A number of South Korean businesses are mulling long-term projects to do businesses in North Korea, a local business lobby official said Friday.The South‘s business circles largely remain cautious about making investments in the communist neighbor amid the U.N.-led sanctions against it and uncertainty about conditions. But they are paying keen attention to the ongoing dialogue phase and an envisioned peace process, according to Jung Bong-ho, head of international cooperation at the Federation of

미국에서 병원을 이용할 경우 자칫하면 천 만원이 넘는 ‘수수료’를 내야 할 수도 있어 주의가 필요하다. 최근 한 한국인 부부가 2년 전 샌프란시스코 일대를 여행하다가 병원을 이용한 것에 대해 뒤늦게 1만 8천 달러가 넘는 요금이 청구된 사실이 알려졌다.2016년 당시 이 부부는 태어난 지 8개월 된 아이가 침대에서 떨어지고서 계속해서 울자 911에 전화를 걸어 응급실에 데려간 것으로 전해진다. 겉으로 보이는 상처는 없었지만, 혹시라도 문제가 있지 않을까 염려해서다.병원 측에서는 아기에게 별다른 문제가 없다고 진단했다. 그리하여 아기가 낮잠을 자고 유동식을 마신 뒤 부부는 3시간 22분 만에 아이를 데리고 퇴원할 수 있었다.그러나 2년이 지난 뒤 집으로 날아든 청구서에는 18,836달러, 우리 돈으로 2천만 원을 뛰어넘는 금액이 적혀 있었다. 이중 대부분은 ‘트라우마 (의료진) 활성화 (trauma activation)’라고 명시된 수수료였다.  (FreeQration)트라우마 관련

　월드컵 애청자라면 상대팀에게 차이거나 부딪혀 필드에 쓰러진 대표팀 선수에게 정체 모를 스프레이를 뿌려주는 팀닥터를 한 번쯤은 본적이 있을 것이다.　‘칙칙’ 뿌렸을 뿐인데 아무 일도 없었다는 듯 유유히 경기장을 누비는 선수들을 보며 필시 프로들만 사용하는 고가의 제품일 것이라 여기는 사람도 많다. (사진=연합뉴스)　그러나 알고 보면 스프레이는 부상부위의 열을 식히거나 땀에 젖은 부위를 말려 붕대를 감기 위한 용도가 대부분이다.　그중에서도 대부분은 염화에틸이라 불리는 성분을 포함해 피부에 닿는 순간 증발하며 강한 온도저하를 일으켜 보통 국소 통증을 완화시키는데 사용된다. 염화에틸 스프레이는 온라인상에서 단돈 몇천 원으로 구매할 수 있다.　하지만, 스프레이의 효과에 대해서는 의견이 분분하다. 불과 몇 분간 통증을 완화하는 게 고작이라며 사용하지 않는 의료진도 있지만 몇 분이면 심리적으로 남은 경기를 치르기에 충분하다고 주장하는 의료진도 있다.　일부 누리꾼들은 해당 의료용품을 “마법의 스

Awardee: Hur Su Jung CheongShim International AcademyWhen Hur Su Jung moved to Seoul from Georgia, USA after fifth grade, her parents encouraged her to reconnect to her roots. Her experiences, instead, lead her into sense of limbo between her ethnic Korean background and American schooling. Once a source of worry, this proved invaluable when she began volunteering at Seongnam-si Multicultural Family Support Center, a program run by the Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Through-out m

In this day and age, a flood of new products and technologies bombard consumers with millions of choices daily, leading to word-of-mouth marketing and social media becoming influential tools for the promotion of products. In the past, brands were mainly built on accumulated decades of business, but modern-day brands are more about unique technologies and services that leave a strong impression on potential customers.  The current market environment also underscores the foundation of a stron

 Awardee: Chang Seo Won Korea International School, Jeju CampusLike many of his friends in the Korean education system, 18-year-old Seowon Chang always had a strong interest in math, physics and design, but found it hard to apply and develop these skills because of his lack of confidence in speaking English. However since moving from his native Songdo to Korea International School (KIS) in Jeju 18 months ago — where all classes are taught in English — Seowon has discovered a new language and a w

Saean Motors, a South Korean electric micro carmaker, is in the final stages of entering the Malaysian market as part of its efforts to diversify its business worldwide.A group of working-level officials from Malaysia’s automaker Go Auto are scheduled to visit Korea next month to examine Saean’s office and research centers here, and clinch a final agreement. 　It signed a memorandum of understanding with the Malaysia Automotive Institute, an agency under the Ministry of International Trade and In

Swing Corp., which was established in 2002 under a previous name Shinan Greentech, is bringing a new trend to the vacuum cleaner market by introducing new technologies by combining the functions of the wireless wet and dry vacuum. By prioritizing trust with customers over short-term gains, the company, led by its chief O Bu-jeon, has been operating on the philosophy of brining innovative technologies and services, officials explained.Swing began with its WLE-550, 770 brands to introduce its vacu

Vornado Korea, which has imported air circulators from the US since 2007, continues to thrive in the Korean market. The US-based company Vornado dates back to 1945 in Kansas, where two men experimented with different designs to improve airplane propellers. Through continuous research and development, the propeller designs were applied to household fans and the Vornado Air Circulator was developed.Vornado has revolutionized fans used at homes through its product’s energy efficiency and prec

Amid the trending minimalism across all industrial sectors, Lock&Lock is enabling a minimal kitchen life with modular-type food containers that make home kitchens look simpler and cleaner. Its latest Bisfree Modular Series containers are designed like Lego blocks to enable tidy, stable and space-efficient stacking. When stacked, there are no edges or locks sticking out, hence taking up minimal space in refrigerators.  Bisfree Modular Series containers (Lock&Lock)The so-called “6-millimeter hidde

South Korean company Coway introduced the CIROO (Coway Intensive Reserve Osmosis) direct water purifier on June 18, moving to change the concept of water purifiers.The new product aims to resolve consumers’ dilemma of choosing between functions of a filter and a direct water purification system, the company explained.Originally, reserve osmosis membrane filters have less purified water capacity per length of use due to the dense and detailed nature of the filtering function compared to hol

Hyundai Engineering and Construction said Thursday it has started sales of Hillstate residential complex lots in Byeolnae, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, this month.The Stayone complex comprises three 46-story buildings with a total 578 households. Hillstate Byeolnae Stayone (Hyundai E&C)They are the highest building to sit in the planned new town of Byeolnae bearing the company’s premium Hillstate brand.Though not categorized as an “apartment,” the Stayone complex is registered as a residential

Samsung Electronics is helping single parents become self-sustained through mentoring and the provision of home appliances necessary for child rearing. Samsung Electronics executive Kim Hyun-sook (left) delivers Samsung dryer “Grande” to Aeranwon director on Tuesday. (Samsung Electronics)On Tuesday, employees of Samsung’s home appliance division visited Aeranwon, a non-profit organization for single parents, to deliver its large-sized dryer “Grande” and baby care washers, according to the tech f