upper hand in talks with battery suppliers Hyundai Motor Group is set to begin construction of its first dedicated battery research center in Anseong marking a significant step in developing its own electric vehicle batteries the auto giant has recently appointed a safety inspection agency for its Anseong facility construction project code-named “Mobility Alpha Line Anseong Center.” With this final step before breaking ground construction is expected to begin as early as March The facility will be Hyundai Motor’s first research base exclusively focused on EV batteries potentially positioning the company alongside China’s BYD which manufactures its own batteries for its vehicle brands Hyundai Motor already operates a battery research center in collaboration with Seoul National University but the new facility marks its first independent R&D hub for battery development The Anseong center is expected to become Hyundai’s fourth major research hub The facility will reportedly develop a range of battery technologies including cost-effective lithium iron phosphate batteries and high-performance nickel Hyundai Motor has committed hundreds of billions of won to the project and is considering additional investments to expand the facility’s capacity beyond a pilot line to small-scale production “Hyundai Motor’s battery production is likely at the fifth stage of the nine 'technology readiness levels' -- prototype development,” said an industry source on condition of anonymity “The decision to proceed with mass production will depend on a careful assessment of costs and profitability the company will determine whether to outsource production to battery makers or establish its own manufacturing plant.” If Hyundai Motor contracts with battery makers where a third-party manufacturer handles production with limited access to proprietary technology “The specifics regarding the battery research facility in Anseong including its name and construction timeline Industry experts view Hyundai’s investment in battery R&D as a strategic move to enhance cost efficiency and reduce reliance on external battery suppliers securing proprietary battery chemistry is crucial Hyundai can leverage this expertise as a bargaining tool when negotiating supply deals with LG Energy Solution and SK On,” said Kim Pil-su a car engineering professor at Daelim University Hyundai will aim to lower the battery’s share of total EV production costs from 40 percent to below 30 percent This is not Hyundai’s first foray into battery manufacturing Its Uiwang center developed the hybrid car battery for the fifth-generation Santa Fe Hybrid Hyundai is also reportedly developing all-solid-state batteries known for their high safety and energy density The Uiwang facility is set to open a next-generation battery research wing with a pilot line for these advanced batteries The company is expected to test and optimize materials for cathodes anodes and solid electrolytes to enhance battery performance Hyundai committed to securing next-generation battery technologies including NCM and all-solid-state batteries The company plans to begin pilot production of EVs equipped with all-solid-state batteries by 2025 The Korea Herald by Herald CorporationCopyright Herald Corporation Rubble from a fallen bridge that was under construction is strewn across the site of the accident in Anseong Firefighters try to rescue injured workers that were trapped under the rubble at the bridge construction site collapse in Anseong Rubble is piled up at the bridge construction site collapse in Anseong KG Mobility (KGM) announced on the 24th that it will hold vehicle exhibition events such as Torres Hybrid and Musso EV at Anseong Farmland to expand consumer contact with new cars is a agricultural and livestock theme park with cultural experience facilities education facilities and amusement facilities on 390,000 pyeong of land and has been selected as one of the top 100 Korean tourism spots by the Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism for two consecutive years and is a representative attraction in Anseong where an average of 7,000 family visitors visit on weekends KGM will display domestic electric pickup truck Musso EV and Actian at Anseong Farmland for two days from the 26th to the 27th following last weekend (19th to 20th) a paper toy presentation event where visitors can make their own exhibition cars and a photo zone dedicated to Torres Hybrid "After the launch of the Musso EV and Torres Hybrid in March we are holding various events such as 'Tores Hybrid Drive Festa' and new car marketing linked to this experiential theme park to expand contact with customers We will expand various customer experience programs to communicate with customers in the future." ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool A bird-eye view photo showing collapsed bridge of a highway connecting Gyeonggi and Sejong on Feb Firefighters try to rescue injured workers who were trapped under the rubble at the bridge construction site collapse in Anseong Bridge deck segments at an expressway construction site collapse in Cheonan Marathi | Hindi 2025 08:03 IST2025-02-25T07:31:34+5:302025-02-25T08:03:05+5:30 At least three construction workers were killed and five others were injured after a portion of a highway overpass collapsed near Anseong in South Korea on Tuesday morning a structure above the bridge collapsed at around 9.50 am (South Korea local time) at a highway construction site in Dorim-ri BREAKING: At least 3 construction workers killed, 5 injured after portion of highway overpass collapsed near Anseong, South Korea pic.twitter.com/7m0E8zktT4 A dramatic video of the incident shared on social media learned to have been taken from a car's back seat shows a portion of the structure above the bridge falling like cards Also Read | Delhi Road Collapse: Section of Service Lane Caves in at Dwarka Sector 12; Car Falls Into Pit (Watch Video) eight workers were buried under the debris of the overpass structure collapsed The rescue team reached the spot after receiving the information and pulled out the bodies of three workers and the injured were rushed to the nearby hospital for treatment The rescue efforts are being carried out at the site The National Fire Agency in Anseong issued a level two emergency response alert out of its three-tier system Most rescue personnel from nearby fire stations responded to the spot The agency has already deployed around 53 personnel from 18 fire stations to conduct search and rescue operations BMW Korea's auto parts distribution center in Anseong entertainment and even a grocery store in the basement!” “At Starfield Anseong you can go to the spa There are so many options for clothes and so many cafés and restaurants to dine at Read now > Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan BMW drivers benefit from a parts delivery system that’s hard to beat This rapid response is powered by BMW’s Anseong Regional Distribution Center a logistics hub located about 80 kilometers south of Seoul dedicated to keeping BMWs on the road with minimal downtime First opened in 2017 as the largest parts distribution center BMW operates outside Germany -- and the biggest of any foreign car brand in Korea -- the Anseong RDC is a logistical powerhouse It supplies parts to dealerships nationwide covering roughly 1.97 million kilometers annually “We’re the only car parts center in Korea offering early-morning delivery,” says Jung Sung-chun general manager of aftersales at BMW Group Korea which means parts arrive faster and repairs happen sooner.” The RDC sits on a 211,500-square-meter site -- about the size of eight soccer fields -- and includes six main buildings: the primary warehouse two specialized buildings for hazardous materials plus amenities like a cafeteria and walking trails for employees the atmosphere feels more like a giant retail space than an industrial facility Neatly organized racks hold around 60,000 different parts in a cool The center achieves a 95 percent “First Pick Availability” rate the exact part a dealership needs is immediately available This beats BMW’s global benchmark of 94 percent and enables the RDC to ship out an impressive 8,500 parts daily to BMW dealerships across Korea BMW relies on an artificial intelligence program called Supply & Replenishment for Dealership The SRD system analyzes patterns in parts demand across BMW’s network using big data to predict what each dealership will need based on the season This forecasting helps the RDC maintain optimal inventory levels and restock parts automatically minimizing the risk of delays from stock shortages BMW has also invested heavily in fire prevention The main warehouse is equipped with 13,000 fast-response sprinklers that activate immediately in case of a fire and the facility meets global insurance company FM Global’s highest fire safety standards Sprinklers are positioned not only on the ceiling but also between storage racks and fire-resistant shutters can isolate sections of the warehouse if needed BMW Group Korea is planning to expand the Anseong RDC by 2027 investing an additional 65 billion won (about $46.6 million) to increase the facility’s size by 31,000 square meters -- a 62 percent boost in storage capacity BMW will add a separate warehouse specifically for electric vehicle batteries this new EV warehouse will also meet FM Global’s stringent fire protection standards BMW’s commitment to fast parts delivery has helped it become the top-selling import car brand in South Korea BMW overtook Mercedes-Benz to claim the number one spot for the first time in eight years a position it has held into the first half of 2024 Stories told from where they are happening Joseon royal archive home reopens to public SK Telecom stores overwhelmed as customers rush to replace USIM cards over security fears Yoon again claims