Latest news with #Korea-based
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
DP candidate Lee highlights USFK's role in China containment: report
Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of South Korea's progressive Democratic Party, has highlighted the strategic importance of US Forces Korea in Washington's efforts to contain China amid speculation the Donald Trump administration may scale down American troops stationed in the country. The Korea-based American forces "actually play a very important critical role for the United States policy of containment against China," Lee said in an interview with US magazine TIME published Thursday. Lee's remarks came after The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Washington is considering withdrawing some 4,500 troops, or 16 percent of the USFK, and relocating them to other locations in the Indo-Pacific. Both Seoul and Washington have dismissed the report, with the Pentagon reaffirming America's full commitment to South Korea's defense. TIME pointed out that Lee, once seen as more friendly toward China, now appears to be moving to a pro-US stance during the election campaign. Lee is considered one of the strongest candidates for the June 3 presidential election. He led the latest opinion poll with 49.2 percent, followed by Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party at 36.8 percent. Lee also expressed support for Trump's North Korean policies, saying that Trump's willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was "helpful for the peace of the Korean Peninsula, as well as for Northeast Asia." He dismissed concerns that South Korea might be sidelined in future talks, saying it would be "structurally" difficult to exclude Seoul even if direct Trump-Kim negotiations resumed. During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump sat down with Kim three times for nuclear negotiations, though the two sides failed to produce a constructive agreement. On relations with Japan, Lee reaffirmed his demand for a more "fulsome" apology for Tokyo's colonial rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945. "We cannot dwell on the past, but Japan continues to deny its history and does not sincerely apologize, which hurts us Koreans," he told TIME. In trade policy, Lee pledged to pursue "reasonable and rational" discussions with the US to resolve tariff issues. South Korea is seeking to gain a full exemption or reduction of the Trump administration's 25 percent reciprocal tariffs for the country, as well as sectoral tariffs on steel, automobiles and other imports, by crafting a package deal on trade issues by early July. (Yonhap)
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
interpark global Launches Official Travel Packages for "2025 NOL FESTIVAL: SBS GAYODAEJEON Summer"
– A large-scale K-Culture festival combining K-POP performances and immersive Korean content experiences – Exclusive packages now available: from concert tickets to hotel stays and shuttle services for a seamless Korea travel experience SEOUL, South Korea, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- interpark global, the Korea-based concert and performance ticketing platform operated by NOL UNIVERSE (Co-CEOs Bochan Bae and Hwi-Young Chae), has announced the exclusive launch of official travel packages for the "2025 NOL FESTIVAL : SBS GAYODAEJEON Summer." Co-hosted by SBS, one of Korea's leading broadcasters, and NOL UNIVERSE, a global travel, leisure, and culture platform company, the 2025 SBS GAYODAEJEON Summer will be held on July 26–27 at KINTEX in Ilsan, Korea. This landmark K-Culture festival brings together top-tier K-POP artists such as NCT DREAM, i-dle, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, IVE, NMIXX, ILLIT, and JANNABI, along with a blue-carpet experience offering close-up views of artist arrivals and a vibrant K-Content zone showcasing the latest trends in Korean culture. To help international fans plan their trips with ease, interpark global is offering curated travel packages that bundle official concert tickets with transportation and accommodations. Options include: A basic package with concert tickets and shuttle service departing from major tourist sites in Seoul A "Hotel + Shuttle + Ticket" package A full package including blue-carpet access, hotel accommodation, private shuttle, and concert ticket These packages are exclusively available for purchase via the interpark global website and mobile app. "We are proud to partner in this major K-Culture event as part of our mission to become the leading global platform for K-Content," said Logan Kim, Head of Global Business at NOL UNIVERSE. "Through interpark global, we aim to offer global K-POP fans an effortless and immersive travel experience in Korea, and we will continue to expand our services to meet that goal." interpark global is Korea's largest ticketing platform exclusively for international users, serving more than six million customers worldwide. The platform provides easy access to a wide range of Korean cultural events—including K-POP concerts, fan meetings, musicals, classical performances, and sports games. In addition, interpark global is committed to enhancing the Korean travel experience by offering personalized itinerary planning tools and concert-linked travel content designed to help global travelers experience Korea in a deeper, more memorable way. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NOL UNIVERSE Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
