A recently established cloud company plans to develop a data center in Sejong Local press including etv reports that Okestro Cloud the cloud subsidiary of cloud orchestration provider Okestro signed an MoU with Sejong City this week to convert a vacant office building into a data center Okestro is to invest 700 billion won ($477.9 million) in redeveloping the Sejong Finance Center II building in Eojin-dong into a 40MW data center The vacant building totals 30,000 sqm (322,917 sq ft) across seven stories (three of which are underground) Sejong City Mayor Choi Min-ho said: “With the establishment of the data center a new stepping stone has been laid for the city to develop into a public institution data hub.” The company has previously secured 152 billion won ($103.7m) in Series A and B funding rounds; investors include STIC Investment Expanding beyond just software, Okestro Cloud was established at the turn of the year to provide cloud services to customers Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Sejong Georgia held a ribbon cutting for the opening of their new Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) manufacturing plant The ICCUs were developed by Hyundai Motor Group and are currently being manufactured at the plant on West Lukken Industrial Drive in LaGrange The device is part of the battery for electric vehicles onboard charging and converting to DC so that car batteries can be charged at home and used to charge the secondary battery in cars that power things like laptops and cellphones “The parts are primarily for KIA in West Point and Hyundai in Savannah,” said James Wong we are supplying the ICCU for the EV9 and EV6 we are providing them for IONIQ 6 and IONIQ 9,” Wong said This isn’t Sejong’s first foray into LaGrange The company has several other manufacturing plants The company’s expansion into electric vehicle parts had them take over the former Kaydon Plant Sejong moved into the new plant in June of last year and we demoed it and removed everything from the walls and the floor We had to install very specific equipment for the ICCU because the ICCU handles many kinds of electric parts the plant is highly controlled from dust and static which could produce problems with sensitive electronics We have to sustain constant temperature and humidity,” Wong said visitors were allowed to tour the manufacturing plant but not before donning clothing to protect the plant from outside contaminants and experiencing the ESD firsthand ACC teams are on Monday’s college basketball schedule for one game the Wake Forest Demon Deacons squaring off… The Memphis Grizzlies (38-22) take the court against the Atlanta Hawks (27-33) as 8.5-point favorites on Monday The Monday college basketball schedule in the ACC has plenty of quality competition in store Austin Lumberjacks square off for one of many exciting matchups on the… The Blue House grounds in central Seoul filled with visitors on April 9 The presidential office building in Yongsan District National Kim Kyoung-soo enters race championing Roh's Sejong-centered vision former governor of South Gyeongsang Province announced his presidential bid on Sunday in Sejong — the de facto administrative capital of South Korea — in a symbolic gesture becoming the fourth contender from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Kim stressed the need for political and institutional reforms to prevent the recurrence of presidential overreach citing disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on Dec which led to his removal by the Constitutional Court in early April “To ensure that tragic events like a martial law attempt never happen again we must reform our political system to enable power-sharing oversight and checks,” Kim said during his campaign launch event at Sejong City Hall in Sejong proposing a constitutional revision to that end “During the first 400 days of my administration we will make constitutional reform a reality in time for the next local elections (in 2026),” he added Kim's choice of Sejong as the location for his campaign launch also held symbolic weight Sejong was envisioned by former President Roh Moo-hyun as a new administrative capital to ease the overconcentration of power infrastructure and population in Seoul and to promote balanced national development many government ministries and agencies have relocated there — with a few exceptions Kim unveiled a broader decentralization initiative aimed at reviving national growth and empowering regions beyond the capital we must create five mega cities across the country,” Kim said we will establish autonomous governments in each mega city to lead the nation's development.” He pledged to allocate over 30 trillion won ($21 billion) annually to support their financial autonomy Kim also vowed to fully relocate the presidential office from Seoul to Sejong Kim is widely considered a political heir to former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in He served as Roh’s final presidential secretary and later played a central role in Moon’s administration as a chief speechwriter and strategist during the 2017 presidential campaign Kim was elected governor of South Gyeongsang Province in 2018 but his political ascent was interrupted by legal troubles Kim was sentenced to two years in prison for colluding with a power blogger known as “Druking” to manipulate online opinion in favor of Moon’s 2017 campaign — a conviction that led to the loss of his governorship and Democratic Party membership Kim was granted a presidential pardon in December 2022 under the Yoon administration his eligibility to run for office was not restored until August 2024 following that year’s general elections in April He rejoined the Democratic Party in February this year the front-runner of the Democratic Party of Korea According to a Media Research poll conducted Tuesday and Wednesday on 1,000 respondents Lee led with 87.9 percent support among Democratic Party supporters with 2.5 percent and Kim Kyoung-soo with 2.4 percent Lee Jae-myung announced his candidacy on Thursday followed by Kim Dong-yeon and Kim Doo-kwan are widely regarded as key figures in the party’s anti-Lee faction Lee Jae-myung leads in hypothetical three-way race with Han Duck-soo the presidential candidate of South Korea’s main liberal Democratic Party holds a lead in a potential three-way race for the country’s next election 15% of Korean wage workers have flexible work schedules: data Koryo saram are 'living bridges' of Kazakh-Korean ties 'Smile at me': Cancer-fighting senior influencer inspires with strength Respect wanes: Teaching no longer highly coveted job in S As unused homes increase in rural South Korea Supreme Court’s verdict sours Lee Jae-myung’s presidential bid Korean mothers are opting for C-sections at record rates South Koreans get creative with Parents’ Day gifts Stanford University My grandfather used to run a kindergarten in Seoul my brother and I were invited to teach a portion of the English classes with a stern reminder to restrict our vocabulary to basic words juggling our conversational grasp of the Korean language with our grandfather’s wishes one of the kids cried out “이건 너무 쉽잖아!” — “This is too easy!” The brutal honesty of our student raised a question I didn’t quite know how to answer yet: How Korean am I Attending the Sejong Korea Scholars Program was critical in helping me answer that question I found that my motivation to understand my ethnic identity was richly rewarded by the many opportunities to study and discuss the historical development of Korea Quite unlike my unfortunate student(s) earlier I found myself thoroughly challenged and pushed to grow by the course alongside my highly qualified peers I would like to thank our instructor Dr. HyoJung Jang for making this development possible by emphasizing the multiperspectivity of history The intensive curriculum of reading chapters from Korea: A History by Eugene Y and conferring in group forum discussions culminated in voice chats where we discussed our findings with our colleagues and experts in the field Because every unit was focused on a different aspect of Korean history I was exposed to topics varying from King Kojong’s struggle against imperialism to South Korea’s  postwar economic “Miracle on the River Han” led by the authoritarian Park Chung-Hee the curriculum examined U.S.