martial law was public message 'Kicked out in pajamas': Women in Seoul's fading red-light district protest evictions Adidas draws on spirit of Seongsu-dong for new flagship AI and zero dust: Inside LG Innotek's 'Dream Factory' Netmarble opens game museum showcasing Korea’s gaming legacy ‘The Heritage’: Shinsegae revives century-old bank as cultural ‘Heat-not-burn’: Philip Morris’ smoke-free push takes shape at Korean plant Latest trends in Korean culture and society operated by Samsung C&T's resort division (President Jung Hae-rin) will hold an audit event for customers for the spring season Samsung C&T's resort division announced on the 24th that it will hold a "BENEST OPEN" event competition from the 1st to the 6th of next month to commemorate the achievement of 200,000 members of the Venest Golf app Anyone who is a member of the Venest Golf app can participate in the event if they register online and automatically tally the scores of participating customers built in during the period to present abundant gifts it is conducted in a neo-perio manner and the winners are selected through a lottery can challenge themselves and enjoy the luck of winning if you record 92 pars (72+20) in celebration of 200,000 members of Venest Golf you will receive 200,000 won of Venest Golf gift cards through a lottery and a set of Venest Golf goods will be presented to the 20th applicants every day during the event the number one men's and women's golf course is PRGR drivers and the number one Anseong Benest GC Challenge Course is Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro you will be given a free round ticket during the week of Anseong Benest GC through a lottery Gapyeong Benest GC has been replacing Maple Course Green with a new type of grass since the 21st to provide better green conditions in line with climate change The new model to be replaced this time is Ventgrass Pure Distortion and disease than the existing Ventgrass SR1020 variety and has excellent green speed if you post a picture of Gapyeong Benest GC's nature such as scenery you will receive a meal discount coupon and a limousine cart upgrade coupon Spring season events and various news of each golf club can be found on the Venest Golf website and mobile app All Headlines North Korea Sports Top News Most Viewed Korean Newspaper Headlines Today in Korean History Yonhap News Summary Editorials from Korean Dailies 2 (Yonhap) -- One person died and five others were injured after a truck skid on an icy highway in Anseong on National Route 17 after the 1-ton truck lost control and struck a median barrier crashed into a 3.5-ton truck in the adjacent lane and set off a series of collisions with 12 other vehicles following from behind while five others sustained minor injuries Police confirmed the driver of the 1-ton truck was not driving under the influence This photo provided by the Gyeonggi Province firefighting agency shows the scene of a 14-car pileup on National Route 17 in Anseong All News National Economy/Finance Biz Culture/K-pop Images Videos Korean Newspaper Headlines Korea in Brief Useful Links Weather Advertise with Yonhap News Agency A collapse occurred in the Anseong section of the Seoul Sejong Expressway Workers working at nearby construction sites are believed to have been buried According to the fire authorities on the 25th a structure above the bridge collapsed at 9:49 a.m at a highway construction site in Dorim-ri It is known that about eight workers were buried in the accident and rescue efforts are being carried out at the site Police investigating the collapse of the Anseong Bridge section of the Seoul Sejong Expressway are investigating whether the accident was caused by the excessive operation of special equipment put into the work The Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency said at a regular press conference on the 7th "The 'beam launcher' used in the construction has been identified as a 'forward' equipment "We plan to focus on whether the equipment can be constructed while reversing." which is an equipment for lifting and installing "girders," a type of beam placed under the bridge's top has a round trip type that installs rails on the bridge and constructs them while moving forward and forward The forward type is known to have a shorter installation period and cheaper price than the round trip type the forward beam launcher must step on the girder placed on the bridge rather than the rail and move and it is said that it is inevitable to step on the girder which is 102 meters long and weighs 400 tons has no choice but to touch a large structure made of concrete and reinforced steel during the construction process Cheonan on the Seoul Sejong Expressway that occurred on February 25thThe collapse of Cheongryongcheon Bridge in the Anseong section 9 also occurred during the so-called "backrunning" operation to take out the beam launcher to the rear This is why the police will check the impact of using the forward beam launcher as a backward type "The forward beam launcher also has a reverse function but it is necessary to investigate whether it can be constructed while backrunning," adding "We will closely investigate the beam launcher production company." including three officials from Hyundai Engineering Four of the six injured have been investigated and the seized items obtained in the search and seizure have been analyzed 25 (Yonhap) -- A bridge collapsed at an expressway construction site in Anseong on Tuesday killing four workers and injuring six others in the city some 65 kilometers south of Seoul during construction on a section of the Seoul-Sejong expressway Several slabs placed on a pier fell to the ground knocking off or burying 10 people working at the site One of the four killed was pulled out from under the rubble at around 2:20 p.m. after which the authorities ended their rescue work apologized for the loss of lives and injuries "We are actively cooperating with the relevant authorities to ensure a swift site recovery and a thorough investigation into the exact cause of the accident," the company said in a statement The National Fire Agency had issued an order mobilizing firefighters to search for people missing in the accident Acting President Choi Sang-mok also gave emergency instructions to deploy all available resources and personnel for the rescue operation shows the construction site of a bridge on the Seoul-Sejong expressway in Anseong leaving two workers dead and seven others injured There were quite a few houses with lights out and the shopping mall in the complex was empty with only a few convenience stores and real estate agents visible An apartment complex that started moving in at the end of January had barely moved in "We sell pre-sale tickets at a discount of more than 50 million won." When asked "when do you think the move-in will be completed?" he said The situation was the same in the Hwayang district in Pyeongtaek Hwayang District is a mini new city-class business site that develops 2.79 million square meters and will accommodate a total of 20,000 households and 55,000 people It is quite large among private-led urban development projects It takes 30 minutes by car to get to Godeok New Town which is considered a key point in Pyeongtaek City because it has a Samsung Electronics campus a landlord appeared to give up not only 10% of the down payment but also all the option fees the "minus premium" for pre-sale rights reached up to 49 million won 'Mapi' was able to sell the right to sell for about 15 million won but now there are many people who want to lose more than 40 million won," said the head of a real estate agency in Hwayang District "There were many people who expected it to be sold because it was a semiconductor-specialized complex but it will be difficult to make a profit for the time being." the real estate market was wriggling with the plan to create a semiconductor belt in 2019 house prices soared as the rate of increase in house prices and the gap investment ratio ranked at the top of the country it is under severe adjustment as the real estate market turns downward in 2022 with sales pouring in The recent surge in unsold apartments is not irrelevant to this atmosphere The problem is that things will get worse in the future which has 4,071 unsold apartments (as of the end of 2024) has not yet been unsold since its completion This is because most of the apartments sold are currently under construction there are concerns in the real estate industry that unsold apartments in southern Gyeonggi-do will turn into unsold apartments after completion within a year or two 29,455 households will move into Pyeongtaek for three years from this year It is 10 times more than the appropriate demand estimated by the population of Pyeongtaek City (about 2,500 households every year) When Mail Business obtained and analyzed the list of unsold complexes in southern Gyeonggi-do the occupancy was concentrated from this year to next year The situation is similar in other regions such as Icheon and Osan a professor of real estate at Sogang University's Graduate School unsold houses poured out after completion in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province pushing the real estate market in the Seoul metropolitan area into a recession." According to the Ministry of Land the number of unsold apartments after the completion of Gyeonggi-do Province Construction and implementation companies are struggling to drop unsold supplies paid 5 million won in congratulations to contractors at the end of last year and even held an event to give automobile prizes through a limited lottery for contractors Other complex sample houses in the Hwayang district were also holding various discount events and struggling to attract buyers There was also a place where they would refund the option fee if they signed a contract for the right