TIPA to support TV home-shopping sales for smart-factory firms
TIPA said the program will provide one-on-one consultations with TV home-shopping product planners to assess marketability and offer step-by-step support aimed at helping companies enter distribution channels.
The coaching event will be held July 8 at the aT Center in Seoul’s Yangjae area. TIPA said it will target 60 business-to-consumer small and medium-sized companies that took part in smart-factory support programs, and will be run in cooperation with Public Home Shopping to provide practical opportunities to enter the retail market.
Based on the consultations, TIPA said it will select top performers, hold a product review, and provide TV home-shopping sales practice and advanced coaching to a final 25 companies.
“ We are strengthening sales-channel support so manufacturing competitiveness secured through smart factories can translate into real market results,” said Ahn Gwang-hyeon, head of TIPA’s AI Innovation Promotion Unit. “We will continue expanding step-by-step support so SMEs can enter the distribution market in a stable way.”
Ace Bed CEO joins campaign to curb youth illegal gambling
The public-interest campaign has been running since March last year to raise awareness of the risks of illegal online gambling among teenagers and to encourage broader prevention efforts. Participants post a photo carrying the message, “Illegal cyber gambling targeting youth is a scam crime you can never beat,” and nominate the next participant.
Ahn joined after being nominated by Park Nae-won, CEO of Hi Plaza, and said he would help build public support for efforts to curb youth illegal gambling. He nominated Lee Young-gyu, chairman of the Welcron Group, as the next participant.
Ahn Seong-ho said, “Youth illegal gambling is a serious social problem that goes beyond a simple lapse, destroying everyday stability and taking away opportunities to prepare for the future.” He added, “Just as the value of good sleep that Ace Bed pursues can help teenagers grow properly, we will serve as a reliable supporter so the next generation can protect a healthy life and grow up the right way.”
SEMAS joins ‘Cheonmyeongjikkim Project’ to strengthen safety net for small merchants
The “Cheonmyeongjikkim Project” is a nationwide public-private campaign led by the Office for Government Policy Coordination’s pan-government life-guardian task force. It aims to reduce suicide deaths by 1,000 in 2026 and calls on government and society to “become guardians of life,” the agency said, as part of efforts to shed the stigma of having the highest suicide death rate among OECD countries.
SEMAS said it was appointed at the ceremony as a “Cheonmyeong Guardian Office” for one of seven high-risk targets: men in their 50s. It said it will plan and run tailored suicide-prevention programs reflecting the agency’s role and characteristics.
As a guardian office, SEMAS said it will expand the scale of its “Hope Return Package” psychological recovery support for small merchants seeking to restart, and significantly strengthen practical support programs, including those run with local governments. This year, it will provide a total of 150 sessions for 5,000 people. Small merchants who have closed or plan to close their businesses, along with accompanying family members, will be eligible for up to three healing programs a year, including overnight and day programs, at national forest healing centers and related facilities nationwide.
“Small business owners often face psychological breaking points due to the economic slowdown and worsening management conditions,” SEMAS Chairman In Tae-yeon said. “Through participation in the Cheonmyeongjikkim Project, we will do our best to serve as a strong ‘guardian of life’ so small merchants are not isolated, and to support a healthy restart.”
Kiturami launches WS stainless electric water heaters, emphasizing durability
The company said the WS lineup includes 15-liter models (wall-mounted and under-sink), 30-liter models (wall-mounted and under-sink), and 50-liter models (horizontal and vertical), allowing installation based on space and use. The 50-liter model is about 19% shorter than previous versions, making it easier to transport and install in tight spaces, it said.
Kiturami said it applied a stainless hot-water tank and an Incoloy heater, a nickel alloy resistant to high-temperature corrosion, to help provide clean hot water over long periods. The outside of the tank is wrapped in high-density polyurethane foam to reduce heat loss, it said.
A Kiturami Boiler official said the WS series is designed for use in a range of commercial spaces, focusing on durability, hot-water quality and ease of installation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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