price.

Persons: Stocks, Stephen Ju, Amazon's, Ju, Shannon Cross, Flex, Cross, Trung Huynh, Merck, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Suisse, Credit Suisse, Amazon, Flex, Merck, Prometheus Biosciences

☆ Germany exit Women's World Cup after draw with South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRISBANE, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Twice former winners Germany crashed out in the opening phase of the Women's World Cup for the first time after being held to a 1-1 draw with South Korea in their final Group H match on Thursday. Casey Phair, who became the Women's World Cup's youngest ever player earlier in the tournament, almost gave the Koreans the lead when the 16-year-old saw her second minute effort pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Merle Frohms. Germany were frustrated by the hard-pressing Koreans, but in the 42nd minute the former champions levelled as Popp out-jumped the defence to meet Svenja Huth's right wing cross and loop her header beyond Kim Jung-mi. Voss-Tecklenburg's side threw everything forward after the interval, with Popp's 57th minute header ruled out on review by VAR as the striker strayed offside following a clever flick by Lea Schuller. Reporting by Michael Church, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Cho, hyun, Alexandra Popp, Casey Phair, Merle Frohms, Colin Bell's, Lee Young, Popp, Svenja, Kim Jung, Lea Schuller, Kim, Sydney Lohmann thumped, Michael Church, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: BRISBANE, Germany, South, Thomson Locations: South Korea, Colombia, Perth, Germany, Voss

☆ Years after #MeToo first swept the world, Taiwan races to respond
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Sarah Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

TAIPEI, July 28 (Reuters) - Six years after the #MeToo movement rose to global prominence and toppled powerful perpetrators of sexual abuse, Taiwan is racing to reform laws and provide training and support as it reckons with its own wave of complaints. The drama mirrored reality two months ago when an allegation of sexual abuse surfaced that was linked to Taiwan's ruling party. Her criticism of the then-head of the Democratic Progressive Party's women's affairs department for dismissing her complaint went viral. COMPANIES RESPOND TOOBusinesses are also responding by investigating complaints and training staff in preventing abuse. Hsieh said he hoped exposure to the movement at a young age would help his daughters develop a sense of equality.

Persons: Lai Pei, Lai, Chen Chien, jou, Tsai Ing, Chen Chao, Lee Yen, jong, Lee, Peng Yen, Liu Jung, jen, Liu, Yu Mei, Yu, Johnson Hsieh, Hsieh, Sarah Wu, John Geddie, Robert Birsel Organizations: Netflix, Facebook, Democratic Progressive, National Taiwan University, Women's Foundation, Reuters, Taiwan Bar Association, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, Asia, Taipei

"Production cuts across the industry are likely to continue in the second half, and demand is expected to gradually recover as clients continue to destock their (chip) inventory," Samsung, the world's biggest memory chip maker, said in a statement. It had reported a 9.98 trillion won profit a year earlier. Samsung said it spent 14.5 trillion won in capital expenditures during the second quarter, of which 13.5 trillion won was spent on chips. Operating profit fell to 669 billion won ($527 million) in April-June, from 14.1 trillion won a year earlier. Samsung's mobile business reported a 3.04 trillion won profit in the June quarter, up from 2.62 trillion won a year earlier.

Persons: Jaejune Kim, Taiwan's TSMC, Apple's, 1,269.2200, Joyce Lee, Miyoung Kim, Jamie Freed Organizations: Samsung, SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, South, SK Hynix's, Qualcomm, Revenue, Thomson Locations: SEOUL

☆ Samsung Elec Q2 profit plunges 95% as chip glut persists
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, July 27 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) reported on Thursday a 95% plunge in quarterly profit, as the chip industry's downturn persisted despite output cuts due to weaker demand for products reliant on semiconductors from consumer gadgets to servers. The world's top maker of memory chips and smartphones said operating profit fell to 669 billion won ($527 million) for the April-June quarter, from 14.1 trillion won a year earlier. That was broadly in line with the company's estimate of 600 billion won this month, and was the second-lowest quarterly profit in 14 years. Revenue fell 22% to 60 trillion won. ($1 = 1,269.2200 won)Reporting by Joyce Lee and Ju-min Park; Editing by Tom Hogue and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: 1,269.2200, Joyce Lee, Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed Organizations: Samsung Electronics, Revenue, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, KS