interpark global Launches Official Travel Packages for "2025 NOL FESTIVAL: SBS GAYODAEJEON Summer"
– A large-scale K-Culture festival combining K-POP performances and immersive Korean content experiences – Exclusive packages now available: from concert tickets to hotel stays and shuttle services for a seamless Korea travel experience SEOUL, South Korea, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- interpark global, the Korea-based concert and performance ticketing platform operated by NOL UNIVERSE (Co-CEOs Bochan Bae and Hwi-Young Chae), has announced the exclusive launch of official travel packages for the "2025 NOL FESTIVAL : SBS GAYODAEJEON Summer." Co-hosted by SBS, one of Korea's leading broadcasters, and NOL UNIVERSE, a global travel, leisure, and culture platform company, the 2025 SBS GAYODAEJEON Summer will be held on July 26–27 at KINTEX in Ilsan, Korea. This landmark K-Culture festival brings together top-tier K-POP artists such as NCT DREAM, i-dle, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, IVE, NMIXX, ILLIT, and JANNABI, along with a blue-carpet experience offering close-up views of artist arrivals and a vibrant K-Content zone showcasing the latest trends in Korean culture. To help international fans plan their trips with ease, interpark global is offering curated travel packages that bundle official concert tickets with transportation and accommodations. Options include: A basic package with concert tickets and shuttle service departing from major tourist sites in Seoul A "Hotel + Shuttle + Ticket" package A full package including blue-carpet access, hotel accommodation, private shuttle, and concert ticket These packages are exclusively available for purchase via the interpark global website and mobile app. "We are proud to partner in this major K-Culture event as part of our mission to become the leading global platform for K-Content," said Logan Kim, Head of Global Business at NOL UNIVERSE. "Through interpark global, we aim to offer global K-POP fans an effortless and immersive travel experience in Korea, and we will continue to expand our services to meet that goal." interpark global is Korea's largest ticketing platform exclusively for international users, serving more than six million customers worldwide. The platform provides easy access to a wide range of Korean cultural events—including K-POP concerts, fan meetings, musicals, classical performances, and sports games. In addition, interpark global is committed to enhancing the Korean travel experience by offering personalized itinerary planning tools and concert-linked travel content designed to help global travelers experience Korea in a deeper, more memorable way. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NOL UNIVERSE Sign in to access your portfolio
Korea Herald
19-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Wadiz sets out to export ‘K-funding' as Asia's answer to Kickstarter
From K-beauty to smart appliances, CEO sees growing demand for Asian innovation—and aims to be the platform that delivers When Shin Hye-sung left the state-run Korea Development Bank in 2012 to start a crowdfunding platform, he wasn't chasing unicorns. He was looking out for overlooked potential: early-stage entrepreneurs with good ideas but few backers. That vision became Wadiz, now South Korea's largest crowdfunding platform, with 6.8 million users and more than 83,000 campaigns raising a combined 1.3 trillion won ($928 million). After more than a decade helping domestic startups raise capital from fans and early adopters, Shin says it's time to take the model global — not by opening foreign offices, but by riding the wave of artificial intelligence. 'We're not becoming a global company by planting flags,' he said. 'We've always been a cross-border platform. The real shift is just opening up what we already do to the world.' To Shin, Wadiz was never just a fundraising site. After five years of funding Korea's industrial backbone at KDB, he came away with a sobering conclusion: The country couldn't rely on a handful of conglomerates to power its future. 'When I started Wadiz 13 years ago, I did so thinking Korea had no future if things didn't change,' he said. That outlook has since gained urgency. Growth has stalled across Korea's key sectors, with the economy projected to expand by less than 1 percent this year. In response, Shin built a system he hoped could serve as an alternative. What began as a modest platform to test and discover creative product ideas has grown into a full-stack ecosystem for startup growth — with a permanent storefront, Wadiz X, and a venture arm, Wadiz Partners. AI clears way to world Wadiz's international ambitions had long been constrained by a key hurdle: screening campaigns across languages and legal systems — a critical task for a platform that, as a financial service, must vet every project to manage risk and protect backers. The AI boom was the game changer, Shin says. Generative AI now drives much of the platform's internal operations, from document review to multilingual localization and real-time policy updates. 