Workplace sexual😲 harassment in Korea is being reported at alarming rates

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 👀 Today’s Email about:

• Workplace sexual harassment in Korea is being reported at alarming rates.

• LG Electronics aims for a labor-free home powered by an AI hub."

• BLACKPINK's Jennie collaborates with Columbia Records for her solo comeback in October.

NEWS 📰

Workplace sexual harassment in Korea is being reported at alarming rates.

A recent survey conducted by Gapjil 119 and Global Research has revealed alarming levels of sexual harassment and assault in Korean workplaces. The study, which surveyed 1,000 employees between May 31 and June 10, found that nearly 23 percent of respondents had experienced sexual harassment, and 15 percent reported sexual assault or abuse at work. Women faced higher rates, with 26.1 percent reporting harassment and 19.7 percent reporting assault, compared to 19.1 percent and 10.6 percent for men, respectively.

The perpetrators were most commonly non-executive superiors (40.7 percent), followed by employers and colleagues of similar rank. Shockingly, 15 percent of those harassed considered self-harm or suicide due to their experiences. Additionally, 10.6 percent reported workplace stalking, with non-executive superiors again being the most frequently identified offenders.

These findings show a significant increase in reported incidents compared to last year's survey, with rates of harassment and assault rising despite the introduction of legal measures to prevent gender-based violence. Gapjil 119 emphasized the need for cultural and organizational changes, alongside legal reforms, to effectively combat these issues in workplaces.

LG Electronics aims to provide a labor-free home powered by an AI hub.

LG Electronics is set to launch its AI-powered home hub, LG ThinQ ON, later this year, moving toward the vision of a "zero-labor home." The announcement was made by Lyu Jae-cheol, president of LG's Home Appliance & Air Solution Division, during a press conference at IFA 2024 in Berlin. LG ThinQ ON is a smart speaker embedded with LG's proprietary generative AI, Furon, powered by the GPT-4o large language model (LLM), which facilitates natural language communication with users.

Furon aims to elevate the smart home experience by learning users' preferences and automating home environments accordingly. For example, instead of giving specific commands like "set the air conditioner to 26 degrees Celsius," users can simply state how they feel, and the system will autonomously adjust appliances to suit their needs. This approach contrasts with traditional smart homes, where voice commands are restricted to specific actions.

ThinQ ON can also manage older appliances through Wi-Fi or remote control functions, allowing users to upgrade their existing devices without purchasing new ones. LG is also releasing eight peripherals, including motion and air quality sensors, smart switches, and controllers, to support the AI home ecosystem.

LG's push comes amid rising competition in the global smart home market, with companies like Samsung, Siemens, and Chinese electronics brands also developing AI-powered products. The smart home industry is rapidly expanding, with the market expected to reach $260 billion by 2028, growing at an average rate of 26.23 percent annually, according to TechNavio.

Lyu expressed LG's intent to lead the global AI home market, emphasizing that the company focuses on delivering greater value to customers rather than solely reacting to competition.

ENTERTAINMENT 🌄

BLACKPINK's Jennie collaborates with Columbia Records for her solo comeback in October.

Jennie from BLACKPINK will make her solo comeback in October 2024, following her recent partnership with Columbia Records, according to her agency, Odd Atelier (OA). This new single will be her first solo release since "You & Me" in October 2023. Columbia Records, a major U.S. label under Sony Music, is home to stars like Beyoncé, Adele, and Harry Styles.

Jennie's global success continues to rise, with her 2023 collaboration "One Of The Girls" alongside The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp surpassing 1 billion streams on Spotify and charting for 20 consecutive weeks on Billboard's Hot 100. This achievement earned her a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making her the first Korean female solo artist to do so. Additionally, her 2018 hit "Solo" reached over 1 billion views on YouTube, marking another milestone for her as the first K-pop female solo artist to accomplish this.

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