☆ Wall Street analysts become even more bullish on Meta after its latest earnings report
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Meta has had a breakout year in 2023 — and Wall Street analysts think the stock has even further room to grow after company's latest quarterly report. The new target price implies more than 25% upside from Wednesday's close. Bank of America analyst Justin Post also increased his price target on Meta shares to $375 from $350. META YTD mountain Meta shares in 2023 Meanwhile, UBS hiked its price target to $400 from $335, implying 34% further upside. He reiterated his overweight rating while lifting his price target to $425 from $300, one of the highest on the Street.

Persons: Meta, Morgan Stanley, Brian Novak, Novak, Justin Post, Goldman Sachs, Eric Sheridan, Sheridan, Wells, Ken Gawrelski, Gawrelski, Stephen Ju, Ju, UBS's Lloyd Walmsley, Walmsley, Doug Anmuth, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Wall Street, Meta, Bank of America, Citi, Reality Labs, UBS, Credit Suisse Locations: opex

☆ Tesla’s secret team to suppress thousands of driving range complaints
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +21 min

He expected to get something close to the electric sport sedan’s advertised driving range: 353 miles on a fully charged battery. Driving range is among the most important factors in consumer decisions on which electric car to buy, or whether to buy one at all. Electric cars can lose driving range for a lot of the same reasons as gasoline cars — but to a greater degree. The EPA said all the changes to Tesla’s range estimates were made before the company used the figures on window stickers. Independent automotive testers commonly examine the EPA-approved fuel-efficiency or driving range claims against their own experience in structured tests or real-world driving.

Persons: Alexandre Ponsin, ”, Tesla, Elon Musk, “ Elon, Scott Case, Case, Gregory Pannone, Pannone, “ They've, carmaker, Ford, I’m, ” Pannone, ” Jonathan Elfalan, Edmunds, Elfalan, ” Elfalan, Santa Clara –, Ponsin, ” Ponsin, “, Steve Stecklow, Norihiko, Heekyong Yang, Peter Henderson, Eve Watling, Lucy Ha, Ilan Rubens, Brian Thevenot Organizations: Reuters, Tesla, South, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai Kona, National Science Foundation, SAE International, U.S, Porsche, Benz, EV, Independent, General Motors, Hyundai, Korea Fair Trade Commission, Virtual Service, Santa, San Francisco Art Locations: AUSTIN, Texas, Colorado, California, Las Vegas, Austin , Texas, Nevada, U.S, Seattle, Vegas, Henderson, Utah, Santa Clara, London, Austin, Seoul, San Francisco

[1/2] A Hyundai Kona vehicle is unveiled at the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. PERFORMANCEHyundai said vehicle sales rose 8.5% to 1.06 million units in the second quarter, with EV sales soaring 47% to nearly 78,000 units. In the United States, Hyundai's biggest market, sales of green energy cars that include EVs and plug-in hybrids more than doubled to 46,000 units. Overall vehicle sales in the U.S. grew 14% to 225,000 units, led by sedans, while in South Korea, its second-biggest market, sales rose 13% to 206,000 units. Hyundai said last month it planned to boost EV production in the United States to three-quarters of its total production there by 2030 from just 0.7% now.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Elon Musk, Kim Jinwoo, Zayong Koo, Refinitiv SmartEstimate, 1,279.1700, Heekyong Yang, Miyoung Kim, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Hyundai, New York, REUTERS, Kia Corp, Korea Investment & Securities, EV, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, SEOUL, KS, United States, North America, South Korea

LG Display expects "a rise in demand for panels" as stockpiles of display panels have fallen during the first half of the year, CFO Sung-hyun Kim said. The second-quarter result was in line with a forecast of an 889 billion won loss from 16 analysts polled by Refinitiv SmartEstimate, weighted toward analysts that are more consistently accurate. Factory run-rates for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays used in high-end televisions remained relatively low due to weak sales in Europe, resulting in the poor performance in the second quarter, analysts said. Mobile display panel orders are concentrated in the second half of the year, ahead of the holiday season. However, the initial supply volume is unlikely to significantly impact the company's financials in the third quarter, analysts said.