–Korea relations from a diplomatic The historical context helped me not only make sense of current developments such as North Korea’s Juche ideology and South Korea’s Hallyu soft power but also my own identity at the intersection of Korea and America I would also like to extend my gratitude to the many lecturers and guest speakers who shared their knowledge and expertise with us during the program I particularly enjoyed the visits of Professor Kyeyoung Park who examined the 1992 Los Angeles riots in the context of tensions between the Korean American and African American communities who spoke about his experiences at the World Bank preparing the emergency financial bailout loan to South Korea during the 1997 Asian financial crisis Having the opportunity to converse with every guest speaker expanded my worldview and opened my eyes to a future in Korean studies I focused my final paper on the unsung role of education in the Korean Independence movement discussing how conflicting educational philosophies united to resist Japanese colonial rule I discovered the fascinating English diary of educator and resistance member Yun Chi-ho written during his travels in the American South which I later pursued further and won an endowment from my school to study through a year-long research project Yun’s alienation in a racially polarized America as a Korean man deeply resonates with me and I would have never found the passion to tell his story if not for the Sejong Korea Scholars Program I’ve recognized that this is a futile question All that truly matters is that I am learning about my Korean heritage and growing for it I highly encourage any interested students to apply for the Sejong Korea Scholars Program it will richly reward an open mind and a willingness to truly flower into a global citizen To stay informed of SPICE news, join our email list and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram Learn more about how your support makes a difference or make a gift now The rise in the sale price of Sejong apartments is unusual This is due to the possibility of relocation of the presidential office ahead of next month's presidential election According to the Korea Real Estate Agency's national weekly apartment price trend on the 2nd Sejong's weekly apartment sales price continued to rise to 0.49 percent in the fourth week of April (as of the 28th) This is the highest rate of increase since the fifth week of August 2020 (0.51% increase) after doubling the increase from the previous week (0.23% increase) It is also far above the 0.09% increase in apartment prices in Seoul during this period The nationwide weekly apartment sales price remained down (-0.02%) the previous week the metropolitan area (0.02% → 0.01%) and the provinces (-0.04% → -0.05%) continued to be similar to the previous week "The desired selling price is rising mainly in preferred complexes such as reconstruction and stationary areas," but analyzed "The overall rise in Seoul continues amid a wait-and-see trend in some regions and complexes." The trend of Sejong apartment sales prices has risen significantly because expectations for increased demand are growing as the presidential office and the National Assembly's pledge to relocate Sejong City ahead of the presidential election the number of apartment sales in Sejong City this year was 2,268 based on real estate information company Acil This is more than half of last year's annual volume (4476) Gyeonggi (-0.01%→-0.02%) and Incheon (-0.00%→-0.01%) showed no significant difference from the previous week Gwacheon City (0.28%) rose mainly in Wonmun and Jungang-dong while Seongnam Bundang-gu (0.11%) rose mainly in Jeongja and Gumi-dong but Anseong City (-0.18%) and Gimpo City (-0.17%) fell the five major metropolitan cities fell 0.07% expanding their decline in Daegu (-0.09%→-0.12%) and Daejeon (-0.06%→-0.09%) The nationwide jeonse price remained at 0.00% similar to that of the previous week (0.00%) with rental demand continuing mainly in station areas and large complexes with good settlement conditions and rising contracts signed in some regions." ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool Words:  Bea Mitchell New museums will be part of a national museum complex Four new museums will be established in Sejong as part of a plan to expand the country’s museum and art gallery infrastructure The Korea Herald reports that the projects are part of South Korea’s Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism four-year plan to expand the country’s cultural offering and improve cultural heritage management and accessibility The new museums will be part of a national museum complex in Sejong They include a national urban architecture museum by 2026 a design museum and a digital cultural heritage centre by 2027 These museums will offer cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive digital experiences to enhance the visitor experience museum storage facilities will be created in Paju Gyeonggi Province to better manage the country’s cultural assets the culture ministry is working to expand educational programmes for children senior citizens and multicultural families and aims to improve accessibility for people with special needs The museum expansion plan aims to revitalise local culture and regional tourism, and make future-oriented cultural institutions accessible to all “By making museums and art galleries more inclusive we are ensuring that all citizens can engage with culture in meaningful ways regardless of location or background,” said Song Yun-seok director of the regional culture policy bureau at the Ministry of Culture In more news, South Korea’s retail giant Shinsegae Group has partnered with US media company Paramount Global to build a new theme park in Hwaseong The Star Bay City theme park will be joined in an entertainment complex by a water park Get the latest attractions industry news direct to your inbox More from this author Blooloop is taking climate action and is now B Corp Certified speed and the best experience on this site Virtuoso violinist Gil Shaham joins Adele Anthony and Sejong Soloists in a program featuring two double concertos: Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor and the world premiere of Avner Dorman’s Concerto for Two Violins Sejong Soloists also performs Vivaldi’s Variations on “La Follia,” David Diamond’s Rounds and Bach’s “Air on the G String.” This program highlights baroque elegance and 21st-century innovation showcasing the virtuosic talents of the musicians This performance is presented by Sejong Soloists in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall The musical opens at the Imperial Theatre on April 10 Get the best deals and latest updates on theater and shows by signing up for TheaterMania's newsletter today A view of the Sejong Joint Campus in Jiphyeon-dong Prime Minister Han Duck-soo delivers a congratulatory speech at the welcoming plaza of the Sejong Joint Campus in Jiphyeon-dong Sejong [NATIONAL AGENCY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE CITY CONSTRUCTION] Democratic Party of Korea former leader and presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung pledged Thursday to open a presidential office and National Assembly building in Sejong South Korea’s administrative capital about 110 kilometers south of Seoul Once there is national social consensus on the plan the country will initially operate dual offices for the presidency and legislature in both Seoul and Sejong Lee said he would push for the complete relocation of these institutions in the long term and make Sejong the nation's official capital The presidential office and residence were located behind the main palace of Gyeongbokgung in Seoul for 74 years but relocated to two different locations in Yongsan-gu in 2022 The National Assembly has been located in Yeouido Lee’s proposal is part of a broader regional development strategy aimed at revitalizing the Chungcheong region “With urbanization in the Greater Seoul area other regions remained underdeveloped and have missed out on opportunities for growth,” Lee wrote The Korea Herald by Herald CorporationCopyright Herald Corporation apartment prices in Sejong City are soaring as discussions on relocating the administrative capital Analysts say that this is due to the recent decrease in apartment supply with sales prices and jeonse prices showing the highest growth rate in the country According to a national weekly apartment price trend released by the Korea Real Estate Agency on the 1st the sale price of apartments in Sejong increased by 0.49% in the fourth week of April (as of the 28th) compared to the previous week This is the largest increase in four years and eight months since the fifth week (0.51%) in August 2020 Sejong's apartment lease prices also rose 0.12% from the previous week the only double-digit increase in the country "Jeonse prices are rising mainly in Naseong and Eunjin-dong and the overall rise in Sesong continues." Sejong's house price growth rate is significantly higher than the national average The nationwide apartment sales price index fell 0.02% from the previous week It is steeper than the rise in housing prices in Gangnam-gu (0.19%) which is gaining momentum due to reconstruction Infrastructure and Transport's actual transaction price disclosure system the 84㎡ (43th floor) sale dedicated to Hanshin The Heurib in complex 6 of Naritjae Village in Naseong-dong was reportedly traded at 1.05 billion won on the 19th of last month It is more than 200 million won higher than the sale on the 5th floor of the same equilibrium in February the prevailing analysis is that presidential candidates are stimulating buying sentiment by pledging to relocate the National Assembly and the Oval Office to Sejong City one after another some analysts say that the supply of apartments in Sejong City has continued to decline due to the downturn and that prices are rising due to the overlapping good development with the reduced volume Sejong City's planned occupancy volume this year is 1,035 households but gradually decreased to 15,933 households in 2017 before plunging to around 1,000 households this year the problem of unsold housing in Sejong City is also being resolved Sejong City's "unsold before completion" has been "No the number of "unsold before completion" in metropolitan cities such as Busan (2051) and Ulsan (2816) accounted for more than 50% of the total unsold volume there have been talks that low-priced sales have been rapidly exhausted at real estate sites in Sejong City Analysts say that the high proportion of foreigners among homeowners in Sejong City also contributed to the rise in prices According to the National Statistical Office the proportion of foreign owners in Sejong City is 30.5% They say they have no choice but to react