to sell low-rise apartments Some say that the "security guarantee system," which has disappeared since the early 2010s The security guarantee system allows existing contractors to apply these benefits retroactively to existing contractors if a contractor contracts for real estate and then a developer or sales agency provides new benefits such as discount sales "We are considering ways to provide the same benefits to previous contractors if they hold promotional events such as discount sales," an official from the local sales industry in Pyeongtaek said "This is because conflicts between existing contractors and implementers and distribution agencies are intensifying due to the recent increase in discount sales." The bad news in the Hwayang district does not stop there The construction company decided to stop the construction as the amount of receivables increased due to arrears in construction costs The construction company says that the construction can be resumed only when there is a specific guarantee for future funding plans along with the payment of overdue construction costs The problem is that the suspension of construction can affect the moving-in schedule If the infrastructure is not completed on time the approval of the completion will be delayed The industry is concerned that such bad news will further freeze the Hwayang district sales market which is already suffering from unsold housing Reporter Park Jae-young in Pyeongtaek and Anseong Chungcheongnam-do has launched a project to build the longest private highway in Korea from Taean to Anseong The project aims to dramatically improve accessibility by connecting a wide-area transportation network to Taean the only area in Chungcheongnam-do that does not have a highway and to improve transportation convenience between the west coast of Chungcheongnam-do and metropolitan areas by connecting two provinces South Chungcheong Province announced on the 19th that DL E&C (investor Hana Bank) recently submitted a proposal for a private investment project on the Taean-Anseong Expressway to the Ministry of Land The Taean-Anseong Expressway connects Taean-eup to Anseong through five cities and counties in the province The project cost is expected to be around 3 trillion won it will surpass the first stage (94km) of the Western Inland Expressway The Taean-Anseong Expressway is located along the west coast to greatly improve accessibility to the province and the metropolitan area and will also serve as a circular highway for Bay Valley it is expected to increase synergy between industries and lead balanced regional development as it is adjacent to major bases in the province such as Taean Enterprise City and Cheonan Future Mobility National Industrial Complex Chungcheongnam-do is expected to greatly shorten the travel time from the metropolitan area to Taean and contribute greatly to revitalizing tourism on the west coast The submission of a proposal for a private investment project on the Taean-Anseong Expressway came to fruition due to a combination of the province's efforts to connect the Taean-Seosan Expressway and the Naepo-Cheonan Expressway Chungcheongnam-do initially secured the legitimacy by reflecting the Taean axis in the 2nd National Road Network Comprehensive Plan (2021-2030) in order to promote the connection of the Taean Expressway as a national financial project it was proposed to reflect the Taean-Seosan Expressway in the third highway construction plan The Naepo-Cheonan Expressway has also set the direction of private roads and has been in contact with large construction companies since completing the preliminary feasibility study service last year and the Taean-Ansung Expressway initiative which has greatly increased its size during consultation with the Ministry of Land director of the Construction and Transportation Bureau in Chungnam-do "There have been several construction of the North-South Freeway in Chungcheongnam-do but this is the first time that we have proposed the East-West Freeway," adding it will have an economic ripple effect of more than 5 trillion won and 44,000 employment in the region." it is expected to solve the construction projects of Taean-Seosan-Napo-Cheonan at the same time as well as improve access to the metropolitan area and central inland areas and complete the Bay Valley Ring Expressway Network," he said "We will focus our administrative power to ensure that the eligibility survey is conducted and passed as soon as possible." Ten workers were crushed to death or injured when the bridge top collapsed at the construction site of the Seoul Sejong Expressway The scene of the accident on the black box of a vehicle passing by the scene was similar to the 1994 Seongsu Bridge disaster Fire authorities said the accident was found to have occurred in the process of placing a bridge top on the bridge Some point out that safety insensitivity may be prevalent at construction sites due to the appearance of the accident four top plates (beams) that had been placed on the bridge fell at 9:49 a.m at the construction site of the Cheonyongcheon Bridge in the 9th section of the Seoul Sejong Expressway between Cheonan and Anseong in Sanpyeong-ri 10 workers working on the bridge fell down and were buried Five of the remaining six workers were seriously injured and one was transferred to Ajou University Hospital and Hallym University Hospital for treatment due to minor injuries and the age range is known to be in their late 40s and mid 60s The nationalities are seven Koreans and three Chinese the National Fire Agency issued the second stage of response and subsequently upgraded the emergency issuance to the "National Fire Mobilization Order." As a result 119 special rescue teams and 119 chemical rescue centers and equipment were deployed including fire fighting forces in Gyeonggi and the fire department ended the rescue operation with A Fire officials said the accident occurred while using a crane called a "launcher" to mount the beam over the bridge Beam has already been installed on the upper line and preparations for installation are underway on the lower line It means that there was a sudden collapse "It does not appear that the installed beam collapsed," adding "It is presumed that an accident occurred during installation The height of the pier varies for each section and the distance between the sections where the top plate fell is 210m and Bumyang Construction (20%) consortium are under construction in the section where the accident occurred while Korea Expressway Corporation is in charge of ordering and Hyundai Engineering is in charge of the organizer The subcontractor is Jangheon Industrial Co. is largely divided into the metropolitan area (72 kilometers in total length from Anseong to Guri) and the non-metropolitan area (62 kilometers including Sejong to Anseong and Osongji lines) The metropolitan area section opened on January 1 this year and is in normal operation The Sejong-Anseong section was scheduled to open at the end of 2026 the opening schedule is also expected to be delayed somewhat as the accident will lead to follow-up measures such as search and investigation into the cause of the collapse Infrastructure and Transport established an accident countermeasure headquarters with Minister Park Sang-woo as the head of the headquarters and started to deal with the accident president of the Korea Expressway Corporation "Please prevent accidents caused by the rescue of workers and further collapse and cooperate with related agencies such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor and Cheonan-si to make every effort to resolve the accident site." The Ministry of Employment and Labor also immediately ordered the suspension of work and launched an investigation into whether it violated the Serious Accident Punishment Act The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to actively support the accident response headquarters which is composed mainly of the Ministry of Land by participating as a related organization The Ministry of Employment and Labor itself operates the Central Industrial Accident Compensation Headquarters and the Regional Industrial Accident Compensation Headquarters It is installed when three or more people are killed or five or more are killed at the same workplace The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to strictly investigate whether it violates the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accident Punishment Act issued a statement on the same day and said "We sincerely bow down and apologize to those who lost their precious lives and were injured in an accident at our construction site We are currently actively cooperating with related agencies to recover the site as soon as possible and determine the exact cause of the accident Gyeonggi Province -- If you are making a list of places to visit with your family and friends after the monsoon season the filming sites of Netflix’s “The Sound of Magic” certainly needs to be on the list “The Sound of Magic,” a 2022 fantasy musical drama a schoolgirl who wishes to become an adult as soon as possible so that she may take care of her family The series focuses heavily on the character’s emotional change after meeting Ri-eul a mysterious magician who shows her the beauty and wonders of life another beauty of this drama series is the dream-like filming spots that give off magical vibe Though the backdrops present colorful changes the original filming sites themselves are a feast for the eyes Anseong Farmland is home to open field of canola flowers that made its first appearance as Il-deung exhausted from private lessons outside school and pressure to excel in his studies Though a wide array of sunflowers have replaced the canola flowers now the vastness of the seemingly unending flower field presented in “The Sound of Magic” can still be seen