'The technology lets us do things at scale that would have required human teams in every market,' he said. 'AI didn't just solve the language barrier. It destroyed every barrier.' On May 21, Wadiz will officially go global, opening its platform to users in more than 200 countries. Creators will be able to select their target markets, with initial focus on North America. English will be the first supported language, with others to follow. Even before the launch, interest from abroad was evident, with users around the world browsing campaigns, even if they couldn't contribute, said Shin. 'The world is hungry for new ideas coming out of Korea — especially in content, beauty and food. That's exactly where we're focusing with this launch.' Global, but Korea-based While the launch marks a major step, Shin says the overseas push has always been part of the plan. Wadiz's slow-delivery model — where products are manufactured only after campaigns are funded — differs from traditional e-commerce and sidesteps the need for warehousing or logistics infrastructure. 'We're not here to be another Kickstarter,' Shin said, referring to the US-based crowdfunding giant. 'We're here to show that global doesn't have to mean American —and that a Korea-based platform can do it better.' That's why Shin, who could have built a VC fund or accelerator, chose instead to build a platform that connects creators and supporters directly. In Korea's saturated, demanding market, he argues, only constant refinement ensures survival. 'The scale might not be significant yet, but I assure you, the service quality is already world-class,' he said. K-funding as export item Alongside its global rollout, Wadiz is working to bring in more international creators. Foreign campaigns currently make up just 10 percent of listings — mostly from Japan and China — but Shin expects that share to grow fast. 'Visitor data shows strong demand for products from across Asia—not just Korea,' he said. 'We plan to scale sourcing from China and Japan and open more offerings to worldwide.' China, in particular, is gaining traction for a surge in high-end tech and smart appliances. In 2021, Shanghai-listed Roborock hit 2,000 percent of its funding goal on Wadiz within an hour — and reached 6,300 percent by day 15. Looking ahead, Wadiz is preparing to export what Shin calls 'K-funding' — a turnkey version of its platform, complete with training programs, operational policies and technical infrastructure tailored for emerging markets. Governments in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, have expressed interest in importing the model to foster local entrepreneurship. What resonates most, Shin says, is how Wadiz connects grassroots crowdfunding with institutional capital —bridging a gap many economies still face, particularly in under-scaled consumer sectors. In Korea, Wadiz has shaped that pipeline somewhat. Startups that perform well on the platform can secure follow-on investment from Wadiz Partners, either directly or through joint funds backed by corporations and government programs. The subsidiary currently manages about 20 billion won in assets. 'While tech startups often attract VC funding, brand-focused businesses are frequently overlooked,' Shin said. 'It's meaningful that we focus on stably backing early-stage companies in lifestyle and consumer goods.' Ultimately, Shin sees Wadiz not just as a tool for startup growth, but as a model to fortify economic resilience 'Societies can't thrive by supporting only the giants,' he said. 'They need ecosystems where new businesses can emerge, stumble, and try again.' That, he argues, is where Korea lags behind more advanced economies like the US where a strong entrepreneurial middle class allows new challengers to scale naturally. 'Korea is in crisis today because we haven't built that middle layer of businesses,' he said. 'Strengthening this rung of the corporate ladder is essential to keeping the economy moving.' As Korea enters an era of low growth, Shin sees Wadiz as part of the answer — not by clinging to a 'Made in Korea' label, but by building digital trade routes that connect innovation across borders. 'It's no longer just about selling Korean goods or linking buyers and sellers,' he said. 'Our expansion is about creating an 'online Silk Road' — a cross-border infrastructure to help startups grow globally — anchored in Korea.' The Top 100 Global Innovators series spotlights the trailblazers shaping Korea's futur e across a range of industries — from bold entrepreneurs and tech pioneers to research leaders — whose innovations are making a global impact beyond Korea. More than a celebration of success, the series offers a deeper exploration of the ideas, breakthroughs and strategies driving their achievements. — Ed. jwc@
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Meet The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Class Of 2025