sensitively to the discussion on relocation of the administrative capital as they invested in favor of the "Sejong Cheondo Theory.""Sejong-si has a high proportion of investors so prices are bound to move easily due to favorable conditions for relocation of the administrative capital," said Kim In-man head of the Real Estate Economics Institute it is predicted that the price increase will not be as large as it was during the Moon Jae In government this time due to the learning effect of the plunge in real estate when the administrative capital relocation was claimed the Sejong City apartment sales price index ranked first in the country with 44.93% a Democratic Party candidate in the presidential primary speaks during an on-site discussion at the Agency for Defense Development in Yuseong District receives flowers to lay at the April 19 Revolution Memorial in Cheongju holds a meeting with Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh The two discussed “people-centered sustainable development.” [YONHAP] Sejong University's dance department announced a surprise news a ballerina who became the first Asian to become an etual (star senior dancer) of the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet in France has decided to share her experience with her juniors as a professor of Daewoo (first-time) from this semester Sejong University explains that he will first guide students between Korea and France and continue to create a global dance education environment at Sejong University In the background of the drastic recruitment was Professor Jang Sun-hee of Sejong University In a recent meeting with the Mail Business "Sejong University ballet education has continued its 70-year history and it is meaningful to continue its 100-year history by adding 30 years to Se-eun's will." Sejong University is the originator of fostering professional ballet dancers in Korea a dance major was established at Ewha Womans University and the predecessor of Sejong University opening the door to 70 years of university ballet education After the Seoul Women's College of Education was reorganized into Sejong University for co-educational in 1978 it also served as the birthplace for the discovery of almost the only male dancers until the establishment of the Korea National University of Arts Dance Center in 1996 The late Professor Kim Jung-wook (1926-2022) who was called the godmother of Korean ballet during this period raised dance leaders such as Professor Jang Professor Jang is also set to retire from the retirement age in August but he said he is "reliable" because he has a successor who will break the history of ballet education at Sejong University "I stay in Europe and watch ballet performances every year for nearly 40 years during the vacation so I delivered Sejong University's proposal I'm just grateful that Se-eun made a decision considering the future of the Korean ballet industry." Professor Jang is preparing to publish a book that summarizes the past 40 years by coming down from the church with a more relaxed mind It is called '400 years of ballet history and 40 years of ballet pilgrimage' (tentative) I've seen various ballet works at the scene of history," he said "I loved going to the concert hall to the point where I was too much and I'm still happiest when I'm sitting at the opera house." Professor Jang was also present in the audience of legendary dancer Rudolf Nureyev in Korea by world-class ballet companies such as the Royal Ballet of England and the Paris Opera Ballet of France in the 1970s and 1980s Wherever it is a performance you want to see the flow of change in the ballet world was clearly seen." In the European ballet world ballerinas have already taken off their toe shoes and tutus and danced to new music in high heels and jeans since the second half of the 20th century It was a time when contemporary choreographers Roland Petty and Maurice Bejar who are different from classical ballet such as Swan Lake and Nutcracker most of my disciples couldn't accept this and only wanted to play classical music," adding "But the disciples who learned in advance at that time said 'thank you' because they got a good role in contemporary works after entering the ballet company." "Just as learning a language when you are young can change right away you have to learn classical and contemporary at the same time in dance," he stressed The desire for more people to see such a good ballet grew naturally This is why Jang Sun-hee Ballet tries to popularize ballet by showing the core parts of classical masterpieces or creative choreography using popular music the Haeoreum Theater of the National Theater will present "Love Story: Seven Variations on Love," which will be the last performance before retirement including new props incorporating French chanson "The Pale" and Hungarian dance songs sung by Eve Montang even those who are new to ballet will not doze off and have fun and come to ballet performances," and added "This performance will not be boring with the announcer's commentary and instrumental performances such as piano and cello." Students from Sejong University will also join the team Universal Ballet's chief Kang Min-woo will be the artistic director and National Ballet's chief supporting actor and Heo Sang-ja and Slovakian Bratislava National Ballet soloist Lee Seung-yong will appear We have a lot of memories and gratitude that we have gained through our hard overseas competition journey together when Cho Yeon-jae won the third place in the 2016 Varna International Competition in Bulgaria it was difficult to find a right toe shoes there so Professor Jang mobilized an acquaintance from Korea to airlift them so he had a short ballet career and always humbled himself but when he took him to international competitions overseas judges have been sending love calls since the preliminary round." I want to stay in Europe for a longer time and introduce various aspects of culture and art to Korea that I saw at the ballet pilgrimage site," he said "I also stress to my students that they should always go beyond one ballet dancer to become an artist We will continue to focus on creating a good environment for Korean ballet gifted students to grow up to be great artists." The presidential office in Yongsan on April 4 [JOONGANG ILBO] The Blue House grounds filled with visitors on April 9 in central Seoul [NEWS1] The government complex building in central Seoul on Dec People Power Party (PPP) emergency committee chair Kwon Young-se speaks during a meeting of the party’s emergency leadership committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido Then-People Power Party (PPP) emergency committee chief Han Dong-hoon speaks during a press conference on current issues including that of moving the National Assembly to Sejong City People Power Party (PPP) presidential primary candidate Na Kyung-won speaks during a press conference at the Daegu City Hall on April 21 Sejong City will operate the "Shared Mobility Inconvenience Reporting Artificial Intelligence System" from the 1st which will pay a reward for illegal parking of personal mobility devices (shared mobility) an urban integrated information app in Sejong City you can enter and report necessary information such as illegally parked or broken mobility photos Mobility operators plan to collect the machines after checking the reported information in real time Up to 100 points (won) will be paid once a day to first-time illegal parking reporters but points are only given once in the first report It can be added up with points obtained from various apps operated by Sejong City An apartment complex in Sejong is seen on Sept An apartment complex in Seoul is seen on April 16 Korea.net hosts networking event for Honorary Reporters Accord with Japan to protect both nations' people abroad A bilateral agreement with Japan will bolster cooperation in protecting the nationals of both nations abroad Click here to read more about the latest summit between leaders of both countries Talks with NZ seek to upgrade ties to strategic partnership Korea and New Zealand have agreed to advance talks on elevating the bilateral Partnership for the 21st Century concluded Korea and New Zealand have agreed to advance talks on elevating the bilateral Partnership for the 21st Century concluded in 2006 to a comprehensive strategic partnership Mixed boccia pair to face Hong Kong for Paralympic gold the Jeong-Kang pair will face in the final Hong Kong in mixed pair BC3 boccia 🌕 S-Tier food for Chuseok 🌕 | K-Cuisine Relay | Ep.28 Galbijjim & Samsaeknamul “Reading is so sexy!” — Headlined by The Guardian (UK)　| Balance Talk | Ep Korean German architect in Seoul seeks to innovate Hanok Grassroots group seeks to clean up trash from Jeju waters Polish capital hosts Korean cultural event at Breakfast Market Hanbok-clad children play traditional games President Yoon attends opening of Cyber Summit Korea Descendants of Korean War veterans attend event in Incheon Multicultural families attend Chuseok event Address by President Yoon Suk Yeol on the 79th Liberation Day Keynote Address by President Yoon Suk Yeol at the NATO Public Forum K-pop management innovation changes global music industry Korea-French friendship to drive future partnership Denmark's digital strategy to preserve global democracy 10th workshop of European Association for Korean Language Education (EAKLE) PNP launches TOP COP special class to enhance tourist safety K-Culture Extravaganza Lights Up Jozi: Korean Cultural Centre Unveils ‘Travelling Korea’ Korean Restaurant to open soon in Abuja-Envoy Jusung