in Anseong Farmland “Visitors can feel different vibes from the four different types of flowers that are changed with every season Travelers can enjoy the cosmos and pink muhly in autumn They can see the field covered in snow in winter as well,” an Anseong Farmland official told The Korea Herald on Monday The sunflower field was visited by many couples who wished to capture the summer moment or make their latest Instagram updates with loved ones “For those who want to take a picture that looks like a scene from a romance drama It fits well with the yellow sunflowers,” a Suwon-based housewife surnamed Kim said as she shared tips on elevating photographs of sunflowers to another level Visitors can enjoy the flower field from a wooden observatory or climb the slope to take in a panoramic view of Anseong Farmland can participate in diverse hands-on activities here One of the must-see programs is the parade of animals living on the farmland Starting with the opening ceremony by a disc dog ducks and chickens to pigs and lambs make a short parade like Olympic athletes sparking children’s interest and curiosity The performance is held at the outdoor garden but people can take a close look at the animals from their seats where shades are installed to block out the bright sunlight The highlight of the show is a demonstration of agility by Lover a border collie and the Anseong Farmland superstar The speed of Lover is more than enough to mesmerize not only pet-loving children trying to capture every move of this border collie As the sound of the spectators’ applause gets louder Lover runs quicker and completes the course in style Anseong Farmland is open every day from 10 a.m Yongma Land is an amusement park that opened in 1983 but shut down in 2011 This derelict building is a nostalgia-filled space that has inspired numerous TV directors and moviemakers K-pop fans will easily recognize the site from their favorite idols’ photographs and music videos Yongma Land served as home to the magician Ri-eul and a stage for musical performances by the lead characters in “The Sound of Magic.” but drama fans can spot the iconic rides that appeared in the series including the merry-go-round,” the Yongma Land official said on Monday Though the abandoned theme park is open to visitors Yongma Land is frequented by photographers who come to take pictures for various purposes such as wedding photos and advertisements according to the park official Visitors can explore different areas of the theme park and ride the motionless mini train pirate ship and merry-go-round during the day Yongma Land’s true charm is revealed at night when the orange-colored light bulbs illuminate every corner of the theme park Visitors can make online reservations to enjoy an outdoor barbecue and stay overnight at the theme park via Naver Booking as well Ten workers were killed when the structure collapsed at the construction site of the Seoul Sejong Expressway four to five tops that had been placed on the bridge at the bridge construction site of the Ansan-Yongin section of the Seoul Sejong Expressway in Sanpyeong-ri It was found that three people were killed and one was slightly injured when 10 workers working under the bridge were laid down the National Fire Service issued a "National Fire Service Mobilization Order" and deployed 119 Special Rescue Team and 119 Chemical Rescue Center members and equipment to the accident site Fire authorities are mobilizing 92 equipment and 172 personnel to rescue them and are searching for additional burials on the fallen top The accident is known to have occurred when the top plate fell down while connecting the top plate which was placed on the bridge using a crane The Seoul Sejong Expressway is 134km in total and is largely divided into the metropolitan area (Anseong-Guri 72km in total length) and the non-metropolitan area (62km including Sejong-Anseong and Osongji lines) The place where the accident occurred is Cheonan which is included in the Sejong-Anseong section.This is the construction site of Cheonyongcheon Bridge in Zone 9 of Anseong section and the entire section between Sejong and Anseong was scheduled to be completed at the end of 2026 Infrastructure and Transport formed an accident countermeasure headquarters headed by Minister Park Sang-woo to deal with the accident Governor Kim Dong-yeon moved to the scene of the accident and the province issued the second stage of fire response and dispatched 130 people from the Anseong Fire Station and Pyeongtaek rescue teams and 44 vehicles to the site At least four people were killed and six others injured when a bridge collapsed in South Korea on Tuesday The bridge collapsed at an expressway construction site in Anseong some 65 kilometers (40 miles) south of Seoul on a section of the route between the capital and the city of Sejong At least 10 people were crushed under several slabs that had been placed on a pier before plummeting to the ground Acting President Choi Sang-mok also gave emergency instructions to deploy all available resources and personnel for the rescue operation This is the place that attracted attention as a complex behind the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster' more than half of the lights were turned off even though four months have passed since the start of moving in October last year The elevator in the complex had a notice saying "Cancel February's regular disinfection schedule." The plan calls for canceling the scheduled disinfection due to the low occupancy rate was also tightly closed and had a sign saying "We will start operating after the tenant representative meeting is formed." Semiconductor belts in southern Gyeonggi Province which were attracting attention as semi-conductor + reverse tax zones which was limited to regions such as Daegu is spreading to the southern part of the metropolitan area As Shin Dong-A Construction and Daejeo Construction filed for court receivership at the beginning of the year due to the unsold shock the construction industry's "April Crisis" is raising its head again 12,954 unsold apartments were built in Gyeonggi Province at the end of last year It more than doubled from 5803 households at the end of 2023 when unsold supplies accumulated in earnest after the global financial crisis there were 19,325 unsold apartments in Gyeonggi Province Since the completion of Gyeonggi Province at the end of last year the number of unsold homes has reached 2,072 which has not been sold even after completion is classified as a "malicious unsold" because there is a risk of leading to a liquidity crisis for construction companies Unsold sales in Gyeonggi Province are particularly serious in southern regions such as Pyeongtaek There are 4,071 unsold apartments in Pyeongtaek Icheon and Osan have 1911 and 994 households Anseong (581 households) and Yongin (529 households) are also significant Unsold goods in these five regions account for 60% of all unsold goods in Gyeonggi Province The number of vacant houses has increased due to the unsold shock that has continued since the second half of 2022 which has more unsold supplies than Gyeonggi Province has decided to hold a joint public-private emergency meeting with local governments and construction companies to come up with measures to resolve unsold housing and propose it to the central government The measure of "full suspension of new housing projects" will continue this year following last year the risk of bankruptcy of small and medium-sized construction companies in the first half of the year is increasing According to the Construction Industry Knowledge Information System (KISCON) 332 cases of construction companies closing in January this year were reported there are 58 general construction companies The collapse of the Seoul-Sejong Expressway bridge in Anseong-si was confirmed to have occurred in the process of reversing the "forward equipment." The Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency said on the 7th that it is investigating whether construction is possible while backrunning with a forward beam launcher (equipment to lift or move the girder) There are two types of beam launchers: 'forward type' and 'shuttle type' a forward beam launcher with a capacity of about 400 tons manufactured in Korea by a foreign company was used The forward type is known to have a shorter installation period and lower equipment price than the round trip type "The forward beam launcher is also designed to enable reverse," adding "We are simply checking whether an accident occurred while reversing or whether an accident occurred during construction while reversing." and two officials from the Korea Expressway Corporation Four of the six injured were also investigated the upper plate of the bridge collapsed at the construction site of Cheongyongcheon Bridge in the 9th section of the Seoul-Seon-Seon-myeon 10 workers at the scene were buried after the crash Workers working at the construction site were killed or injured in the accident a 50-meter-long steel structure that supported the bridge collapsed at 9:50 a.m during the bridge connection work at the Seoul Sejong Expressway construction site in Ipjang-myeon The accident buried eight workers who worked under the bridge Three of them have already died and the other five are reportedly injured Fire authorities are currently working on rescue efforts and investigators are looking into the details of the accident The Seoul Sejong Expressway is 134km long and is largely divided into the metropolitan area (Anseong-Guri 72km) and the non-metropolitan area (Sejong-Anseong The metropolitan section opened on January 1 and the non-metropolitan section was scheduled to be completed at the end of 2026 The scene of the accident is the 9th section of the Sejong Expressway in Seoul Hyundai Motor Group will build a battery research and development (R&D) facility in Anseong the first time that the South Korean auto giant is setting up a business site in the city Hyundai Motor Group is in discussions with Anseong city authorities for a battery R&D center in the Anseong Industrial Complex The initial investment is estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of won with the first phase of completion expected around 2027 The Anseong R&D center will be a facility for researching and testing electric vehicle batteries using Hyundai Motor Group‘s own technology The conglomerate plans to expand this location as its fourth major R&D hub Sources note that the move reflects its efforts to internalize battery technology in preparation for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles The group plans to design batteries and manufacture test products at the Anseong center and is also considering a “battery fabless” strategy focusing on design specialization in the mid- to long-term a Hyundai Motor Group official said that “we are yet to make any decisions regarding facility expansion.” Korea’s inflation rises 2.1% in April Korea’s first alternative trading system launches Naver’s resale platform KREAM pursues merger with StockX Kakao Mobility’s second-largest shareholder considers stake .. Shinsegae Gangnam opens ‘House of Shinsegae’ F&B space Competition for Korea’s first clean hydrogen power projects .. Coupang sets new record in Korea with over $27 bn sales in 2.. Retail investor activism on the rise in Korea Half of Korean jobs to be affected by AI adoption: BOK Korea feared to face delays in Czech nuclear power project d.. Samsung smart farm tech boosts mango yields, cuts costs in J.. LK Samyang launches superwide zoom lens with German partner Musinsa’s beauty business surges 130% in Q1 Luxury watches, jewelry rise as new growth engine for depart.. KakaoMap launches indoor navigation for 54 major train stati.. SK telecom shares fall on new subscription freeze KEPCO to unveil first 5-year power distribution plan by mid-.. Daemyung Sono to sell entire stake in Air Premia LG CNS partners with KAIST to train AI transformation expert.. item.tmx : Math.floor(item.tmn)+'/'+Math.floor(item.tmx)) +'℃ Samsung’s Bespoke AI Combo hits 100,000 sales milestone LG Energy Solution seeks global talent in U.S. LG Electronics rolls out tumbler washer MyCup LG Elec installs LED scoreboard at Boston Red Sox stadium HD Hyundai Heavy holds ceremony for Philippine patrol ship LG unveils 2025 OLED Evo TV Samsung unveils gaming monitor with glasses-free 3D technology KITA Chief meets Texas Governor to discuss semiconductor subsidies KB Kookmin Bank, KCS to enhance forex monitoring system LG Electronics’ AI Washtower optimizes laundry in 3 seconds April 2 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry signed an agreement Wednesday to use 500 million won (US$340,900) donated by an individual to financially support North Korean defectors' resettlement in South Korea The agreement was signed with the 88-year-old donator -- Yang Han-jong -- and the Community Chest of Korea one of the largest charity organizations in South Korea the state center for supporting North Korean defectors' resettlement which is part of the 1 billion won Yang donated last year will be distributed to North Korean defectors graduating from the center with each individual receiving 700,000 won but I decided to donate it in the hope that our neighbors who came down from the North can successfully resettle in our society," Yang said during the signing ceremony shows Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho (from L) donator Yang Han-jong and his stepson posing for a photo after a ceremony at Hanawon in Anseong One person died and five others were injured after a truck skid on an icy highway in Anseong, about 65 kilometers south of Seoul, on Monday, police said. The accident occurred around 6 a.m. on National Route 17 after the 1-ton truck lost control and struck a median barrier, crashed into a 3.5-ton truck in the adjacent lane and set off a series of collisions with 12 other vehicles following from behind, according to the police. The driver of the 3.5-ton truck, who was in his 60s, was killed, while five others sustained minor injuries. Police confirmed the driver of the 1-ton truck was not driving under the influence. (Yonhap) Golf Zone County acquired Eaglemont Country Club (Eaglemont CC) in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province for 240 billion won. Golf Zone County is the No. 1 golf course operator in Korea, where private equity fund (PEF) operator MBK Partners is the largest shareholder. According to the investment bank (IB) industry on the 21st, Golf Zone County acquired 100% of Hidden Palace shares with Eaglemont CC through its subsidiary GC Sacheon. The value of this golf course is set at 240 billion won. The actual transaction price is 50 billion won. This is because it took over with 190 billion won in debt. Eaglemont CC is a public golf course consisting of 27 holes and is about 1,619,834 square meters. With the construction of CJ Korea Express' construction sector, it has secured a circular battery of about 628,099㎡. Golf Zone County's largest shareholder is Korea Golf Infrastructure Investment, a special purpose corporation (SPC) established by MBK Partners. MBK Partners invested 114 billion won when Golf Zone County was established in 2018 to secure a 50% stake. Since then, 288 billion won has been invested through participation in the paid-in capital increase. As of the end of last year, Korea Golf Infrastructure Investment held 54.83 percent of the common stock of Golf Zone County and 3.54 percent of the convertible preferred stock. Golf Zone Newdin Holdings has a 41.63 percent stake. ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool, NAVER papago. Hyundai Motor Group will establish a battery R&D facility in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. This is the first time Hyundai Motor Group has created a business in Anseong. Following Namyang, Mabuk, and Uiwang research institutes, Hyundai Motor Group plans to expand it to four major R&D bases. It is interpreted as a signal to internalize battery technology in earnest in preparation for the popularization of electric vehicles. According to the industry on the 22nd, Hyundai Motor Group has recently been confirmed to be in talks with Anseong City and other cities to create a battery R&D research center in the industrial complex in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. The initial investment amount is expected to be around hundreds of billions of won, and the first completion is expected to be around 2027. The battery research base to be created in Anseong is a facility to research, manufacture, and test electric vehicle batteries with Hyundai Motor Group's own technology. The size of the research institute is expected to be at the level of the Uiwang Research Institute. The Uiwang Research Institute has 35 soccer fields, including Hyundai Motor, Kia, and affiliated research institutes. Hyundai Motor Group plans to design batteries and make test products at Anseong Research Center. In the mid- to long-term, Hyundai Motor Group is also planning a so-called "battery fabless" strategy in which it takes the lead in designing batteries and entrusting only production to specialized companies. When the electric vehicle product line increased significantly, it was judged that there was a limit to the electrification "first mover" strategy only by relying on battery companies. Batteries are a key component that accounts for 40% of the cost of electric vehicles. Hyundai Motor Group has been making efforts to internalize batteries by establishing a battery development organization at Namyang Research Center in 2020 and establishing a next-generation battery research center at Uiwang Research Center. Currently, the Namyang Research Institute in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do is also operating a pilot line to verify the mass productivity of batteries. An official from Hyundai Motor Group said, "We are reviewing variously to expand research facilities and have not been decided." A bungee jumping attraction dubbed "Free Fall" inside the Smob facility at Starfield Anseong in Gyeonggi [JOONGANG PHOTO] A bungee-jumping attraction at Smob in Starfield Anseong [SCREEN CAPTURE] Starfield Anseong in Gyeonggi in 2020 [NEWS1] To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts. Starfield will turn into a holiday playground for Chuseok. Various events will be held so that men and women of all ages can have a happy time. First, a small city made of Lego will be built in Anseong, Starfield, by the 22nd. Opening a pop-up store called LEGO CITY: Experiencing Radio Control in the Lego City World with Lego City products. From making my own car, displaying dioramas, and racing cars, you can enjoy many entertainments. You can build your own Lego car at the Lego Auto Build Table, and you can move your own car at the Action Diorama Zone and Racing Track. The "Action Diorama Zone" is a miniature city that seems to have been moved as it is by reducing the reality of the city center, beaches, and airports. There are also two difficulty "obstacle courses" where you can experience RC car driving. In this pop-up store, popular Lego products are also introduced at discount prices. You can also participate in crane games where you can receive various prizes if you purchase a product. Starfield Goyang will host the Young Business Play Town from the 12th to the 22nd, which will catch children's attention with various toys. Young Industrial Company's "Unbalanced Kongsooni," "Secret Juice," "Babblade X" and "Tobot" will be dispatched to showcase popular products. Each brand also offers a variety of products depending on the purchase price. The top battle toy "Bayblade X" holds a match where you can