korea

Korean American Dave Min Wins Congressional Seat

[International] :
California State Sen. Dave Min has won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, adding one more Korean American voice to the country’s legislature. According to CNN and other media on Wednesday, Min, a Democrat, defeated Republican Scott Baugh and was poised to win the seat for California’s 47th ...

[more...]




korea

S. Korea’s Spy Agency: N. Korean Troops Fighting in Russia

[Inter-Korea] :
South Korea’s spy agency said Wednesday that North Korean troops dispatched to Russia have moved to the front-line region of Kursk and are “already engaging in combat” against Ukraine. The National Intelligence Service(NIS) said North Korean soldiers dispatched to Russia have moved to the Kursk ...

[more...]




korea

Top Diplomats from S. Korea, US Set to Hold Talks in Peru

[Politics] :
The top diplomats from South Korea and the United States will hold talks on Friday in Peru, on the sidelines of the joint meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) ministers for trade and foreign affairs. According to Seoul’s foreign ministry on Thursday, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will ...

[more...]




korea

China Picks Deputy UN Representative as Ambassador to S. Korea

[International] :
China has named Dai Bing, deputy chief of its permanent mission to the United Nations, as the new ambassador to South Korea. According to diplomatic sources on Thursday, Beijing nominated the UN mission deputy to succeed former Ambassador Xing Haiming, who left the post vacant in July.  Dai’s career ...

[more...]




korea

Leaders of S. Korea, US, Japan to Hold Trilateral Talks on Margins of APEC Forum

[Politics] :
The leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold a three-way discussion on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) summit in Lima, Peru. According to Seoul’s presidential office, President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru ...

[more...]




korea

Abductees’ Families Plan to Launch Leaflets Toward N. Korea

[Domestic] :
A group representing families of South Koreans abducted by North Korea plans to launch leaflets toward North Korea from waters off the coast of Goseong, Gangwon Province. The group made the announcement Thursday, having called off plans to launch leaflets last month due to opposition from local ...

[more...]




korea

Gov’t to Take ‘Effective, Phased’ Steps on N. Korean Troop Activity in Russia

[Inter-Korea] :
The government reiterated that it will take “effective and phased” steps, in line with the principles of composure and restraint, in response to the battlefield deployment of North Korean troops in support of Russia in its war against Ukraine. Speaking to local reporters on Thursday, an official at ...

[more...]




korea

Victims of N. Korean Trash Balloons to Be Eligible for Gov’t Compensation

[Inter-Korea] :
People who suffer damages as a result of North Korea’s trash balloon campaign will eventually be eligible for government compensation. The National Assembly passed an amendment to the Framework Act on Civil Defense during a plenary session Thursday, allowing the government to provide compensation for ...

[more...]




korea

Korean American Civil Rights Group Falls Into Chaos

Embattled Korean Resource Center board president DJ Yoon takes interviews in a photo dated February 2014. ( ; Credit: Korean Resource Center via Flickr

Josie Huang

In Los Angeles, another Asian American civil rights organization is in upheaval. A month after major layoffs at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles, the Korean Resource Center has lost more than half of its staff.  

 

The Korean Resource Center  is a leading advocate for low-income and undocumented Koreans. Its organizers worked on flipping Orange County from red to blue. Its legal staff provides free aid to immigrants. But 18 people have left in recent weeks, many upset with board president DJ Yoon and his management style. 

 

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.




korea

North Koreans' Journey for Liberty Continues : 2024 Unification Cultural Event for Overseas Koreans held in Germany

- Overseas Korean Unification Event held successfully in Leipzig, Germany on November 9 - North Korean defector's live painting and barbed wire bracelets highlighting reality attracts attention




korea

Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement begins

The Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) will enter into force on 12 December 2014, opening up new investment opportunities for Victorian and Korean businesses that will enhance their relationships. KAFTA will increase export opportunities across a wide range of industries: from beef, wheat, sugar, dairy, wine, horticulture and seafood, to automotive suppliers, and the resources and energy industries. It will also open up significant opportunities for service providers.




