[KIM SUN-KI]“There are hardly any affectionate memories between me and my grandmother, whom I’ve only ever met for the holidays. But one day I had to live with her.” This is how the photographer’s note for the photo exhibition “Hyosun Oh, My Grandmother,” currently being held at the Ryu Ga-heon Gallery in central Seoul. Kim Sun-ki was in his mid-20s when his grandmother came to live with his family after his father, the eldest son, was given the responsibility to care for his mother in her 70s. Over time, Kim’s grandmother developed a hearing disability and, little by little, began to lose her memory and started to suffering from cognitive impairment. It was the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. To get closer to his sick grandmother, Kim decided to take photos of her to understand the strange disease that prevented her from recognizing her own family and even herself. That led to him photographing 15 years of his grandmother’s … [Read more...] about Memories of living life with Alzheimer’s: Kim Sun-ki captures his grandma’s final years in photographs
BOK holds rate but admits growth will be near zero
The central bank said Korea is not likely to reach 1 percent economic growth this year considering the coronavirus pandemic, hinting that if the outbreak doesn’t subside, a recession is possible - as is a cut to interest rates. The Bank of Korea (BOK)’s monetary policy board held the base rate at 0.75 percent Thursday at a regular meeting, saying it would watch the market and evaluate the latest stimulation measures, which include a big rate cut last month. The bank made a surprise cut of 50 basis points on March 16. “It won’t be easy [for the 2020 economic growth rate] to reach the 1 percent level,” said BOK Gov. Lee Ju-yeol in an online briefing Thursday. “Yet, the figure is extremely changeable depending on the progress of the coronavirus,” Lee said. “In the most basic scenario, however, the country’s growth rate for this year will be able to surpass zero.” The basic scenario, according to Lee, refers to a situation in … [Read more...] about BOK holds rate but admits growth will be near zero
GS Caltex converts Yeosu refinery to use liquid gas
GS Caltex has converted a production facility at its Yeosu oil refinery plant in South Jeolla to run on liquefied natural gas instead of low-sulfur fuel oil, the company announced Thursday.The company said the transition will help it reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by more than 19 percent, allowing it save up to 11.5 billion won ($9.4 million) per year previously spent on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the plant.Using low-sulfur fuel oil produces 76 tons of carbon dioxide per terajoule, while natural gas emits 56 tons, 74 percent of the more carbon-intensive oil.The company declined to specify the cost of updating the facility.GS Caltex is Korea’s second-largest oil refiner, after SK Energy.Emissions of substances like sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxide - which help to drive fine particulate levels - will also plummet by more than 30 percent, GS said. The switch will free up low-sulfur fuel oil produced at the refinery as a revenue source for the company. Demand for the … [Read more...] about GS Caltex converts Yeosu refinery to use liquid gas
More spending to aid struggling families and firms
The Finance Ministry announced Thursday it will double the amount of money it provides to parents taking a leave of absence from work to care for their children and introduced several new measures to support struggling businesses.The government on Thursday said it will double the gajokdolbom, which translates to taking care of the family, subsidy from its previous level of 250,000 won ($205) per person to maximum 500,000 won, to cover up to 10 days. With schools shut down across the country following the outbreak of the coronavirus, more families have been taking parental leave from work to take care of children stuck at home.“We estimate the number of households that will be receiving the subsidy to increase from 90,000 households to 120,000,” Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said during a government crisis management meeting Thursday. “We have decided to expand the gajokdolbom expenses, as there was a need to strengthen our support of families that have been affected … [Read more...] about More spending to aid struggling families and firms
Kia’s Telluride, Soul EV win global auto awards
From left: Kia Motors’ Soul EV and Telluride SUV. [KIA MOTORS]Kia Motors’ Telluride SUV and Soul EV took home two out of five awards presented at the World Car Awards on Wednesday - the first ever for a Korean car brand.World Car Awards (WCA) is one of the most renowned awards in the automotive industry, along with the North American Car and Truck of the Year and the European Car of the Year. The Toronto, Canada-based WCA is the only one that covers vehicles from all around the globe.The results were announced online on Wednesday. The organization normally holds its award ceremony at the New York Auto Show in April, but this year the show was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Winners are chosen by an independent international jury comprising 86 experienced automotive journalists from 24 countries around the world. The Kia Telluride SUV was named the “World Car of the Year,” the most prestigious of the five granted by the WCA. Since its launch in the … [Read more...] about Kia’s Telluride, Soul EV win global auto awards