Gabriel Park & Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra Production Design: Scene Architects Build On-Screen Worlds Sejong is an administrative city located in the center of South Korea South Korea launched a plan to relocate the central administrative agencies to Sejong City to relieve the non-capital functions of the capital Seoul 2024 shows the Sejong complex of the South Korean government in Sejong Citizens visit the newly-built National Children's Museum in Sejong 2024 shows the Entrepreneurship Promotion Institute in Sejong 2024 shows the newly built common campus in Sejong Children read books at a kindergarten of the Sejong complex of the South Korean government in Sejong Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung pledged to move the presidential office to the city of Sejong in central Korea if he is elected Lee also promised to formalize Sejong’s status as Korea’s administrative capital and quickly proceed with the second stage of moving government ministries and agencies away from the capital of Seoul and into the provinces Lee is the third presidential candidate for the party after Kim Kyoung-soo and Kim Dong-yeon to unveil a blueprint for establishing a presidential office in Sejong The pledge is set to reignite debate about Sejong’s vexed status as administrative capital “The heart of Chungcheong needs to beat if blood is to pump through the Korean economy I will turn Sejong into an administrative capital that lives up to its name and will turn Daejeon into a world-class science hub,” Lee said in a post on Facebook on Thursday Lee also pledged to “build a chamber for the National Assembly and a presidential office in Sejong” before the end of his prospective presidency His comments were aimed at voters in the Chungcheong region where the party will be holding its primary on Saturday Lee added the caveat that any push to permanently relocate the National Assembly and presidential office to Sejong would require “a social consensus,” acknowledging that such a relocation would amount to moving Korea’s administrative capital That pledge is more judicious than Lee’s push during his 2022 presidential campaign to formalize Sejong as the administrative capital through a constitutional amendment Lee didn’t indicate where he intends to perform his presidential duties until an office is built in Sejong “We’re planning to quickly proceed [with the relocation of the presidential office] within the scope allowed under the current law A complete relocation [of the office] would amount to a relocation of the capital which is tied to a constitutional amendment that would require national agreement and social consensus The candidate may offer more details during a debate or at another event,” said Kang Hoon-sik the general manager of Lee’s presidential campaign “We’ll quickly resume the relocation of government agencies We’ll move government agencies to Daejeon and ‘Innovation Cities’ in South Chungcheong Province while accounting for regional competitiveness and turn Innovation Cities in North Chungcheong Province into a hub for growth in the central region of the country.” Lee’s other pledges include turning Daejeon’s Daedeok Special R&D Zone into a global technological innovation cluster setting up a high-tech industrial belt in the Chungcheong area establishing a maritime tourism belt on the western coast and expanding Cheongju International Airport Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr] promising to make the finale even more remarkable a king with whom she shared the power of the throne who possesses the qualities of a ruler but cannot ascend to the throne Lee Bang Won ultimately deposes Crown Prince Yang Nyeong and appoints Prince Chung Nyeong as the new crown prince who becomes the wise and virtuous King Sejong For the grand finale of “The Queen Who Crowns,” Lee Jun Young steps in as a strong supporting force making a special appearance as King Sejong widely regarded as the greatest king in Korean history Lee Jun Young’s portrayal of King Sejong is set to create a meaningful connection with his parents Won Gyeong and Lee Bang Won leaving viewers eager to see how the finale will unfold The production team expressed their gratitude to Lee Jun Young “We are deeply thankful to Lee Jun Young for readily accepting the offer to make a special appearance He perfectly brought to life the profound character of King Sejong with his gentle yet resolute charisma.” “King Sejong carried on the vision of his father Lee Bang Won who worked to strengthen royal authority in order to build a nation for the people Sejong implemented various policies aimed at improving the lives of the people will deliver an emotional impact that will resonate deeply with viewers The final episodes of “The Queen Who Crowns” will air on February 10 at 4 p.m Source (1) International students line up for interviews and look around the job fair held at Sejong University on Nov The university will host the job fair and an additional university entrance fair for international students on May 13 Four new museums will be established in the National Museum Complex of Korea in Sejong by 2028 while a National Museum Storage Facility cluster will be created in Paju The projects are part of the Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism's four-year plan aimed at expanding the country's museum and art gallery infrastructure while improving cultural heritage management and accessibility The Culture Ministry also announced plans to reform the art donation tax payment system which allows individuals to pay inheritance tax using cultural properties or artwork instead of cash The revised system aims to broaden the range of eligible works of art The new museum expansion plan sets out three main goals -- making museums and galleries central spaces for enjoying national culture revitalizing local culture and regional tourism and advancing future-oriented cultural institutions accessible to all research and exhibition will be boosted with key strategies that include improving museum infrastructure supporting digital archiving and boosting professional training for museum staff the Culture Ministry will transfer the responsibility for conducting feasibility studies on public museums to local governments It will also revise the museum certification process and introduce new models for museum operations The National Museum Complex of Korea in Sejong will see new institutions over the next few years These include a National Urban Architecture Museum by 2026 a Design Museum and a Digital Cultural Heritage Center by 2027 The Culture Ministry also aims to expand educational programs for children including the creation of specialized services for disabled individuals the plan outlines the integration of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and immersive digital experiences to enhance visitor engagement "By making museums and art galleries more inclusive regardless of location or background," said Song Yun-seok has only undergone minor repairs over the past 30 years while maintaining its existing facilities and structure Even after the restructuring of Gwanghwamun Plaza in August 2022 the park still faces limitations for visitors due to its outdated facilities and enclosed spatial layout the Gwanghwamun area has experienced significant changes to accommodate a new future including the reopening of Gwanghwamun Plaza in August 2022 the rebuilding of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts It is essential to comprehensively redesign Sejongno Park to improve its aging facilities and enable better integration with the evolving surrounding developments This design competition aims to address the spatial limitations that currently disconnect Sejongno Park from its surroundings it designs to create open spaces in order to enhance the connection with Gwanghwamun Plaza and expand civic areas while providing essential amenities such as dining options and indoor relaxation areas that are currently lacking the competition aspires to establish a space that resonates with future generations honoring those who sacrificed their lives to protect the freedom of the Republic of Korea and expressing our gratitude This competition was submitted by an ArchDaily user. If you'd like to submit a competition, call for submissions or other architectural 'opportunity' please use our "Submit a Competition" form The views expressed in announcements submitted by ArchDaily users do not necessarily reflect the views of ArchDaily 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 National Global voices celebrate Hangeul at 1st Sejong Hangeul Olympiad Participants from 24 countries compete to honor Korea's iconic script celebrating their growing connection to Korean language and culture SEJONG -- Two events kicked off a new campaign this week to celebrate and elevate Hangeul the Korean writing system and cornerstone of the nation’s culture by cultivating legions of Hangeul ambassadors around the world the inaugural Sejong Hangeul Olympiad brought together 105 contestants from 24 countries to showcase their Korean language skills Designed to encourage Korean learning and reward exceptional learners has a grand vision of nurturing 100,000 learners as Hangeul ambassadors in their respective countries a national holiday marking the proclamation of Hangeul in 1446 around 7,000 people ran alongside rapper-turned-philanthropist Sean in a fund-raising run to support the Hangeul promotion campaign The 2024 Hangeul Run with Sean had two courses: a 10.9-kilometer route -- the length a nod to the