Persons: Sung, Kim, Refinitiv SmartEstimate, Joyce Lee, Tom Hogue Organizations: LG, Apple Inc, Revenue, LG Display, Apple, Samsung Electronics, Reuters, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, KS, Europe

☆ Anger in South Korea as court rejects removing minister over Halloween crush
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Ju-Min Park | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Judges of South Korea's Constitutional Court sit for the ruling on the National Assembly's impeachment of Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, at the constitutional court in Seoul, South Korea, July 25, 2023. Yonhap via REUTERSSEOUL, July 25 (Reuters) - South Korea's top court on Tuesday ruled against a parliamentary vote to impeach the interior minister over a botched government response to a deadly Halloween crush in Seoul last year, sparking anger and dismay among relatives of the victims. Dozens of relatives and supporters gathered in front of the court chanting "condemn the constitutional court that gave immunity to Lee Sang-min!" Choi Sun-mi, the mother of Park Ga-young, one of the victims, described the court ruling as "truly devastating." The Itaewon district in South Korea’s capital is known to revellers as a place of fun, freedom and openness.

Persons: Lee Sang, Lee Jong, Lee, Yonhap, Choi, Yoon Suk Yeol, partygoers, Hyunsu Yim, Ed Davies, Lincoln Organizations: South, South Korea's Constitutional, Yonhap, REUTERS, National Assembly, Thomson Locations: South Korea's, Seoul, South Korea, REUTERS SEOUL, Itaewon, South Korea’s

☆ Rare submarine visit reminds North Korea of U.S. nuclear missiles out of sight, in range
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Josh Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SEOUL, July 21 (Reuters) - When a U.S. ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) surfaced for a rare visit to South Korea this week it was a blunt reminder that Washington always has nuclear-tipped missiles deployed within close striking distance of North Korea, analysts said. “Placing nuclear weapons offshore and on submarines is actually a stronger deterrent in many ways,” said Duyeon Kim of the Center for a New American Security. SSBNs anywhere from the U.S. West coast westward can strike targets in North Korea,” Van Diepen said. For now, a missile submarine would only marginally supplement the North's burgeoning land-based nuclear force, Van Diepen said. "De-facto nuclear sharing between the United States and South Korea is happening," said Choi Il, a retired South Korean submarine captain.

Persons: ”, Duyeon Kim, Vann Van Diepen, ” Van Diepen, Van Diepen, Choi Il, Josh Smith, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Center, New, New American Security, The U.S ., U.S, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, U.S, South Korea, Washington, North Korea, New American, USS Kentucky Ohio, South, Busan, United States, China, The, An Ohio, West, ”, Korea, South Korean

North Korea's state media, which in the past reported on the detention of U.S. nationals, have also not commented on the incident so far. "I don't think anyone who was sane would want to go to North Korea, so I assumed it was some kind of stunt." State Department spokesman Miller said Sweden has been engaged as it acts as a diplomatic channel for Washington which remains technically at war with North Korea. North Korea has previously detained Americans who entered the country and put them on trial but eventually released them, often following high-level diplomatic intervention. A former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea said King may be used as a propaganda tool, but it was not clear how long North Korea would want to exploit his presence.

Persons: Kim Hong, Ji, Travis T, Matthew Miller, King, Sarah Leslie, Miller, Karine Jean, Pierre, Biden, Otto Warmbier, hyang Choi, Phil Smith, Steve Holland, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, State Department, Pentagon, Korean People's Army, North, Joint Security Area, New Zealand, Reuters, . State, U.S, United Nations Command, Thomson Locations: Panmunjom, South Korea, U.S, Sweden, North Korea, SEOUL, WASHINGTON, Washington, Pyongyang, North, United States, New, Korea, Korean, Seoul

She was among some 40 other tourists who were walking around and taking photos in the moments before King made a dash to North Korea. "I don't think anyone who was sane would want to go to North Korea, so I assumed it was some kind of stunt," she told Reuters. North Korea is likely to milk the border crossing by a U.S. soldier for propaganda purposes but will probably not be able to gain political leverage, analysts and a former North Korean diplomat said. The notable exception was U.S. college student Otto Warmbier, who died in 2017 shortly after being released from a North Korea prison. Still, analysts suggested that King's stay in North Korea could be lengthy.

