Chong Kun Dang Foundation Expands Scholarships; ABL209 Wins FDA IND; HK inno.N Runs WoW Promotion

By Park boram Posted : March 3, 2026, 15:15 Updated : March 3, 2026, 15:15
Chong Kun Dang Gochon Foundation Chairman Jeong Jae-jeong, fourth from left, and Chong Kun Dang Holdings CEO Choi Hee-nam, far left, pose with scholarship recipients at the foundation’s 2026 scholarship certificate ceremony at the Chong Kun Dang Building in Chungjeong-ro on Feb. 27. (Chong Kun Dang)

The Chong Kun Dang Gochon Foundation held its 2026 scholarship certificate ceremony Feb. 27 at Chong Kun Dang’s headquarters in Seoul’s Chungjeong-ro district, the foundation said Monday.

The foundation said it will support 403 scholarship recipients in Korea and abroad, including 110 newly selected this year, with scholarships and free dormitory housing through graduation. It said its annual scholarship programs, including academic initiatives, total about 3 billion won.

Among those selected, 168 students will receive 1.1 billion won in tuition and living-expense support. The foundation will cover full university tuition for 98 tuition scholarship recipients — 57 in Korea and 41 overseas — and provide 500,000 won a month in living expenses to 70 students.

The foundation will also provide free housing at its “Chong Kun Dang Gochon Dormitory” to 235 university students from outside the capital area. It said dormitory recipients can save more than 8 million won a year in housing costs, with total support valued at about 1.9 billion won.

The dormitory program was established to help non-Seoul students facing housing pressures and is described as the first housing support facility created by a private scholarship foundation. It operates at four locations in Seoul: Donggyo-dong in Mapo District (Building 1), Hoegi-dong in Dongdaemun District (Building 2), Junggok-dong in Gwangjin District (Building 3), and Yeongdeungpo-dong in Yeongdeungpo District (Building 4).
 
ABL Bio says FDA clears IND for U.S. Phase 1 trial of ABL209
 
ABL Bio logo. (ABL Bio)

ABL Bio said Monday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an investigational new drug application on Feb. 27 local time for a Phase 1 clinical trial of its bispecific antibody-drug conjugate candidate ABL209.

ABL209 is a bispecific antibody-drug conjugate that targets EGFR and MUC1 and is linked to a topoisomerase I inhibitor. The company said targeting two complementary antigens at the same time could address limitations of competing candidates that target only EGFR or only MUC1.

Neok Bio, which holds global development and commercialization rights to ABL209 and another bispecific ADC, ABL206, will lead development of both candidates, ABL Bio said. Neok Bio plans to release early clinical data for the two candidates in 2027.
 
HK inno.N’s Hutgae Water teams up with Blizzard’s World of Warcraft for promotion
 
Promotional image for HK inno.N’s Hutgae Water and Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft event. (HK inno.N)
 

HK inno.N said Monday it is running a special event with Blizzard Entertainment’s massively multiplayer online role-playing game “World of Warcraft.”
 

The company said the promotion is designed to strengthen consumer engagement with its Hutgae Water brand and is timed to the worldwide simultaneous launch schedule for the game’s new expansion pack, “Midnight,” on March 3, Korea time.

Customers who buy a 30-bottle Hutgae Water package at Naver Smart Store’s “Condition Mall” will receive a coupon for a special in-game item available only through the promotion, the company said. The event runs from March 3 until supplies run out.





* This article has been translated by AI.

Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.