enjoy exciting battle actions. Products will be lent so that anyone can participate in the field, and gifts will also be given to the winners of the experience competition. There will also be a photo time event where children will leave special memories with their favorite characters. From the 14th to the 18th of this month, a photo shoot event will be held with the 'New Whimsical Kongsoon and Friends' mask doll, and on the 21st and 22nd, a photo time with the popular character Pink Bijou mask doll of 'Secret Jouju' will be held. Starfield Suwon (16th), Starfield COEX Mall (17th), and Starfield Hanam (18th) will present Chuseok concerts where you can enjoy the performance of fusion Korean traditional music band 'Kyungji'. Text description provided by the architects. The design began when I met the architect who decided to build a shopping district house that could solve the two factors: the residence and rental income of the main household (parents and the couple) on a detached house with a garden where I lived with my mother since childhood. © Han-ul, Lee, NarcillionDesign Strategy. In the case of shopping district houses, there were many parts that needed to be considered in combination, such as recognition and accessibility, compared to a single purpose. In consideration of the privacy of home users, a space independent of the shopping district users should be formed, and in the case of shopping districts, it should be constructed to be conspicuous and easy for visitors to access. the concern between 1.5 rooms and 1 room was finally selected as a one-room structure with a terrace through a design meeting and each household was provided with an external terrace to ensure comfort the house is separated by considering the privacy of the parents and the existing detached garden is raised in the courtyard on the fourth floor to form a space for intergenerational privacy and family gatherings You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Gyeonggi Province will provide 1 million won each for pregnant women in delivery vulnerable areas (Yeoncheon the subsidy for postpartum care expenses will also be raised from 500,000 won to 2 million won per person Gyeonggi-do Province announced on the 22nd that it will push for the Gyeonggi-do Love Eye Project," a policy to support pregnancy and childbirth of provincial residents The main contents of the Love Eye project include △'Mother and Dad's First School' operation △Pregnancy and childcare information in hand (checked at once with Gyeonggi Smart D app) △ Support for transportation expenses for pregnant women to hospitals △ Send a congratulatory card for childbirth 'Gyeonggi Eye Book' △ Zero burden for postpartum care in vulnerable areas △ VIP in public parking lots for multi-child families the "Mother and Dad's First School" will be operated to educate 55 couples who are expected to be pregnant and give birth and the experience of caring for their father's baby Experts such as obstetricians and neonatal nurses will be lecturers in the education promoted by the Infertility and Depression Counseling Center (Dongkuk University Ilsan Hospital) in northern Gyeonggi Province The recruitment of participants will be announced later through the Gyeonggi-do website the government will deliver a congratulatory card for the governor to families with childbirth to share the joy of birth and send books related to pregnancy and childcare to pregnant women next year Gyeonggi Smart D (App) will also provide comprehensive information to easily find and apply for it at once reflecting the opinions of provincial residents that there are policies related to pregnancy and childcare promoted by the government or local governments Gyeonggi Smart D is an app that provides customized information based on MyData and issues provincial residents' cards (multi-child cards etc.) and provides services that link pregnancy and childcare information suitable for me to applications In order to resolve the blind spots of pregnancy and childbirth 1 million won will be provided per person to help pregnant women living in six cities and counties with poor infrastructure the government is considering ways to reduce the burden of postpartum care by raising the 500,000 won per child to 1 million won for the first child and 2 million won for the second child in consultation with cities and counties vulnerable to childbirth Support for raising transportation and postpartum care expenses will be implemented next year after preliminary procedures such as consultation on the social security system of the Ministry of Health and Welfare If families with two or more children use public parking lots they will promote the expansion of the usage fee reduction 50% reduction of two or more children is being discussed with the city and county to 100% reduction for two hours and 50% reduction for the rest of the time Four of the six cities and counties that have restrictions on local residents in case of fare reductions will abolish the conditions of local restrictions and the other two are also pushing for consultations with cities and counties to remove restrictions We can’t seem to find the page you’re looking for South Korea — Nine women sit in a classroom each with a computer screen in front of them they drag the cursor across a paragraph on a word processor program and look for an icon to copy and then paste the text They're learning to use the copy-paste function and text they are working with is South Korea's national anthem lyrics And this computer lesson is a part of a 12-week resettlement and integration training program at Hanawon a government-run center for newly arrived female defectors A separate center caters to male defectors which operates under the auspices of South Korea's Unification Ministry recently opened its doors to foreign journalists often after a perilous journey across multiple countries they go through interrogation by the government intelligence agency Then women are sent to the main Hanawon complex in Anseong to prepare for their new lives in the South The facility offers medical and psychiatric care It teaches defectors about South Korean society and gender equality and provides occupational training and counseling for skills including cooking defectors receive subsidies and housing benefits as well as continued support from local centers to help them assimilate during their early years living in South Korea puts it — a symbol of the South's will to "welcome and embrace defectors and all North Korean people" and to pursue unification as reflected in its name: "hana" means "one." It also reflects the tension between the reality of a divided peninsula and the idea — as stated in South Korea's constitution — that South Korea's territory spans it entirely new tensions have emerged over the role of the ministry charged with overseeing Korean unification efforts North Korean defectors get automatic citizenship in the South The South and North simultaneously became United Nations member states in 1991 But the two governments do not recognize each other In an agreement reached later that same year Seoul and Pyongyang established their relationship not as "between states," but as "a special interim relationship stemming from the process toward reunification." defectors coming to South Korea are subject to a law for protection and settlement support that's separate from the country's immigration or refugee laws They automatically receive South Korean citizenship But that doesn't mean life is easy for them Asked what worries her about life after Hanawon whom NPR is not naming to protect her and her family's safety "I'm walking this path with so much help for my resettlement I'm worried about how I will be able to make a lot of money here and pay a lot of taxes." The number of defectors reaching South Korea has plummeted in recent years Hanawon has seen fewer students as the number of North Korean defectors has plummeted mostly due to the pandemic and tightened border restrictions Pyongyang shut its borders during the pandemic and only recently reopened where most defectors stay before they reach the South Nearly 3,000 defectors arrived in South Korea in 2009 and the annual number remained above 1,000 for more than a decade thereafter Hanawon started redirecting resources — including a new building for vocational education that opened in June 2020 — to defectors who'd already completed its programs inviting them back for additional occupational training and providing outreach services dialogue and exchange between the two Koreas also ground to a halt A brief window of possibility for the North's denuclearization closed when the 2019 summit between Kim Jong Un and former U.S President Donald Trump ended with no agreement North Korea has since ramped up provocations and hostility toward the South and the U.S North Korea blew up the inter-Korean liaison office building in 2020 and ceased routine communications with the South the country test-fired a record number of missiles sent drones across the inter-Korean border and declared it could use its nuclear weapons preemptively It is now attempting to put a spy satellite into orbit South Korea has also become more hawkish under conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol Reversing his liberal predecessor's more conciliatory tone Yoon has stressed "peace through strength," highlighted North Korea's human rights abuses and stepped up the South's response to North Korean provocations Yoon has sought to boost security cooperation with the U.S while North Korea is pursuing tighter relationships with China and Russia Yoon named a conservative scholar to head South Korea's Unification Ministry which he said "has played the role of a North Korea aid ministry It's time for the Unification Ministry to change." said at his confirmation hearing in July that the ministry "should