Persons: Travis T, King, Carl Gates, Gates, Travis, Sarah Leslie, Leslie, Tae Yong, Andrei Lankov, Otto Warmbier, Lankov, It's, Victor Cha, Josh Smith, Matt Spetalnick, Don Durfee, Sandra Maler Organizations: U.S . Army, The Korea Times, U.S, Cavalry, Korean, Force, National Defense Service, Korean Defense, Overseas Service, Daily, Joint Security Area, Reuters, South, Korea Risk Group, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, WASHINGTON, South Korea, Washington, North, Seoul, Fort Bliss , Texas, North Korea, Racine , Wisconsin, New Zealander, U.S, North Korean, Korea, Korean, Korea's, Pyongyang

[1/3] Foreign tourists participating in DMZ tour walk past a military fence near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Paju, South Korea July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiPAJU, South Korea, July 19 (Reuters) - Only hours after U.S. Most infamously, axe-wielding North Korean soldiers in the DMZ in 1976 murdered two U.S. soldiers who were cutting down a tree to secure a clear view. In 2017, a North Korean soldier was riddled with bullets by his comrades, but ultimately survived as he made a dash into the South. He must have done it not knowing exactly what North Korea is like," Lee told Reuters at the observation point.

Persons: Kim Hong, Ji PAJU, Travis T, King, Felicia, Lee Sang, Lee, Soo, hyang Choi, Gyun Kim, Hongji Kim, Ed Davies, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Joint Security Area, South Korean, United Nations Command, UNC, ITC, North, American, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Paju, South Korea, North Korea, Korea, U.S, North Korean, Seoul, Minwoo

☆ Chaos as U.S. soldier Travis King bolted into North Korea -witness
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Ju-Min Park | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, July 19 (Reuters) - American and South Korean guards shouted "get him" as they scrambled unsuccessfully to stop U.S. Army soldier Travis King from sprinting into North Korea, a New Zealand woman who was on the same tour to the border area said on Wednesday. "I don't think anyone who was sane would want to go to North Korea, so I assumed it was some kind of stunt." The U.S. military was scrambling on Wednesday to determine King's fate after what officials said was a wilful, unauthorised crossing of the border into North Korea, throwing Washington into a new crisis in its dealings with the state. One American soldier shouted "get him," and other American and South Korean guards ran after King, but he was already on the north side of the border, Leslie said. "It was too late," she said, adding that he disappeared from sight and she didn't see him enter any buildings or be detained by North Korean guards.

Persons: Travis King, Sarah Leslie, King, Leslie, Travis T, Handout, REUTERS King, Hyunsu Yim, Josh Smith, Bernadette Baum Organizations: U.S, Army, Joint Security Area, Reuters, Security Area, REUTERS, North, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, New Zealand, Washington, U.S, Panmunjom, South Korea, American

☆ US soldier got in fights, damaged police car before dash to North Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Ju-Min Park | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, July 19 (Reuters) - Months before he fled into North Korea, U.S. soldier Travis King faced two assault allegations and was fined by a South Korean court for damaging a police car, according to a court ruling and a lawyer who represented him. The U.S. military was scrambling to establish the fate of King, who made an unauthorised crossing of the inter-Korean border into North Korea on Tuesday, throwing Washington into a new crisis in its dealing with the nuclear-armed state. Two U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the soldier had been due to face disciplinary action by the U.S. military. Forces Korea (USFK) declined to confirm whether King had been in South Korean or U.S. military detention. King's mother, Claudine Gates, told ABC News she was shocked at the news her son had crossed into North Korea.