korea

CJS Noon Lecture Series | Tyrannical Tigers and Endangered Cats: Why Are the Korean Scholar-Bureaucrats Always So Important in Modern Japan? (November 14, 2024 12:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 12:00pm
Location: Weiser Hall
Organized By: Center for Japanese Studies


Please note: This lecture will be held in person in room 1010 Weiser Hall and virtually via Zoom. This webinar is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Once you've registered, the joining information will be sent to your email. Register for the Zoom webinar at: https://myumi.ch/RmN4G

The Korean scholar-bureaucrats (yangban) have been drawing public attention among Japanese intellectuals since the beginning of the 20th century. This lecture reviews how Japanese magazines represented yangban, tracing how their image changed from the evil noblemen that kept Korean society stagnant to the graceful embodiers of vanishing authentic Korean culture. Both these images, and even the transition from one to the other, were driven by a Japanese version of orientalism.

Shimpei Cole Ota is a sociocultural anthropologist trained both in Seoul National University (ABD, 2003) and Osaka University (Ph.D., 2007). His basic question focuses on what brings drastic changes to societies and cultures, especially before and after modernization, liberalization, and globalization in South Korea and Korean America.

This lecture is made possible with the generous support of the U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant.

If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us at umcjs@umich.edu. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.





korea

South Korea Says North Korean Troops in Russia Engaging in Combat with Ukraine

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on Wednesday that North Korean troops sent to Russia as mercenaries have moved to the frontlines in Kursk over the past two weeks and are “already engaging in combat” against Ukrainian forces.

The post South Korea Says North Korean Troops in Russia Engaging in Combat with Ukraine appeared first on Breitbart.





korea

S. Korea allegedly to react to North joining Kursk fights

South Korea is planning to make an "effective and phased" response to North Korea supposedly deploying its troops to fight Ukraine alongside Russia in the latter's Kursk region, Yonhap reported on Thu...




korea

U.S. confirms North Korean soldiers have begun combat operations against Ukraine

North Korean soldiers deployed to the Kursk region of Russia have begun combat operations against Ukrainian troops, the U.S. State Department confirmed Tuesday.




korea

South Korea Arrests 215 On Suspicion Of $228 Million Crypto Scam

South Korean police have arrested 215 people on suspicion of stealing 320 billion won ($228.4 million) in the biggest cryptocurrency investment scam in the country.




korea

Korean live streamer arrested for injuring massage operator

PATTAYA — A Korean live streamer has been arrested for allegedly injuring the owner of a massage parlour while attempting to block his live coverage of a client's massage.




korea

Russia and North Korea Vow to Defend One Another

North Korea and Russia each ratified a mutual defense treaty within days of each other. The pact means the countries will defend one another if attacked. And some say it may mean more involvement by North Korea in the war between Russia and Ukraine. We hear about the ramifications from our correspondent in Seoul.




korea

South Korea to double marine protection zone, address climate change

South Korea's oceans ministry plans to nearly double the size of its marine protected area by 2027 as part of efforts to proactively address climate change.




korea

S.Korea, US-developed solar coronagraph installed at International Space Station




korea

South Korea to double marine protection zone, address climate change




korea

South Korea, US, Japan to hold 2nd trilateral Freedom Edge exercise this week




korea

South Korean star Song Jae Rim's last Instagram post, cryptic bio hinting at 'new journey' shocks fans: See photos

Soon after the death of South Korean star Song Jae Rim, his last photo, Instagram post, and Insta bio left his fans in shocked.




korea

SHOOTING | Aishwary Tomar and Sanjeeta Das snatch mixed air rifle gold from the Koreans




korea

North Korea abandons Nukes, plays Chess

Good News or just an Elaborate Ruse?

This was an impressive photo-op but there is no reason to celebrate (yet). What this really demonstrates is how important it is for the U.S. to settle this region of the globe, even if it is only just a stop-gap measure. The U.S. has more than enough on its plate with Iraq and Katrina to contend with.

Apparently North Korea has agreed to give up nuclear weapons activities and rejoin the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Of course, that comes with a proviso that the US promises it will not attack and will provide aid and electricity.