contribute to resolving the nuclear issue And it should also improve the North Korean people's human rights situation." Kim has argued that unification will be possible only if the North Korean regime is toppled though he walked that back during the confirmation hearing and said unification should be achieved "in a peaceful way." He has also argued that South Korea was "played by North Korean propaganda" in reaching some past inter-Korean agreements he told reporters that the agreements need to be "selectively reconsidered." The Unification Ministry's role is now in doubt The Unification Ministry carried out a major organizational shakeup in April and announced another on Aug expanding the units for North Korea analysis and human rights issues and downgrading those for inter-Korean exchange and communication the restructuring will leave the ministry with 13% less personnel The ongoing changes at the ministry raise questions about what its role is and should be whose North Korea-related units coordinate with other countries and international organizations on issues like denuclearization the Unification Ministry has focused on engagement and acted as the South's representative in inter-Korean dialogues president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul says the more muscular direction in which the ministry is currently headed is not aligned with its mission dictated by the South Korean law as to "administer policies on unification exchanges and cooperation between the South and North North Korea's nuclear buildup can be part of the ministry's focus because it influences inter-Korean relations he warns — referring to the minister's answer at the confirmation hearing that the ministry should contribute to denuclearization — "If the Unification Ministry explicitly declares denuclearization is its primary goal," he warns "it will fail in both denuclearization and inter-Korean relations." Yang says the ministry's role in serving the constitutional duty of promoting peaceful unification through dialogue and exchange should be maintained regardless of the government's ideological orientation or the advancement of North Korea's nuclear weapons South Korea's constitution states the country "shall seek unification and shall formulate and carry out a policy of peaceful unification based on the basic free and democratic order." who has used confrontational language against the North may want to reduce the ministry's function even further South Koreans have grown less sympathetic to the Unification Ministry's original mission Another challenge facing the ministry is that more and more South Koreans not just the current conservative government In the latest annual survey conducted by the Korea Institute for National Unification preference for "peaceful division" exceeded the preference for unification for the first time Over half of all respondents said they favored a future in which the people of the two countries can freely visit each other The percentage who said they wanted a unified Korea was the same – 17% – as that of those who said they are fine with the status quo the percentage of people who disagree with the need for unification based on ethnic unity continues to grow Possible changes in attitude toward unification have also emerged in North Korea Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong and the North's defense minister made an extremely rare move of calling South Korea by its official name "Republic of Korea," in statements published in state media North Korea refers to the South as "namchoson" or south Choson using the name for the dynastic kingdom that ruled the entire peninsula before Japan colonized it in the early 20th century And when a South Korean businesswoman recently requested a visit North Korea's denial of her request came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country which normally would have handled such a request It is the counterpart of the South's Unification Ministry Will North Korea move away from the goal of unification Some experts raise the possibility that North Korea may be preparing to ditch the two Koreas' "special interim relationship" and formalize a state-to-state relationship with the South — a move away from pursuit of unification Others believe Pyongyang's intentions are not yet clear Researchers Lee Sang-geun and Ahn Jeno of the Institute for National Security Strategy a think tank affiliated with the National Intelligence Service analyze that Pyongyang may be trying to emphasize division with the South to strengthen its independent state identity and internal unity it has yet to publicly discard its official unification policy of two systems existing under one confederal country But its interest in unification appears to have dwindled during the Kim Jong Un era Kim has adhered to the unification policy established by his father and grandfather but his priority has been regime stability through economic and nuclear development "unification is referred to as a tool for realizing North Korea's policy goals or ideology like development rather than for its original meaning of reunion of the two Koreas or the Korean people." And according to the Unification Ministry's analysis North Korean expressions emphasizing Korean people's unity such as uriminzokkiri ("by our nation itself") stopped appearing in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper in recent years North Korea started the Korean War to unify the peninsula by force an armistice agreement was signed to "insure a complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved." North Korea invited Chinese and Russian delegations and celebrated the 70th anniversary in July as "Victory Day" with a military parade South Korea invited veterans who fought on its side to a commemoration ceremony President Yoon thanked them for "protect[ing] freedom from communist totalitarian forces" and vowed solidarity with free and democratic countries He made no mention of North Korea or settlement of the armistice regime nonprofit news organization that produces award-winning journalism where the top floor collapsed and buried two workers First responders at the scene of the nine-story building that is being constructed in Anseong on Wednesday where one of the floor collapsed 26 (Yonhap) -- A woman in her 60s died after falling from a bungee jumping platform at a large shopping mall in Anseong plummeted eight meters to the concrete floor at a sports experience facility housed at Starfield Anseong Mall The facility offers various experience facilities The victim was wearing safety equipment at the moment was rushed to a nearby hospital at 4:27 p.m but was pronounced dead about one hour later Police said they are investigating the exact cause behind the accident focusing on whether safety measures were implemented This Yonhap file photo shows Starfield Anseong Mall Formally known as the Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees, Hanawon has intensified its efforts to redefine its purpose. North Korean defectors take a baking course at the vocational training center located inside Hanawon located in the city of Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. (Photo - Joint Press Corps) ANSEONG, Gyeonggi Province – Hanawon has proactively expanded its primary role by offering a diverse array of vocational training programs in order to empower North Korean defectors and equip them with the skills necessary to pursue in-demand careers as baristas, estheticians, manicurists and pet groomers. Before embarking on their journey of assimilation in South Korea, a destination once distant but deeply yearned for, every North Korean defector must pass through a crucial checkpoint: the Hanawon resettlement center. Having resided on the other side of the inter-Korean border within a system fundamentally different from that of South Korea, North Korean defectors find Hanawon to be a transformative hub. Here, they acquire vital knowledge and skills necessary for integration into South Korean society over the period of three months, paving the way for a new chapter filled with hope and opportunities. But Hanawon, formally known as the Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees, has intensified its efforts to redefine its main purpose. The response comes as the Kim Jong-un regime’s prolonged border closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic has made it increasingly difficult for North Koreans to flee. The number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea has experienced a significant decline, with figures dropping from 1,047 in 2019 to 229 in 2020, according to data provided by Seoul’s Unification Ministry. This downward trend has continued, with only 63 defectors in 2021 and 67 in 2022. As of March this year, a mere 34 North Korean defectors had successfully made it to South Korea. North Korean defectors learn nail art at the vocational center of Hanawon in Anseong, south of Seoul, on Monday, on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the resettlement center for North Korean defectors. (Pool photo) The Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees chief Seo Jung-bae said on Monday that the center has made efforts to reallocate its remaining resources to offer a comprehensive array of on-the-job training courses for North Korean defectors residing in South Korea. At Hanawon, North Korean defectors have the opportunity to undergo a two-month vocational training program with the ultimate objective of obtaining a national certificate. The vocational training encompasses a wide range of professional courses designed to enhance their skill sets and enhance their employment opportunities. These comprehensive courses at Hanawon cover a diverse range of fields, including Korean, Chinese and Japanese cuisine, hair styling, nail art, makeup application, skin