Persons: Travis King, King, expletives, Reuters King, King's, Claudine Gates, Travis, 1,266.9100, Josh Smith, Lincoln Organizations: U.S, Court, Reuters, U.S ., Police, Korean, U.S . Forces Korea, ABC News, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, U.S, Washington, South Korea, United States, Korean, Seoul, South Korean, Pyeongtaek

North Korea's state media has made no mention of the incident. North Korea has been testing increasingly powerful missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, including a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile last week. Forces Korea, said the military was "working with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident," referring to North Korea's People's Army. NORTH KOREA FIRES MISSILESThe soldier was on a tour of the Panmunjom truce village with other visitors when he crossed a Military Demarcation Line, U.S. officials say. The launch came hours after the South Korea and the United States held the first round of talks on Tuesday on upgrading coordination in the event of a nuclear war with North Korea.

Persons: Travis T, King, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Isaac Taylor, Taylor, Kim Hong, Panmunjom, Tae Yong, Josh Smith, Hyonhee Shin, hyang Choi, David Brunnstrom, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Nobuhiro Kubo, Jack Kim, Lincoln Organizations: U.S, The U.S . Army, Security Area, U.S . Defence, United Nations, U.S . Forces, Korea's People's Army, Command, UNC, North Koreans, KOREA, REUTERS, Ji, U.S ., Korea's Unification Ministry, South, United, Thomson Locations: North North Korea, Pyongyang, U.S, South Korea, WASHINGTON, American, North Korea, Washington, The, New York, U.S . Forces Korea, Paju, Ji U.S, United States, Korean, Korea's, Seoul, Tokyo

[1/2] The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, August 23, 2016. Officials from the United States and South Korea are meeting on Tuesday in Seoul for the first Nuclear Consultative Group discussion, aimed at better coordinating allied nuclear response in the event of a war with North Korea. China and North Korea have criticised the group's formation as further raising tensions on the Korean peninsula. When asked whether South Korea will have a role in U.S. nuclear war planning, a senior U.S. administration official told Reuters the group was more about sharing information. "We will discuss information sharing, consultation system, steps for joint planning and implementation to strengthen nuclear deterrence against North Korea," Yoon's spokesperson, Lee Do-woon, told reporters on Monday.

Persons: Ken Scar, Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Kim Tae, Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell, Lee, woon, General John Weidner, Josh Smith, Steve Holland, David Brunnstrom, hyang Choi, Ed Davies, Stephen Coates Organizations: . Army, REUTERS, Nuclear, Monday, South, Reuters, South Korea's, . National Security, Pacific Affairs, . U.S, U.S . Forces, Thomson Locations: Yongin, South Korea, SEOUL, United States, North Korea, Seoul, Korea, U.S, Washington, China, ., U.S . Forces Korea, Lincoln

SEOUL, July 17 (Reuters) - A year after South Korea vowed to step up readiness for extreme weather driven by climate change, experts say not enough work has been done even as greater volumes of sudden and torrential rains are expected in coming decades. South Korea is mountainous and urban development has left many regions vulnerable to landslides, while readiness to respond to extreme weather has not been up to speed. [1/3]Rescue workers look for victims during a search and rescue operation near an underpass that has been submerged by a flooded river caused by torrential rain in Cheongju, South Korea, July 16, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-jiA 2020 study by the Korea Meteorological Administration found that property damage costs and casualties from extreme weather have tripled compared to the yearly average of the previous decade. "In advanced countries, they allocate 70% for prevention and 30% for recovery, prioritising recovery over prevention."

Persons: Jeong Chang, Jeong, Yoon Suk, Yoon, Kim Hong, Sejong, Jung, Lee Su, Lee, 1,267.1100, Hyun Young Yi, Hyunsu Yim, Jack Kim, Tom Hogue Organizations: Induk University, REUTERS, Korea Meteorological Administration, Korea Environment Institute, University of Seoul, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Korea, Cheongju, Seoul, Busan, Gangnam, South Korea, North Gyeongsang, Gyeongsang

