The use of AI systems to create viruses opens up new possibilities for combating bacterial resistance. It also raises concerns about the pace at which technology is outstripping regulation.

KT&G posted record first-half revenue, driven by strong growth in its overseas tobacco business, and raised its earnings outlook for the full year.

The company said on Aug. 6 that second-quarter revenue reached 1.70 trillion won, while operating profit increased to 414.5 billion won. Compared with the same period a year earlier, revenue rose 9.9% and operating profit grew 18.5%.

KT&G also revised its full-year guidance upward. The company raised its projected annual revenue growth rate to 5–7% from a previous forecast of 3–5%, while expected operating profit growth was increased to 10–13% from 6–8%.

The tobacco business remained the primary earnings driver, generating revenue of 1.22 trillion won and operating profit of 382.5 billion won during the quarter.

Revenue from overseas cigarette operations rose 18.9% year over year to 557.7 billion won. Operating profit from the business increased 45.6%, supported by higher sales volumes and improved selling prices.

In South Korea, KT&G maintained a cigarette market share of 67.9% during the first half.

The next-generation product (NGP) business also continued to expand. NGP revenue increased 23.8% from a year earlier to 242.7 billion won, driven by strong sales of the lil AIBLE 3.0 heated tobacco device. The company's domestic NGP market share reached 48.2%.

KGC, KT&G's health functional food subsidiary, reported operating profit of 10.0 billion won, up 61.3% from the previous year, supported by higher domestic sales.

KT&G also announced enhanced shareholder returns. Its board of directors approved an interim dividend of 2,000 won per share, up from 1,400 won a year earlier.

The company said it will proceed with previously announced plans to repurchase and retire treasury shares during the second half of the year. It also plans to unveil a new mid- to long-term shareholder return policy, including additional dividend measures, in the fourth quarter.

Coway’s wheelchair basketball team, the Coway Blue Wheels, won the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor’s Cup International Invitational Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.

Coway said on July 23 that the Blue Wheels captured the title at the 13th Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor’s Cup International Invitational Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, held at Jeju Halla Gymnasium from July 17 to 20. The team remained undefeated from the preliminary round through the final.

The tournament featured seven teams from South Korea and overseas, including the Coway Blue Wheels, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province team, the Chuncheon Tigers, and teams from Japan.

The Blue Wheels defeated Suwon Mugunghwa Electronics 65-38 and Daegu Metropolitan City Hall 97-60 in the preliminary round to finish first in their group and advance to the final. They then beat the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province team 65-59 in the championship game. Kim Ho-yong and Kwak Jun-sung each scored 20 points, while Kim Sang-yeol added 13.

Kwak Jun-sung was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), while Head Coach Kim Young-moo received the Best Coach Award.

The Blue Wheels also won the Asia-Oceania Club Exchange Tournament in 2024. This year, the team has claimed titles at the Holt National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, the Korea Post President’s Cup Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, and the Jeju international tournament.

“Our players maintained their focus until the end, which enabled us to win the championship,” Head Coach Kim Young-moo said. “We will continue striving for strong results in the remaining tournaments this season.”

The Coway Blue Wheels were established in 2022. They are the only corporate-operated wheelchair basketball team among South Korea’s professional wheelchair basketball clubs. During the off-season, the team organizes wheelchair basketball experience programs and school sports club competitions.

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Researchers in Japan have developed a new light-based technology that can rapidly gather thousands of bacteria into a tiny area, making them much easier to detect. The breakthrough could help doctors diagnose infections earlier and may also support environmental monitoring and other forms of biological testing. The research team, led by Professor Takuya Iida from […]

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