date of Hangeul Day -- and a 5.15-kilometer route whose length coincides with the date of King Sejong's birth Herald Biz and the Sejong Culture and Tourism Foundation held at the Government Sejong Convention Center was an all-day competition featuring multiple contests that measured language skills the organizers invited international students enrolled in Korean universities and educational institutions with plans to expand participation to a wider audience next year The participants hailed from various regions across Korea "I began studying Korean because I found the pronunciation of Hangeul beautiful," he said adding that responding to a question in Korean is still challenging for him Two Ethiopian and one Taiwanese teamed up with team name “Spicy Samgak Gimbap.” they chose the name to symbolize their bond said "The name represents the three members coming together like rice and seaweed in gimbap," with the aim of speaking Korean in a "spicy and flavorful” way The competition kicked off with the "Digital Hangeul Merchants" event participants explored a one-kilometer radius around the venue to discover connections to Hangeul and create short videos Their task was to uncover hidden elements of Hangeul in the city of Sejong and produce content for the Hangeul Olympiad’s Instagram The videos were then voted on by employees from government ministries The next round was a quiz focused on knowledge of Hangeul "Is Hangeul a script created by King Sejong?" "Are there 14 basic consonants in Hangeul?" "Was King Sejong the 10th king of the Joseon Dynasty?" and "Does the Korean language have tones?" by signaling their responses with their hands Competitors were eliminated for wrong answers The team with the last remaining member won a master’s student from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies' Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation She lived in Beijing until high school and has been studying in Korea since her university years titled “Sejong Letter to the King,” teams were tasked with delivering one-minute speeches with the top team from each round advancing to the next The topics for the first two rounds were: “Define K-Pop” for the first round and “Define Korean cuisine” for the second The four teams advanced to the final round which had the theme of “Korean concepts that are difficult to understand when translated into a foreign language.” The finalists addressed topics such as honorifics polysemy (words with multiple meanings) and idiomatic expressions One participant shared an anecdote about being invited to a friend’s party and responding with “Gwaenchanh-da” -- meaning "(it's) okay." Although she meant she wanted to join the party Another participant recounted her surprise while watching a Korean drama where a character used the expression “Gwi meogeotnya?” (literally “Have you eaten your ears?” but meaning "Are you deaf The final contest was about Korean dialects which required participants to prepare a one-minute speech about their personal experiences with dialects showcasing the diversity and nuances of regional dialects in their presentations which received a grand prize was "Stars of Sejong," composed of Karimov Suhaili “We did not expect to win and were already packing up I felt emotional when our team was announced as the winner reflecting on the fun I had with the other members and how we learned dialects in the morning I am sincerely grateful for the unexpectedly positive result.” The Grand Excellence Award was given to the teams: The Great Kirgiz-Baek People The Excellence Award was also presented to several other teams the Viewer’s Choice Award went to Dahannim Guk while the Judges' Choice Award was presented to the Inha University Fairies The OX Quiz Special Award was given to the Hope Team the Jeonsangseo Special Award to Consonant Rain and the Dialect Total Points Special Award to the Colorful Team All participants wore white T-shirts featuring Sungyeongeum These are characters that were part of Hunminjeongeum when it was first created interest in Hangeul is also growing day by day,” Herald Corp CEO Choi Jin-young said at a closing ceremony “I sincerely hope that everyone gathered here today will once again recognize the importance and beauty of Hangeul and take the lead in promoting its influence worldwide." The event was sponsored by the National Hangeul Museum Serenity Golf and Resort served as the main supporter apartment transactions in Sejong City recently surged compared to last year due to expectations for development under each party's pledge to relocate the National Assembly and the presidential office the number of monthly apartment transactions reported as of April 28 was 960 nearly three times higher than in April last year (326 cases) The trading volume of apartments in Sejong City surged before and after the Constitutional Court's impeachment and in March and April when the early presidential election was confirmed the number of monthly apartment transactions reported in Sejong City was only 200 to 300 it remained at 200 cases per month until February the number of cases jumped to 730 and 960 in March and April Apartment prices are also rebounding in line with the trend of the number of transactions According to the National Housing Price Trend Survey released by the Korea Real Estate Agency on the 24th (as of the 21st) apartment prices in Sejong City rose 0.04% last week The increase in apartment transactions seems to have led to the increase in apartment transactions as candidates running for president jointly announced their pledge to relocate the National Assembly and the President's Office to Sejong City some say that it is too early to judge that the overall real estate of Sejong City has rebounded Unlike apartments where transaction volume is increasing and prices are rising the downturn in commercial and land transactions continues While the volume of existing apartments in Sejong area has increased the volume of new apartments moving in this year has also decreased significantly compared to last year "More than 4,600 apartments were moved in by April last year the acquisition tax revenue decreased by 13 billion won from the same period last year." Shares of South Korea’s Kyeryong Construction Industrial Co surged to the daily upper limit on Monday morning amid a renewed political momentum to designate Sejong as the country’s administrative capital The company’s stock was up 29.88 percent to 31,300 won ($22.02) as of 10:39 a.m. marking the second consecutive trading session in which it had reached the upper limit The rally follows pledges by presidential primary candidates of the Democratic Party to relocate key government functions to Sejong Candidates Kim Kyoung-soo and Kim Dong-yeon vowed to begin their terms working from Sejong during a televised debate on Friday while Lee Jae-myung said he would do so after the completion of an official presidential office in the city Lee also proposed turning Sejong into the administrative capital and Daejeon into a science and innovation hub promising to complete both the National Assembly annex and the presidential office in Sejong during his term These developments have fueled investor optimism that Kyeryong Construction could benefit from expanded infrastructure projects in the region Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) shares soared on expectations of strong earnings and a significant dividend boost KEPCO shares were up 3.5 percent to 25,150 won as of 10:41 a.m after hitting 25,200 won earlier in the session Shinhan Investment raised its target price for KEPCO from 30,000 won to 32,000 won citing improved profitability supported by falling energy prices and a stable exchange rate The firm projected a sharp increase in KEPCO’s dividend per share from 213 won to 1,500 won It also forecast operating profit to reach 14.12 trillion won in 2025 Kyeryong Construction Industrial shares closed at 31,300 won while KEPCO shares closed at 25,300 won Korea to introduce QR code for ATM transactions LG Chem halts PBAT plant operations over profitability conce.. Harvard Business School recognizes CJ Olive Young’s beauty i.. Doosan Enerbility, HD Hyundai team up on gas turbine tech Gov’t acts against SK telecom amid SIM shortage Daemyung Sono to sell entire stake in Air Premia 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.. Korea’s inflation rises 2.1% in April SK telecom shares fall on new subscription freeze KEPCO to unveil first 5-year power distribution plan by mid-.. 