This 10th edition of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list puts the spotlight on a new wave of entrepreneurs and innovators with a bold vision for the future—one that's largely powered by artificial intelligence. From automating mundane tasks such as transcribing client calls to providing sophisticated analytics for hedge fund managers and speeding up the discovery of new chemical materials, AI is reshaping how startups innovate. More than a third of those on our list use AI in some way, a trend that prompted us to create a new AI category. Take for example Jin Kim, 28, cofounder of Seoul-based LinqAlpha. In May last year, Kim teamed up with 3 other cofounders (two of whom are 30 Under 30 alumni) to deliver tech-driven insights to investors, with a focus on hedge fund managers. Their subscription-based platform uses AI to speed up research into more than 60,000 companies in over 80 markets and in 20 languages, it says, trawling through large volumes of data, such as securities filings, financial reports and earnings-call transcripts as well as text files, PDFs and social media. LinqAlpha raised $6.6 million in seed funding last year from investors such as Korea-based VC firms Atinum, InterVest, Kakao Ventures and Smilegate Investment. Jin Kim, cofounder of LinqAlpha. Douglas Levy for Forbes Asia For founders navigating the turbulent waters of fundraising, AI has emerged as a strategic partner that helps refine their value propositions to investors looking to back the potential of this cutting-edge technology. Cofounded by 24-year-old Wang Guan in 2024, Singapore-based Sapient Intelligence is trying to create artificial general intelligence (AGI), or AI that can match or surpass human intelligence. The startup is combining technology from mathematics, neuroscience and machine learning in the training of AI models that can solve very complex puzzles like Sudoku. Last December, Sapient Intelligence raised $22 million in seed funding from investors including Vertex Ventures and Sumitomo Group, giving it a valuation of over $200 million. In Japan, 29-year-old Kazuki Yumiba cofounded Hutzper which enables manufacturers to automate quality inspections to reduce costs. Food companies, for example, can use its Mekikibaito technology to check for contamination and damaged products. Customers include Tsukishima Foods and Toshiba. The startup has raised ¥883 million ($6.2 million) in funding, including from East Ventures and Hiroshima Venture Capital. AI is also being used by our listees in almost every category including Healthcare & Science, Retail & Ecommerce, Finance & Venture Capital and even Social Impact. Elsewhere on the list, reflecting Gen Z's departure from the mantra of 'go big or go home,' young go-getters are building niche businesses aimed at a local customer base. From hair products to activewear and craft beverages, they are tapping into growing demand for homegrown offerings. Sisters Raena and Rahee Ambani, 24 and 28, launched Mumbai-based activewear company Terractive in 2023, offering innovative sportswear that is both cooling and anti-odor. Last December, Terractive raised 80 million rupees (about $950,000) in a pre-series A funding round led by Fireside Ventures and DeVC. Raena Ambani and Rahee Ambani, cofounders of Terractive. Supplied photo Creating an India-made product to pamper her curly hair also led Anshita Mehrotra to build a niche haircare brand that's grown over the past six years. The Gurgaon-based Fix My Curls sells a range of shampoos, conditioners and gels and says it's delivered over 500,000 orders so far across ten countries, sold directly from its website as well as through Amazon, beauty retailer Nykaa and others. It has raised $910,000 in a seed round led by Amazon Sambhav Venture Fund (ASVF). 'There's crazy potential in this business,' says Mehrotra. In Australia, 26-year-old Annabel Hay turned a wardrobe malfunction at a Sydney nightclub in 2016 into a multimillion-dollar business. Launched in 2022, Clutch Glue is a liquid alternative to fashion tape that Hay spent four years developing. In November 2024, the company received A$1.4 million ($900,000) in pre-seed funding led by Blackbird. Putu Wiranatha, cofounder of Kuru Kuru beer. Supplied photo Based in Bali, Putu Wiranatha cofounded craft beer brand Kura Kura Beer with his father Kadek in 2020. Kura Kura, meaning 'turtle' in Bahasa Indonesian, refers to the legend that Bali lies on top of a turtle's back. Its brewery produces two types of pale ale, one IPA and a lager as well as short-term limited releases. In December 2023, the company shipped its first exports to Australia. The final 300 entries on this year's list were selected from over 4,500 nominations and represent 20 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region. India has the most entries with 94 entries, followed by Australia (32), China (30), Japan (25) and South Korea (23). Singapore and Indonesia have 19 entries each. In addition to entrepreneurs, they include venture capitalists, activists, artists and athletes, whose achievements in their respective fields stand out. They were vetted by a panel of experts from a range of industries and researched by a team of Forbes Asia reporters and editors across the region. Check out our full Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 list here.
