Korea Central News Net

Tag: health

  • Sempio launches four low-sugar Jangs (Korean fermented sauce) products with rich flavor and reduced sweetness using proprietary fermentation techniques

    (From left) ‘Low-Sugar Sun-Dried Gochujang’ made with low-sugar rice fermentation for a clean taste; ‘Low-Sugar Seasoned Ssamjang’ enriched with savory doenjang; ‘Low-Sugar Vinegared Gochujang’ with sweet-and-sour flavor and reduced sugar; and ‘Low-Sugar Bibimjang’ with a cool tang from dongchimi broth | Image provided by Sempio Foods

    Korean food company Sempio Foods has released four new low-sugar jang products that retain deep, rich flavor while significantly reducing sugar content, drawing on 79 years of accumulated fermentation expertise.

    As more consumers carefully examine sugar content in jang products amid the growing “slow-aging” trend, many have expressed disappointment that “low-sugar products don’t taste good.” In response, Sempio introduced four new offerings: ‘Low-Sugar Sun-Dried Gochujang,’ ‘Low-Sugar Seasoned Ssamjang,’ ‘Low-Sugar Vinegared Gochujang,’ and ‘Low-Sugar Bibimjang.’ All four products contain significantly less sugar compared to the top three market leaders in their category, with sugar content ranging from just 2g to 5g per 100g. Notably, ‘Low-Sugar Vinegared Gochujang,’ a summer favorite, has reduced sugar content by 90% compared to conventional versions.

    ‘Sempio Low-Sugar Sun-Dried Gochujang’ features Sempio’s proprietary “low-sugar rice fermentation technology,” which preserves the deep, clean flavor of rice while minimizing naturally derived sugars and calories. The product uses traditionally fermented whole soybean meju, offering a rich, homemade-style umami, and only uses 100% sun-dried chili powder without additional seasoning, delivering a clean and spicy kick.

    ‘Sempio Low-Sugar Seasoned Ssamjang’ is made using “tojang,” a traditional doenjang from aristocratic households, which provides a deep, savory flavor without any overpowering aromas. Ingredients like perilla powder, garlic, and sesame oil are blended in the golden ratio discovered by Sempio’s Korean Taste Research Team, allowing users to enjoy meat and vegetable wraps without adding extra seasoning. The product also uses 0-calorie allulose for a healthier sweetness.

    ‘Sempio Low-Sugar Vinegared Gochujang’ balances sweetness, acidity, and spiciness, unlike conventional versions. It combines expertly crafted gochujang with fermented vinegar made from Korean barley for a smooth tang, while adding pear and lemon juice for a naturally fresh flavor. Toasted sesame seeds and plenty of minced garlic provide depth, making it enjoyable on its own without additional condiments.

    ‘Sempio Low-Sugar Bibimjang’ features a refreshing taste made from dongchimi broth prepared with Korean vegetables, enhanced by the natural umami of fermented soybeans. Premium chili powder, onion, and garlic are blended in optimal proportions, allowing this single sauce to create light, healthy summer noodle dishes like konjac bibim noodles and makguksu.

  • Bodyfriend sees momentum in B2G sector: First-half performance up 22.3% year-on-year

    Bodyfriend sees momentum in B2G sector: First-half performance up 22.3% year-on-year

    • B2G sales rise at police stations, fire departments, and senior centers in H1
    • Sales to police and fire departments increase more than fivefold from previous year, reaffirming benefits of massage chairs for institutions and public agencies

    Healthcare robot company Bodyfriend (CEOs Ji Sung-kyu and Kim Heung-seok) reported a 22.3% year-on-year increase in its B2G (business-to-government) sales for the first half of this year, driven by strong supply of massage chairs to public institutions, police stations, fire departments, and senior centers.

    Bodyfriend has recently expanded its massage chair business from B2B to B2G, and as of the first half of 2025, B2G revenue rose by 22.3% compared to the same period last year. Sales breakdown by sector showed a relatively even distribution: public institutions accounted for 38%, senior centers 32%, and police and fire departments 30%.