Interestingly, it was China that brokered the compromise:

"The agreement was reached on the basis of a compromise proposal put forward by China in an effort to bridge differences between the United States and Pyongyang over a North Korean demand for a light-water nuclear reactor to produce electricity. The compromise suggested that North Korea be accorded the right in principle to peaceful nuclear energy, but only after dismantling its nuclear weapons program and rejoining the U.N. nuclear inspection regime and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."

GIVEN THAT knowledge gained from the "peaceful" use of nuclear technology can easily be transferred to building bombs, it will be incumbent on the U.S. to keep a close eye on Kim whose instability is world renowned.

Sure, U.N. inspectors will eventually be allowed in, but let's hope they will have more success than they did in Iraq. Which demonstrates to this writer how important it is for the U.S. to settle (at least temporarily) this region of the globe. The U.S. has more than enough on its plate with Iraq and Katrina to contend with.

It was a veritable PR coup de gras for the Chinese. So does this imply that China is not really the monstrous behemoth that we have all been told? Is it an evil regime that is finally beginning to come to its senses? Perhaps it is neither and Political FootBall remains suspicious that China was even involved in the deal.

Could it really be part of an elaborate ruse by communist Asia to buy time for N. Korea to get the aid it desperately needs, and while China seeks to become the next economic superpower? All the while lulling the west into a false sense of security in the deadly game of nuclear checkmate. And what about their military alliance? In the grand scheme of things doesn't that make this 'historical' photo-op moot? Many questions that only time will answer.

IT SEEMS likely that economic pressure, $$$ capitalism and carrying the big stick (moving stealth bombers to South Korea) have all contributed to bringing another regime to its knees. That would also be in keeping with the Pentagon's announcement of a new strategy that includes a preemptive strike using nuclear weapons.

No matter, so long as an unstable pompass like Kim remains in control the future of the world will continue to hang in the balance.

BUT THE QUESTION BEGS to be asked if the same tactics would also work for its ally China. Probably not, for unlike it's Soviet counterpart China seems to have found a working formula that successfully blends capitalism and communism, making it an emerging super power. So long as we continue to demand cheap shirts from Walmart that appears to be an almost certainty.

AND WHAT ABOUT Iran and other muslim nations where religious fanaticism is the rule? So long as there remains opposing idealogues and economic disparity in this world the prospect for peace in the long term remains unlikely.

The bottom line is Political FootBall is of the opinion that this latest news does little in the long term for world stability. It only buys time for both sides before making their next power-play.

So we won't be breaking out the champagne, at least for the near future anyhow.




korea

Koreasat 6A Communications Satellite Successfully Launched

PRZOOM - Newswire (press release) - Tue, 12 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500, Cannes Alpes-Maritimes France - The Koreasat 6A communications satellite was successfully launched yesterday by a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, Florida - KTSAT.com / ThalesAleniaSpace.com



  • Cable / Satellite / Broadband

korea

How cross cultural differences caused Korean Airlines problems

A very interesting post on how cross cultural differences between makers of airplanes Boeing and Airbus (located in small power distance countries) and pilots from South Korea (large power distance country) caused series of dangerous situations and accidents in the late 90’s. Planes produced by Airbus and Boeing are supposed to be flown by 2 …




korea

The 'tombstone village' built by Korean refugees on a Japanese cemetery

At first glance, Ami-dong seems like an ordinary village within the South Korean city of Busan, with colorful houses and narrow alleys set against looming mountains.




korea

A culinary adventure in Auroville: Explore authentic Korean cuisine at Nowana





korea

New Korean restaurant boss shocked by racial abuse

Dima Kim also claims groups of teenagers threw eggs at his restaurant in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire.




korea

North Korea, The Interview and Movie Ethics

Its been quite a while since I blogged .. I'm going to try to write a bit more consistently from now (try being the key!). I thought I'll start with a light topic!

So I watched the now infamous The Interview two nights ago. I'm no movie critic, but I thought it was a cheap, crass stupid movie with no depth whatsoever. More of a dumbass slapstick movie than anything else.