care, tourism management, hotel housekeeping, baking and barista skills. In addition, Hanawon provides training in industrial sewing, clothing alteration and repair and professional laundry services, as well as basic electronic technology and electronics manufacturing. North Korean defectors receive computer education at Hanawon in Anseong, south of Seoul, on Monday, on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the resettlement center for North Korean defectors. (Pool photo) Around 250 North Korean defectors have participated in the training program as of Monday dating to June 2020, when a four-story vocational training center was built inside Hanawon. Currently, around 20 defectors are undergoing training at the center. The pass rate for the state-run tests conducted after the training program stands at around 93 percent. “We are also revising the occupational categories to better align with the strengths and abilities of North Korean defectors in our society. We have already introduced job training courses that allow them to utilize their strengths effectively,” Seo told local and foreign media outlets during a news conference at Hanawon on Monday, in what was the first such event since 2016. “Considering the changing market trends and potential opportunities, we’ve broadened the range of training courses available in the second half of this year. This includes expanding into areas such as construction and carpentry, pet grooming, rice cake production and wallpaper installation.” Kwon Young-se, South Korea’s outgoing Unification Minister, emphasized the significance of offering vocational training in response to the evolving job market and shifting economic landscape. “Certain occupations that North Korean defectors were previously engaged in may no longer be viable in South Korea, while new occupations are emerging that require specific skills training. We are committed to continuously developing and enhancing our programs to address any challenges and meet changing demands.” Kwon emphasized that the ministry will continue developing programs for North Korean defectors to receive the necessary skills and training to succeed in the dynamic and evolving economic environment of South Korea. Unification Minister Kwon Young-se answers reporters’ questions during a visit to Hanawon in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, Monday, on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the resettlement center for North Korean defectors. (Pool photo) “Hanawon is an institution that guides us in exploring our interests and finding ways to make a living based on our choices. It goes beyond determining whether the education provided by Hanawon is helpful or not,” according to an anonymous defector who recently entered Hanawon for resettlement education, during an interview with reporters at the facility. This defector, in her 30s, left North Korea in 2014 and arrived in South Korea this year after residing in China. “I didn’t know what kinds of options I had in my hands. But the institution now offers an opportunity to consider and explore different possibilities,” she added. In a rare move, South Korea’s Unification Ministry permitted local and foreign media outlets to interview three North Korean defectors who recently arrived in South Korea at Hanawon. During their interviews, they shared that they had to flee North Korea in order to survive. “From the age of 10, there was no food distribution, and my mother’s business also deteriorated. To make matters worse, the security forces confiscated the little rice we had,” another anonymous defector in her 30s, who escaped from North Korea in 2004, said. “During that period, I suffered from severe malnutrition, and I believed that I would die if I continued in that state. When I learned that my sisters were going to China, I made the decision to follow them. I crossed the Tumen River, recognizing it as my only chance for survival.” All three fled to China, but the harsh reality of staying in China without identification became even more difficult due to COVID-19. They were not able to receive medical care or move within China as restrictions intensified. “I was an illegal resident, and my salary was only half of what Chinese workers were earning. I felt that it was extremely unfair to be underpaid and felt sorry for myself being confined to home (of my employer),” said another defector who left North Korea in 2019. “I longed to live confidently as a human being in a place where human rights are guaranteed, and where I have my own identification.” But the three are hopeful about the next chapter of their lives in South Korea despite the challenges they have faced. “Previously, I couldn’t even imagine doing the things I now have the chance to do. I have great hopes for succeeding in them,” the first unnamed defector said. “As I live in Korea, I now worry about how I can earn a substantial income and contribute through taxes as a way of paying back their help.” She had her bungee gear on but a safety hook was reportedly not secured I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A woman in her 60s suffered a cardiac arrest and died on the spot after falling from a height of eight metres from a bungee jumping platform in South Korea The unidentified woman fell from the platform onto a concrete floor after she tried the bungee jump at a sports facility at the Starfield Anseong Mall in Gyeonggi province, according to the <em>Yonhap</em> news agency The accident took place on 26 February at about 4.27pm local time Police believe that the bungee cord detached because of a defective carabiner clip, which connects the rope to a beam or crane. Police are investigating the case and more details are expected to emerge soon. Police are also focusing on whether safety measures were implemented. At the time of the incident, the woman had on safety gear. However, a carabiner – a kind of safety hook – was not secured, according to reports. The sports facility at the Starfield Anseong Mall in Gyeonggi province also offers various other experiences, such as climbing. The woman was taken to a hospital where doctors tried to resuscitate her. However, she did not survive. She was pronounced dead one hour after she fell. Gyeonggi province, being close to the capital, Seoul, often features a mix of urban and rural attractions, including shopping centres like Anseong Mall that cater to both locals and visitors. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies govt and politics","score":0.62263},{"label":"/sports/climbing","score":0.607203},{"label":"/society/crime/personal offense","score":0.583198},{"label":"/news","score":0.574395},{"label":"/society/crime/personal offense/assault","score":0.561507},{"label":"/law a developer and owner of luxury shopping malls has announced the opening Starfield Anseong in Anseong it is the second joint venture between Taubman Asia and Shinsegae Property and dining destination is Taubman Asia’s fourth development project It will serve as the primary mall for Anseong one of the fastest-growing areas of South Korea Taubman reports Starfield Anseong is nearly 100 percent leased which is expected to be fully occupied by the end of the year and entertainment concepts such as Aquafield the mall has implemented a wide variety of enhanced safety protocols in accordance with legal requirements “Starfield Anseong represents the best of the collective expertise of Shinsegae Property and Taubman Asia,” says Paul Wright “We are pleased to offer this impressive assortment of retail and entertainment experiences to customers in Gyeonggi.” Starfield Anseong’s international brands include Zara Approximately 100 of the mall’s brands are the first store of their kind in this region of Greater Seoul “Starfield Anseong will serve customers in the southern region of Gyeonggi and will meet the high expectations of the local residents following the successful opening of Starfield Hanam and Starfield Goyang,” says Young-rok Lim we are certain our customers will experience a true shopping theme park previously unseen anywhere in the region Starfield Anseong’s diverse offerings such as children’s education which have proven popular in other Starfield facilities have been strengthened and together with other popular brands making their regional debuts The mall has dedicated 113,000 square feet of space to dining options including Gourmet Street’s eight restaurants and the Eatopia food court featuring 21 unique food kiosks offers 15 additional casual dining options and nine specialty food concepts that include a wine shop Other dining destinations include Sanghaeru Entertainment options and experiences include a 48,000 square foot Megabox cinema with seven screens a 28,000 square foot Sports Monster sportsplex with everything from rock climbing to basketball and a 98,000 square foot Aquafield indoor/outdoor water park and spa Concepts focused on children’s entertainment include Champion 1250X and Sang Sang Sketch Play The mall caters to the surrounding four high-growth cities — Pyeongtaek The mall has parking for more than 4,400 vehicles and is located near the Pyeongtaek train station It also has good freeway access and can be reached by the Gyeongbu Expressway (links Seoul to Busan) and the Pyeongtaek-Jecheon Expressway (connects to Eastern Korea) is an S&P MidCap 400 Real Estate Investment Trust engaged in the ownership super-regional and outlet malls in the U.S Taubman’s area properties include Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi and Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills the company had entered into a merger agreement with Simon Property Group Inc but in June Simon announced it would attempt to terminate the deal The matter is now subject to a legal challenge in Oakland County Circuit Court with Taubman seeking to consummate the merger.