    Among these, sales to police and fire departments have grown steadily for three consecutive years since 2022. In the first half of this year, revenue from this segment surged more than fivefold from the previous year, marking the highest sales to date. This performance reflects Bodyfriend’s strategic targeting of the latent demand for massage chairs as a much-needed support measure for police officers and firefighters who have limited access to rest due to heavy workloads, backed by the company’s competitive edge in healthcare robot technology.

    Orders from senior centers also stood out. In the first half of this year, Bodyfriend won several large-scale contracts through competitive bidding. In June, the company signed a supply agreement to deliver 74 massage chairs to senior centers in Seoul’s Seodaemun District. Sales to other public institutions, such as city halls and public corporations, have also seen consecutive annual growth since 2023.

    The company attributes this growth to a positive cycle: after government agencies, local governments, and public organizations introduced Bodyfriend’s healthcare robots, measurable improvements were seen in employee welfare satisfaction and work productivity. These results have prompted more institutions to seek out Bodyfriend’s products on their own.

    Bodyfriend stated that its healthcare robots—now becoming a new standard for everyday wellness—are rapidly expanding beyond private households and businesses into the public sector, making “everyday healthcare through massage” a reality. The company aims to continue delivering meaningful results in the B2G sector by leveraging its product capabilities and brand competitiveness to ensure people in need of healing can access Bodyfriend’s healthcare robots anywhere.

    Bodyfriend’s “healthcare robot” goes beyond the limitations of conventional massage chairs. Equipped with robotics technology, it enables a true full-body massage experience. By independently operating the massage components for arms and legs, the robot helps coordinate core and other muscle groups throughout the body. The industry has praised the product for redefining the standard of massage chairs through its innovative whole-body stimulation technology.

  • AI-based otitis media diagnostic solution ‘ECHO dot AI’ set for release: AIDOT leads innovation in on-device medical AI

    AI-powered otitis media diagnostic system ‘ECHO dot AI’ | Image by AIDOT

    AIDOT, a leading Korean company in on-device artificial intelligence (AI) medical devices, is preparing to launch its next innovation, the AI-based otitis media diagnostic system ‘ECHO dot AI.’

    ECHO dot AI is a stand-alone device that operates without internet connectivity or additional security infrastructure. It can be reliably used at clinics, primary care institutions, and healthcare sites in both developed and developing countries regardless of network conditions, providing secure, immediate usability. The product is expected to offer a distinct advantage over conventional solutions in terms of accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and field applicability.

    Its main feature is an AI diagnostic system that quickly and accurately analyzes the severity of otitis media (inflammation of the ear). The system recognizes the ear’s anatomical structure, identifies left and right ears, and precisely extracts the tympanic membrane area. It can capture images of the middle ear and simultaneously measure body temperature, enabling efficient management of a patient’s diagnosis and treatment history. External testing has verified the system’s high diagnostic performance, with sensitivity at 94.74%, specificity at 94.64%, and overall accuracy at 91.01%.

    Professor Jaeho Jung of the Department of Otolaryngology at Hanyang University, who participated in the product’s development, said, “ECHO dot AI can be used without concerns about network or security, making it a breakthrough in improving medical access, cost, and usability in the field. Especially in the post-COVID-19 era, it holds great potential as a solution for quick and accurate diagnosis of otitis media in telemedicine, mobile clinics, and regional medical centers. I expect this new system, with its innovative diagnostics, accuracy, and user-friendly design, to transform the digital healthcare market both at home and abroad.”

    He added, “Once deployed in the field, ECHO dot AI will be a true game-changer, elevating both clinical diagnostic capabilities and the treatment experience for patients. In scenarios involving mass patient occurrences like the COVID-19 pandemic, this device will offer immediate support to frontline medical professionals.”

    ECHO dot AI is already attracting high interest from the medical community and industry ahead of its official launch. AIDOT plans to continue delivering innovative diagnostic solutions worldwide through its on-device AI medical technologies.

    Founded in June 2014, AIDOT is a specialized medical AI development company. Starting with its AI-based cervical cancer screening system ‘Cerviray A.I.,’ the company has expanded its portfolio with the urinary stone diagnostic solution ‘URO dot AI,’ the gastrointestinal endoscopy AI systems ‘GIGA dot AI’ and ‘COLON dot AI,’ and now ‘ECHO dot AI’ for otitis media diagnostics. Its technologies are gaining global recognition through international commercialization.