Again, I'm no movie critic so I don't recommend you listen to me; watch it and make up your own mind :-). I have made up mine!

HOWEVER, I do think the Internet literati's reaction to this movie is grossly wrong, unfair and arrogant.

Has there ever been any other Hollywood movie where the SITTING president of a country is made to look like a jackass and assassinated in the most stupid way? I can't think of any movies like that. In fact, I don't think Bollywood or any other movie system has produced such a movie.

When Hollywood movies have US presidents in them they're always made out to be the hero (e.g. White House Down) and they pretty much never die. If they do die, then they die a hero (e.g. 2012) in true patriotic form.

I don't recall seeing a single movie where David Cameron or Angela Merkel or Narendra Modi or any other sitting president was made to look like a fool and gets killed as the main point of the movie (or in any other fashion).

I believe the US Secret Service takes ANY threats against the US president very seriously. According to Wikipedia, a threat against the US president is a class D felony (presumably a bad thing). I've heard of students who send anonymous (joking) email threats get tracked down and get a nice visit.

So, suppose Sony Pictures decided to make a movie which shows President Obama being a jackass and then being killed? How far would that go before the US Secret Service shuts it down?

In my view the fact that this movie was conceived, funded and made just goes to show how little respect the US system has for people that are not lined up in the US way. Its fine for the US government, and even the US people, to have no respect for some country, its president or whatever, but I have to agree with North Korea when they say that this movie is a violation of the UN charter:

With no rhetoric can the U.S. justify the screening and distribution of the movie. This is because "The Interview" is an illegal, dishonest and reactionary movie quite contrary to the UN Charter, which regards respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs and protection of human rights as a legal keynote, and international laws.
– NORTH KOREA NATIONAL DEFENCE COMMISSION SPOKESMAN
    (From: http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-12-27/north-korea-insults-obama-and-blames-us-for-internet-outages/.)

    Would all the Internet literati who hailed the release of the movie act the same way if Bollywood produced a movie mocking Obama and killing him off? If not, why the double standard??

    Its disappointing that thinking people also get caught up in the rhetoric and ignore basic decency. Just to be clear- I'm not saying North Korea is a great place. I have no idea what things are really like there. What I do know is that I don't trust the managed news rhetoric that is delivered as fact by CNN, Fox, BBC, Al Jazeera or anyone any more about any topic. This is after observing how Sri Lanka was represented in various of these channels during the war and after being here to observe some side of it myself. After Iraq (where are those WMDs now?) you'd think that smart people wouldn't just believe any old crap that's put out .. I distinctly remember watching the news conference (broadcast on BBC) immediately after Colin Powell made his speech with pictures to the UN Security Council where the then Iraqi Foreign Minister (can't remember his name - fun looking dude) went thru each picture and gave an entirely different explanation. We now know who was telling the truth. I try hard not to get caught up in any of the rhetoric as a result now.

    There's an entirely different topic of whether the North Koreans attacked Sony Pictures' network and whether the US government hackers shut down their Internet. It seems that the general trend (as of today) is that it wasn't the North Koreans, despite what the FBI said: http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/27/tech/north-korea-expert-doubts-about-hack/index.html.

    So I'm with the North Koreans on this one: This movie should not have been conceived, funded and produced. I don't condone the hackers' approach for trying to stop it; instead Sony Pictures should've had more ethics and not done it at all. So, IMO: Shame on you Sony Pictures Entertainment!





    korea

    US vows ‘firm’ response to N.Korea deployment in Ukraine conflict

    BRUSSELS: US top diplomat Antony Blinken warned Wednesday that the deployment of North Korean troops alongside Russian forces fighting on the Ukrainian border demanded a “firm response”.

    The secretary of state was speaking at the start of a day of Brussels talks with NATO and EU officials to urgently address ramping up support for Kyiv before Donald Trump reclaims the White House -- potentially jeopardising future aid.

    Addressing reporters alongside NATO chief Mark Rutte, Blinken said they had discussed the fact North Korean forces have been “injected into the battle, and now, quite literally, in combat which demands and will get a firm response.”