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 Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' resident troupe leaders and CEO, middle, pose for photos after a press conference at the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet Studio in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Tuesday. [SEJONG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS] Ahn Ho-sang, CEO of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts speaks to the press at the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet Studio in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Tuesday. [SEJONG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS] To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts. National Sejong University ranks 29th globally in hotel management Sejong University ranked No. 29 globally for its hotel management education in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject in the hospitality and leisure management category, announced by a United Kingdom-based global university evaluation agency, Quacquarelli Symonds. According to Sejong University, the university’s hospitality and tourism management program climbed 14 ranks higher than its ranking from 2024. The university has also maintained the lead among Korean universities since 2021. Sejong entered the global ranking list in 14 other academic categories, including the addition of its name to economics. By subject, the university ranked No. 190 in computer science, 151-200 in geophysics, 201-250 in environmental sciences, 251-300 in physics and astronomy, electrical and electronic engineering as well as mechanical engineering, 301-350 in materials sciences, 351-400 in business and management, 451-500 in chemistry, 551-600 in biological sciences and 701-850 in medicine. The newly added subject, economics, ranked 551-700. In domestic rankings, Sejong placed in the top 10 in eight subject areas including hospitality and tourism management, geophysics, environmental science, structural and civil engineering, computer science, math, physics as well as business and management. “Sejong University has consistently worked to strengthen its global competitiveness across a range of academic fields, including hospitality and tourism management,” said Eom Jong-hwa, president of Sejong University. “These continued efforts have led to promising results in global university rankings. We will continue to provide world-class education and research to nurture global leaders.” This year’s edition of the QS World University Rankings featured 1,747 institutions worldwide based on five indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper, international research network and H-index citations -- a scholarly metric that measures the productivity and impact of a published paper. Lee Jae-myung leads in hypothetical three-way race with Han Duck-soo, but race tightens, new poll shows Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of South Korea’s main liberal Democratic Party, holds a lead in a potential three-way race for the country’s next election, but support for the conservative b In Korea, you can shop, dine and even see a doctor underground. But risks may lurk beneath Koryo saram are 'living bridges' of Kazakh-Korean ties, say young leaders 'Smile at me': Cancer-fighting senior influencer inspires with strength, grace Latest business news, delivered in a 2-minute read Respect wanes: Teaching no longer highly coveted job in S. Korea As unused homes increase in rural South Korea, govt. mobilizes nationwide response Why S. Korean mothers are opting for C-sections at record rates In South Korea, you can shop, dine and even see a doctor underground. But risks may lurk beneath The Korea Herald by Herald Corporation. Copyright Herald Corporation. All Rights Reserved. National Sejong City, Herald Media Group to bolster efforts for global spread of Hangeul Herald Media Group will work with Sejong City to promote the global spread of the Korean language, officials from the two entities said Thursday. Sejong City Mayor Choi Min-ho and Herald Media Group CEO Choi Jin-young signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on events promoting Hangeul and exploring new business opportunities during a meeting held at Sejong City Hall. Last year, the two organizations successfully co-hosted the 1st Sejong Hangeul Olympiad and the 2024 Hangeul Run to celebrate Hangeul Day, the annual commemoration of the creation of the Korean alphabet. The Sejong Hangeul Olympiad, a Korean-language proficiency competition for foreign learners, was held at the Government Complex Sejong Convention Center on Oct. 8 last year, with over 100 contestants from 24 countries taking part in quizzes, a debate session and a dialect-speaking competition. The following day, over 5,000 ordinary citizens participated in the run held at Sejong Lake Park, celebrating the creation of Hangeul. Sean, a Korean rapper known for his philanthropic contributions, joined the runners on the 10.9-kilometer route. The two organizations will strengthen their efforts to make Sejong a hub for the Korean language, officials said. Mayor Choi said in a statement, "The events Sejong City organized with Herald Media Group last year showed how innovative a cultural festival centered on Hangeul can be. We will continue to collaborate actively on projects to promote Hangeul globally." 'Smithsonian to spread Korean culture, art to people worldwide' A bilateral agreement with Japan will bolster cooperation in protecting the nationals of both nations abroad. Click here A bilateral agreement with Japan will bolster cooperation in protecting the nationals of both nations abroad. Click here to read more about the latest summit between leaders of both countries Korea and New Zealand have agreed to advance talks on elevating the bilateral Partnership for the 21st Century concluded in 2006 to a comprehensive strategic partnership. In Paris Summer Paralympics, the Jeong-Kang pair will face in the final Hong Kong in mixed pair BC3 boccia. Find more ab K-UNESCO Adventure 2024ㅣ Ep3. Baekje Historic Areas Had too much of Seoul? This time it’s BUSAN! | HOME SWEET HOME | Ep.29 Hadan-dong “Reading is so sexy!” — Headlined by The Guardian (UK)　| Balance Talk | Ep. 28 GenZ Trend: Text Hip Affiliated professor, Graduate School of Dongguk University KCC, PNP launches TOP COP special class to enhance tourist safety Sumi Hwang, Jusung Gabriel Park & Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra Changgeuk Concert: Mr. Rabbit’s Journey to the Underwater Palace Soprano Angela Gheorghiu at the press conference for the opera ″Tosca″ at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Aug. 30 [YONHAP] The real estate industry's view of Sejong City is changing. This is because the recent rise of the theory of relocation of the National Assembly in Sejong City has raised expectations for landlords. However, some are concerned that landlords may only experience another torture of hope. According to the actual transaction price of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 27th, 84㎡ dedicated to "Horyeoul 3 Complex Sindong Affamiliate" in Boram-dong, Sejong-si, was sold and traded for 700 million won on the 16th. It sold for 1.15 billion won in 2021, the highest price, but more than 400 million won was lost in four years. In February 2023, the same area of the complex was sold for 490 million won. It is down nearly 700 million won from the highest price. The situation of other Sejong City apartments is not much different. The 84㎡ dedicated to "Naritjae Complex 3 First Landscape Chaewon Sky" in Naseong-dong was also sold for 870 million won on the 22nd, losing nearly 200 million won compared to the reported price in August 2023 (1.05 billion won). In fact, apartment prices in Sejong City, based on KB Real Estate weekly apartment market trends, have continued to decline since November 2023. However, the real estate market is getting warm recently as presidential candidates have pledged to change the administrative capital to Sejong one after another. On the 21st, the People's Power officially announced its plan to completely relocate the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, to Sejong City, and the Democratic Party of Korea also announced that it would push for the complete relocation of the National Assembly and the President's Office to Sejong within its term. As of the 14th of this month, the weekly sale price of Sejong apartments rose 0.03% in KB Real Estate's weekly apartment market trend, turning upward for the first time in 70 weeks. Even in this situation, a cautious atmosphere is being detected among the landlords of Sejong City. As discussions on the relocation of the National Assembly progressed earlier in the political circle, the average increase in the official price of apartments in Sejong City recorded 70.68% in 2021, but it has since fallen sharply. At that time, the 74.98㎡ of "Gajae Village Complex 4" in Jongchon-dong, Sejong-si, was KRW 401 million in 2021, and the 84.98㎡ of "Bumji 10 Complex" in Arum-dong was KRW 448 million, up 95.6% and 92.3% from the previous year, respectively. Currently, the same area of the complexes is only 400 million won (23rd) and 450 million won (11th), respectively, based on the actual transaction price of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Ko Jong-wan, head of the Korea Asset Management Institute, said, "The recent rise in housing prices in Sejong City is not an objective and rational pricing principle," adding, "It could be an excessive bubble due to uncertain expectations based on the pledges of presidential candidates." He added, "Given that the real estate market may fluctuate at any time depending on the results of the presidential election, it is not desirable to rush for short-term market profits." ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool, NAVER papago. Life&Culture Star chef curates fine dining banquet at Sejong Center lobby Sejong Inspiration program pushes boundaries of space, form The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is launching Sejong Inspiration, a new program series designed to break away from conventional theater spaces and performance formats. By transcending traditional boundaries of the stage, the initiative seeks to integrate diverse genres and expand the scope of artistic expression. The first event under Sejong Inspiration, Heritage Banquet, celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra — Korea’s first traditional music ensemble, founded in 1965 — and takes place April 17 at the Grand Theater lobby at 7:30 p.m. Heritage Banquet will offer a multisensory experience, exploring the history and artistic vision of traditional Korean orchestral music through taste. Star chef Choi Hyun-seok, head chef at fine dining restaurant Choi Dot who is also known for appearances on Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars” and JTBC’s “Chef & My Fridge," will curate the banquet. Inspired by the orchestra’s six-decade journey, Choi has crafted a special five-course fusion Korean menu that reinterprets traditional flavors in a contemporary style. Stand-out dishes include the vongole sujebi, a fusion of hand-torn Korean noodles with clam broth; braised short ribs inspired by Korea’s traditional five-color (obangsaek) aesthetic; and a dessert inspired by "sumaksae" — a roof-end tile featuring a smiling human face, famously known as the “Smile of Silla.” Heritage Banquet is limited to 50 participants and runs for approximately 100 minutes. Tickets go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. for Sejong Season subscribers and members, with sales opening to the general public on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Tickets are priced at 200,000 won ($136). Deep dive into sound on stage, in darkness On April 28, the Listening Stage event will invite audience members to explore the depth of sound and spatial resonance from the stage, nestled in the 70 bean bags provided. With the theater plunged into complete darkness, attendees will recline beneath 102 overhead battens, immersing themselves in a transformative sound experience. The event is centered around three musical pieces: Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero,” Arvo Part’s “Fur Alina” and Keith Jarrett’s “The Koln Concert.” The pieces will also be featured in the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet’s upcoming May performance of Johan Inger’s “Walking Mad & Bliss.” To enhance the auditory experience, an immersive audio system with approximately 50 speakers will be installed across the stage and ceiling, creating a 360-degree spatial sound environment. Listening Stage runs for 90 minutes and is limited to 70 participants. Presale begins April 9 for subscribers and members, with general sales opening April 10. Tickets are priced at 30,000 won ($20). Netflix's 'The Devil’s Plan' returns with star-packed season 2 Seoul to host inaugural 'MyK Festa' in June, showcasing full spectrum of hallyu Yoo Seung-ho returns to stage as Brutus in reimagining of 'Julius Caesar' As temperatures rise, hottest pianists are coming to town Interview: A legend contemplates usefulness "none"); */ } $("document").ready(function($) { let url = window.location.pathname; let nav_home = $('.only-home'); if (url != '/' && url != '/#') nav_home.removeClass("row"); }); $("document").ready(function($) { let url = window.location.pathname; let nav_home = $('.only-home'); let nav_home2 = $('.only-home2'); let nav = $('.without-home'); if (url != '') { $(window).bind('scroll load resize' "@id": "https://www.theworldfolio.com//interviews/sejong-technology-inspects-the-eol/6726/" } "headline": "Sejong Technology Inspects the EOL" "description": "As the EV battery manufacturing industry matures Sejong Technology is leading the way in EOL inspection through automation and digital technology As the EV battery manufacturing industry matures I would like to gain a deeper understanding of the potential of Korean SMEs on the global stage Do you believe now is the right time for SMEs to expand overseas What challenges and opportunities do you foresee based on your experience and future market trends I believe this is an excellent opportunity and a strategically favorable time for Korean SMEs to expand into the global market we began focusing on overseas markets in 2019 initially targeting European countries like Germany and France we expanded our efforts to the United States where we engaged with numerous potential clients Looking specifically at the Korean battery industry there are many companies with over a decade of expertise which give us a competitive edge in entering global markets When companies like ours expand internationally we bring strong capabilities and differentiation that position us for success the market segments that Chinese companies are penetrating differ from the markets we are targeting You mentioned that Chinese companies focus on a different market segment Could you elaborate on which markets they target and why they are different I cannot speak for the entire battery industry there is a distinct difference between our target market and that of Chinese companies Price is a crucial factor in purchasing decisions In many European countries and the United States clients demand fully automated machinery that aligns with their cultural expectations Chinese manufacturers tend to produce more cost-effective equipment that often does not meet the strict safety and environmental requirements of these regions This disparity presents a significant opportunity for us some companies prioritize affordability and opt for lower-cost Chinese suppliers and quality—factors that align well with Korean manufacturers' strengths Our target customers are those who value premium-quality and compliant equipment over just lower costs The European market is expected to rebound in the coming years due to regulations pushing consumers toward electric vehicles do you believe the dominant battery manufacturers will prioritize investing in high-quality or will the industry shift toward a more cost-driven approach What is your perspective on the market’s evolution European countries operate with a fundamentally different approach compared to Korea serving as the foundation for any technological decision automation is highly desirable due to Europe’s high labor costs—companies view automation as a necessary investment to reduce long-term expenses Korean equipment is significantly more expensive than Chinese alternatives the cost savings generated from automation will make these higher-quality machines a worthwhile investment for European companies we expect more European firms to choose Korean suppliers over time Chinese manufacturers will continue developing their technology and we anticipate they will eventually offer fully automated solutions as well we predict that the price gap between Chinese and Korean-made equipment will narrow considerably the key competitive factor will shift from cost alone to simplicity Europe has a growing number of startup battery companies some of which prioritize affordability over quality well-established companies remain focused on safety Our strategy is to partner with these larger firms that have the financial resources to invest in high-quality fully automated equipment rather than competing in the lower-end segment This approach aligns with our long-term business vision I’d like to explore the battery industry from a technological perspective Korean pouch-type batteries have demonstrated exceptional performance and safety while Tesla’s cylindrical standard has shown promise in cost reduction How do you view the evolution of battery form factors over time there are clear differences between the US and European markets while cylindrical cells make up only about 20% Europe leans more heavily toward prismatic batteries which represent approximately 50% of the market followed by pouch-type batteries at 30% and cylindrical cells at 20% our business strategy is primarily focused on cylindrical and prismatic battery formats many industry experts predicted a significant expansion of the overall battery market the market has not grown as much as initially expected While we estimate cylindrical batteries to hold around 20% of the market share I personally believe the actual figure may be even lower specializes in assembly and inspection equipment for the battery formation process the company is recognized for developing Korea’s only automatic insulation tape attachment equipment for square-type secondary batteries Could you briefly walk us through the company’s history where I spent over a decade in the equipment development department I was involved in the development of various types of equipment and gained in-depth knowledge of the battery industry particularly those manufactured by Samsung SDI Samsung SDI transitioned into automotive battery production and we were selected as a key partner for their battery wrapping equipment Developing this equipment was extremely challenging—Samsung SDI had previously approached multiple companies but none succeeded in meeting their requirements and we successfully developed the technology It took about two years to fully stabilize the manufacturing process we have continued strengthening our partnership and expanding our supply agreements You built a strong relationship with Samsung SDI you’ve also been working with Northvolt and other international clients What’s the secret behind your rapid growth and success in global markets all of the core technology was proprietary to Sejong Technology and we secured patents to protect our innovations Samsung SDI recognized that this technology belonged to us Samsung SDI significantly reduced its investments We approached Samsung SDI and explained that if their investments decreased we would need to find new customers to sustain our business and that’s when we began looking overseas One of our first international clients was Northvolt Although Northvolt has since gone bankrupt they were instrumental in helping us establish a foothold in global markets This proactive approach was key to expanding our business and positioning Sejong Technology as a strong global player