The Korea Herald

South Korea raises cybersecurity alert against WannaCry attack

May 14, 2017

South Korea raised its cybersecurity alert on Sunday amid growing concerns about the WannaCry ransomware cyberattack that has spread across the world. The Korea Internet & Security Agency said four companies have reported to the state computer security agency that they were affected by the malicious software over the weekend.Seven companies have consulted with it for two days and four of them registered official damage reports. The agency said it will provide technical support to them.Private se
Scientists develop multiple-colored solar cell

May 11, 2017

A group of South Korean scientists developed a solar cell that can take on multiple colors, the state-run science laboratory said Thursday, a discovery that could be used for power-generating windows.The team led by Min Byoung-koun developed the solar cell called CIGS that gives off color, which provides a useful aesthetic value, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology said. (Korea Institute of Science and Technology)"Beautiful violets and blues were created on the cover glass of a black C
Korean, Japanese institutes to tie up for research on freshwater life

Apr 20, 2017

A South Korean research institute on freshwater organisms and biodiversity conservation said Thursday it will sign a business pact with Japan's Lake Biwa Museum this week to push ahead with joint research, education and exhibitions on freshwater animals and plants.The state-run Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources will tie up with the Japanese research center on Friday when officials hold a joint seminar at the South Korean research institute located near the Nakdong River in s
Study on lactic acid bacteria from kimchi sheds light on treatment of atopic dermatitis

Apr 12, 2017

Researchers said Wednesday they have found that lactic acid bacteria in kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented vegetable dish, is potentially effective in treating atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease. The team, led by Choi Hak-jong, a senior researcher at the government-funded World Institute of Kimchi, said it has confirmed that the bacteria, known as "Weissella cibaria WIKIM28," helped improve a case of atopic dermatitis in an experiment with a mouse. Lactic acid bacteria fr
Scientists develop artificial skin with sensitivity

Apr 4, 2017

A group of South Korean scientists has developed an artificial skin with sensitivity, the science ministry said Tuesday, a development that could be a boon to a variety of robots and products in numerous fields.The team lead by Kim Do-hwan at Soongsil University and Jung Hee-tae at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology co-developed the stretchable yet ultrasensitive artificial skin, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said. It said scientists developed the artificial sk
Scientists develop new drug treatment for brain cancer

Mar 28, 2017

A group of South Korean medial scientists has developed a new type of non-surgical procedure to deliver drugs to tumors in the brain, the science ministry said Tuesday, opening up new treatment opportunities for patients.Drug delivery to brain tumors has been considered challenging because of the presence of the blood-brain barrier that is in place to protect the critical human organ from non-natural substances. (Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning)The team, led by Park Joo-yeong of the
Scientists develop anti-counterfeit film

Mar 27, 2017

A state-funded chemical institute said Monday that it has developed a new anti-counterfeit film that changes color when it comes in contact with a person's breath, a finding that can be applied to various products like cigarettes and cosmetics.The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology said it has successfully developed a transparent film which shows different colors such as blue and red if it has been breathed upon. (Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology)If companies use this
Scientists develop thermoelectric graphene

Mar 27, 2017

A group of South Korean scientists has developed a graphene with enhanced thermoelectric capabilities, a state-run science laboratory said Monday, a discovery that could be used for wearable technologies such as bendable electronic devices.Graphene is an atomically thin two-dimensional allotrope of carbon materials in which one atom forms each vertex. It is about 200 times stronger than the strongest steel and has applications in semiconductors and various electronic devices. (Korea Institute of
Scientists develop nanochannel with super-fast ion transportation

Mar 23, 2017

A group of South Korean scientists discovered that a nanochannel smaller than 5 nanometers can act as a better transporter of ion, the science ministry said Thursday, expanding new horizons for the nanotechnology sector as a whole.The team led by Han Chang-soo of Korea University successfully manufactured a 3.6-nanometer high graphene nanochannel that has 115 times greater ionic conductivity than conventional nanochannels, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said.(Ministry of Scienc
Scientists develop gold nanomaterials for gout treatment

Mar 22, 2017

A group of South Korean scientists developed a new type of gold nano-sized materials to treat hyperuricemia, the science ministry said Wednesday, opening a new gateway for the treatment of diseases such as gout.Hyperuricemia is a phenomenon marked by an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood. Such a high level of uric acid is associated with numerous diseases ranging from cardiovascular illnesses to gout. (Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning)The team led by Kwon In-chan of the
Korea to strengthen monitoring of 2 drug-resistant bacteria

Mar 17, 2017

South Korean health authorities said Friday they will strengthen monitoring of two super bacteria -- the Vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae -- that are resistant to certain antibiotics. The two will be designated as level-three infectious diseases starting in June, said the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The ministry divides infectious diseases into five levels in terms of how dangerous they are and how quickly they can spread.The Ministry of
Korean space institute details interstellar journey to 'Earth-like' planet

Mar 15, 2017

A South Korean space institute said Wednesday that one of its astrophysicists has suggested a way to protect a nano-sized spacecraft during an interstellar voyage project that was unveiled last year.In April 2016, tech investor Yuri Milner announced the so-called "Breakthrough Starshot" initiative to send nanocrafts to a small rocky "Earth-like" planet that might exist in the nearest star system to the sun, Alpha Centauri. The billionaire said he will inject $100 million to fund scientists and e
Scientists develop new peptide to treat autoinflammatory diseases

Mar 15, 2017

A group of South Korean scientists have developed a new type of peptide to treat autoinflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, the science ministry said Wednesday.Autoinflammatory diseases are defined as the loss of self-tolerance in which an inflammatory response occurs in reaction to inappropriate triggering of Toll-Like Receptor-4. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning) (Yonhap)The team led by Choi Sang-don successfully designed small peptide inhibitors
Scientists discover REM sleep's role in memory development

Mar 13, 2017

A group of South Korean scientists discovered that rapid eye movement sleep has a role in memory consolidation, a state-run science laboratory said Monday, a finding that could lead to a treatment for diseases related to sleep disorder.The team led by Choi Jee-hyun found that REM sleep -- which usually occurs during nighttime -- is critical for brain development and memory consolidation, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology said. Brainwave map developed by the Korea Institute of Science
Scientists develop easy blood glucose monitoring device for diabetes patients

Mar 12, 2017

A group of South Korean scientists has developed a convenient and accurate blood glucose monitoring device that does not require a blood sample, the state-run research center said Sunday, a development that would help diabetes patients.The team led by Lee Hyun-jae at the Center for Nanoparticle Research under the Institute for Basic Science developed the sweat-based system that allows rapid glucose measurement and also comes in a disposable strip sensor.(Photo courtesy of the Institute for Basic