SUWON, South Korea, July 12 (Reuters) - The trial of a South Korean chip executive accused of stealing sensitive information developed by Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) began on Wednesday in a case that underscores South Korea's crackdown on industrial espionage. Prosecutors have alleged that Choi Jinseog, a former Samsung Elec executive and a South Korean chip expert, stole sensitive information developed by the world's top memory chipmaker to help his client set up a chip factory in China. The high-profile criminal case against Choi, an award-winning engineer once seen as a star in South Korea's chip industry, highlights Seoul's efforts to crack down on industrial espionage and slow China's progress in chip manufacturing. Prosecutors have also charged five former employees at Choi's chip consultancy firm, Jin Semiconductor, and a former employee at a Samsung contractor. In a letter to Reuters from prison last month, Choi rejected allegations he had sought to build a copycat chip factory in China with information illegally obtained via Samsung's supplier network.

Persons: Choi Jinseog, Choi, Kim Pilsung, Stephen Coates Organizations: Samsung Electronics, Prosecutors, Samsung, Jin Semiconductor, Thomson Locations: SUWON, South Korea, Korean, KS, China, South, Suwon, Seoul

"We had to wait two weeks," said Lee Bo-mi, a 35-year-old mother with a sick 3-year-old boy, at the Healthy Children's Hospital. By comparison, it costs about A$335 for initial standard consultation with an Australian paediatrician, while observation at Nationwide Children's Hospital in the U.S. costs $208 per hour, according to its website. Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service shows paediatricians are South Korea's lowest paid doctors, making 57% less than the average doctor's salary. Sowha Hospital, South Korea's oldest children's hospital, recently suspended Saturday afternoon and Sunday treatment for the first time in 77 years due to a lack of staff. "If the number of children's hospitals decreases and the number of doctors falls, it's going to be difficult to get children treated."

Persons: Song Jong, geun, Jung Seung, Kim Hong, Ji, paediatrics, Lee Bo, Dae, it's, Choi Yong, jae, Dr Lim Hyun, I'm, Kim Eun, Lee Ju, yul, there's, Lee, Lim, Joyce Lee, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Seoul Institute, Reuters, The, of Health, Welfare, Children's, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea Children's Hospital, Korean Pediatric Association, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Health Insurance, Service, Namseoul University, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Ji SEOUL, Seoul's, Korea, Australian, U.S

☆ North Korea satellite had 'no military utility' - South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] People watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing what it called a space satellite toward the south, in Seoul, South Korea, May 31, 2023. "After detailed analysis on major parts of North Korea's space launch vehicle and satellite which were salvaged, South Korean and U.S. experts have assessed that they had no military utility as a reconnaissance satellite at all," the military said in a statement. It is the first time South Korea has secured a satellite launched by the North, South Korean military experts said. The nuclear-armed North has pursued a satellite launch programme since the 1990s and has said it would launch its first reconnaissance satellite to boost monitoring of U.S. military activities. In a key policy address in January 2021, North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, pledged to develop military reconnaissance satellites.

Persons: Kim Hong, Lee Choon, Yang Uk, Kim Jong Un, Hyonhee Shin, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, South, Aircraft, South Korea's Science, Technology Policy, Asan Institute, Policy Studies, Workers, Party, Thomson Locations: North Korea, Seoul, South Korea, Korean, SEOUL, North, U.S, Korea, South Korean, Pyongyang, Japan

☆ Robot takes podium as orchestra conductor in South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Seoul, South Korea Reuters —An android robot, EveR 6, took the conductor’s podium in Seoul on Friday evening to lead a performance by South Korea’s national orchestra, marking the first such attempt in the country. The two-armed robot, designed by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, made its debut at the National Theater of Korea, leading musicians in the country’s national orchestra. “Movements by a conductor are very detailed,” Choi Soo-yeoul, who led Friday’s performance alongside the robot, said. “The robot was able to present such detailed moves much better than I had imagined.”EveR 6 is seen on a screen alongside human conductor Choi Soo-yeoul. National Theater of Korea/Handout/ReutersBut EveR 6’s “critical weakness,” Choi said, is that it cannot listen.

Persons: ” Choi Soo, Choi Soo, ” Choi, Lee Young, ” Lee, ”, Choi Organizations: South Korea Reuters, South, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, National Theater of, Reuters Locations: Seoul, South Korea, National Theater of Korea

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