The Western market often overlooks the fact that Korean SMEs are hidden champions—possessing the advanced technologies that have fueled the growth of large conglomerates You mentioned that Sejong Technology has developed its own proprietary solutions particularly in end-of-line (EOL) inspection equipment which plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and quality of new batteries Could you elaborate on the performance achievements of your equipment What are the latest technologies you have recently commercialized EOL inspection equipment is essential because it handles the final quality check before batteries are shipped the potential claims and losses for our clients can be significant That’s why it is crucial to develop equipment that is highly reliable and precise we have integrated AI-driven deep learning into our inspection systems AI was just beginning to gain traction in the industry and we saw an opportunity to enhance inspection accuracy using machine learning algorithms There are numerous possible causes of defects and our deep learning models continuously learn to identify and classify them The system analyzes video footage of battery cells we have accumulated a vast dataset that has allowed us to refine and optimize our AI-powered inspection technology no inspection system in the world can achieve 100% accuracy To prevent any faulty products from slipping through flagging potentially defective products for additional manual inspection about 3.5% of inspected products require manual rechecking which would significantly lower labor costs—a key priority for our clients our technology will provide an even stronger competitive advantage in the market there are two main approaches: visual inspection I understand that your system combines deep learning with a 2.5D approach What are the key advantages of your technology Our system currently integrates both 2.5D and 3D inspection technologies Since most defects occur on the battery surface our clients also want detailed information about the position There are two main types of defects: Hollow defects (indentations or depressions in the surface) and protruding defects (raised imperfections on the surface) A purely 2D system can only capture flat images which makes it impossible to measure defect depth or height accurately we use laser and multi-angle camera imaging to collect shadow data from four different perspectives we can estimate the height and depth of surface defects 2.5D technology alone is not sufficient for fully quantifying defect dimensions That’s why we are actively incorporating 3D scanning into our system so we are developing sophisticated algorithms to enhance detection accuracy Our goal is to create an industry-leading inspection system that meets the growing demand for high-precision I’d like to shift the conversation to the investment you received from the Hyundai-Kosnet joint venture in 2023 and 2024 This funding is expected to help boost productivity Could you elaborate on how you plan to utilize these investments What strategies are you committing to for future growth One major focus is on hiring more engineers and strengthening our R&D efforts we completed the construction of our new facility which required a significant financial commitment the requests from our clients are becoming increasingly sophisticated and stringent we must continuously develop cutting-edge technology and enhance our capabilities A substantial portion of this investment will go toward ensuring that our equipment meets and exceeds industry expectations solidifying our reputation as a leading provider of advanced inspection solutions Sejong Technology closed its 2024 fiscal year with KRW 68.2 billion in revenue marking another year of double-digit growth despite the relative stability of the battery industry Given that you’re diversifying into sensors do you believe growth will come from technological diversification or client expansion expanding our product portfolio to increase orders from existing clients expanding our client base while leveraging our current technology and products Our primary focus is on the second strategy—broadening our client base we have perfected our EOL (end-of-line) inspection technology and I firmly believe that we hold a competitive edge over other companies our technology gives us strong positioning There are significant opportunities worldwide particularly with the rise of battery startups in Europe the easiest and most effective path forward do you see EOL inspection equipment as the key attraction or do you plan to promote your other technologies as well Our initial strategy is to attract clients through EOL inspection equipment Once we establish trust and long-term relationships with new clients we can introduce them to our broader product range we ensure that our expansion is sustainable and that our clients see the full value of our expertise you mentioned that some Korean companies might be expanding overseas too late You already have international subsidiaries in the U.S. How do you plan to leverage these overseas offices through partnerships with local companies and clients Our primary focus is on the European market which has a well-established equipment industry very few companies specialize in secondary batteries we collaborate with well-known local companies to establish credibility and expand our sales efforts We have built strong partnerships with companies like Tesa (Germany & U.S.) a leading company specializing in vision inspection technology We are currently conducting joint sales efforts with both of these companies we have actively participated in international battery exhibitions we shared a booth with Tesa at last year’s exhibition we will participate in an exhibition in China This collaborative approach has been key to our successful overseas expansion This interview is part of a roundtable discussion featuring different voices in the industry You mentioned that Sejong Technology is one of the smallest companies in the sector your role in the battery supply chain is critical—EOL inspection is the final and most crucial step what key message would you like our readers to take away from your contribution to this report I want to express my deepest gratitude to our employees I’ve been in this industry for 17–18 years I’ve had the privilege of working alongside incredibly dedicated and talented individuals and team spirit have been fundamental to Sejong Technology’s continued growth The trust and strong relationships within our company have shaped our success long-term career opportunities with reliable and reputable companies we strive to be that kind of company—a place where employees feel secure and motivated to work hard toward a shared vision of excellence For more information please visit: http://www.sejongt.co.kr/en/main/index.html For more information please visit: http://www.sejongt.co.kr/en/main/index.html industrial and financial news about global economies with a focus on understanding them from within Sejong University's hospitality and tourism management program secured 11th place globally in the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities by subject released by Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Graduate School of Education the university has maintained its top spot in hospitality and management for five consecutive years since 2020 Considered one of the world’s top three university rankings alongside QS and Times Higher Education rankings the ARWU subject rankings evaluate over 1,800 universities annually Sejong University achieved rankings in 19 academic fields New additions include nanoscience and biotechnology engineering civil engineering earned a position within the top 51–75 globally These achievements stem from Sejong University’s long-term efforts to strengthen its engineering disciplines Key initiatives include paradigm shifts in engineering education continuous investment in research infrastructure and recruitment of distinguished faculty "We have focused on strengthening research infrastructure and showcasing our achievements on the global stage we aim to enhance research collaboration with leading universities and institutions worldwide to maintain our competitive edge in academic excellence,” said Um Jong-hwa Sejong University demonstrated its global competitiveness by achieving strong results in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Subject Rankings Sejong University placed between 151st and 175th in the category of business and economics 176-200th in engineering and computer science and 251-300th in social sciences and life sciences Sejong’s School of Business ranked fifth in South Korea Sungkyunkwan University and Korea University The school has also received accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business for a fourth consecutive time an achievement attained by fewer than 5 percent of business schools worldwide The university’s strong performance in engineering and computer science highlights its research excellence and educational strength Sejong University attributed its success to strategic investments in engineering curricula faculty recruitment and improvements in research facilities marking a significant shift since the 1990s toward innovation in science and technology “These rankings reflect Sejong University’s commitment to becoming a globally competitive institution We will continue to enhance our research capabilities and expand international research collaborations to solidify our position as a world-class university," President Eom Jong-hwa said