    The US State Department confirmed Tuesday that Pyongyang’s troops -- whose entry into the conflict marks a potentially major escalation -- have begun “engaging in combat operations” alongside Russian forces near the border with Ukraine.

    A spokesman said that of the more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers sent to eastern Russia, “most of them have moved to the far western Kursk Oblast, where they have begun engaging in combat operations with Russian forces”.

    Rutte meanwhile stressed the crucial role played by China in helping Russia’s “war effort”, as well as Iranian weapons deliveries -- paid for with Russian funds that were in turn helping Tehran to “destabilize the Middle East”.

    Blinken was taking part in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s decision-making body, before talks with European Union top diplomat Josep Borrell, his successor Kaja Kallas and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga.

    His emergency trip comes as Trump’s election victory, coupled with a political crisis in Germany, heightens fears about the future of assistance for Ukraine at a key point in the fight against Russia’s invasion.

    Trump has in the past voiced admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and scoffed at the $175 billion the United States committed for Ukraine since the start of the war in 2022.

    The 78-year-old tycoon, who will be inaugurated on January 20, spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after winning re-election following a first stint as president between 2017 and 2021.

    He has boasted he can end the war in a day, likely by forcing concessions from Ukraine, although his newly named national security advisor, Mike Waltz, said Trump may also pressure Putin.

    The Washington Post reported the Republican leader also held a phone call with Putin and discouraged an escalation by Russia. The Kremlin denied the report.

    US media reported Trump might pick Republican Senator Marco Rubio to replace Blinken as secretary of state.

    Rubio is seen as supportive of Kyiv but has also said Washington should show “pragmatism” rather than sending billions of dollars more in weapons as the war hit a “stalemate”.

    ‘As long as it takes’

    The Biden administration has made clear it plans in its remaining weeks to push through the more than $9 billion of remaining funding appropriated by Congress for weapons and other security assistance to Ukraine.

    Mark Cancian, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, expected the United States to focus in particular on sending vehicles, medical supplies and small-arms ammunition, which Ukraine needs and the United States can provide.

    “Between now and the end of the administration, they’re going to try to ship everything they can that’s available,“ Cancian said.

    Despite Kyiv’s pleas it seems unlikely, however, that Washington will lift its veto on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory.

    Trump in his first term aggressively pushed Europe to step up defence spending and questioned the fairness of the NATO transatlantic alliance -- robustly defended by Biden.

    “Whatever approach the US leadership takes towards Ukraine, Europe will have to step up, and we will have to take the lead in supporting Ukraine’s defence efforts and macro financial stability,“ said Olena Prokopenko of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

    “Unfortunately, Donald Trump’s win comes at arguably the worst possible time in terms of Europe’s political and economic shape and its ability to promptly coordinate”.




    korea

    Hyundai Rotem Unveils Hydrogen-Powered K3 Battle Tank for South Korea’s Next-Generation Military

    Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of South Korea’s Hyundai Group, has announced a pioneering development for the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army: a hydrogen-powered K3 main battle tank. Set to be among the most advanced military vehicles in the world, the K3 aims to redefine future warfare by leveraging eco-friendly fuel cells, autonomous technologies, and advanced firepower.

    Hyundai Rotem’s K3 project is a collaborative effort with South Korea’s Agency for Defence Development and other national research institutions, with production tentatively scheduled to begin by 2040. The shift to hydrogen marks a historic step in South Korea’s commitment to reduce reliance on traditional combustion engines in defence equipment. The K3’s hydrogen fuel cell will eventually replace the diesel engines of the ROK’s K-series tanks, beginning with hybrid prototypes that combine hydrogen and diesel power.

    In an online statement, Hyundai Rotem described the K3 as “a next-generation main battle tank that surpasses all capabilities of today’s MBTs (main battle tanks), optimised for evolving battlefield demands.” Key enhancements to the K3 include autonomous driving, AI-based fire control, and a 130-mm smoothbore main gun for increased preemptive strike capabilities. Additionally, the tank will feature improved stealth capabilities, a reduced heat signature, and the deployment of slave drones to enhance reconnaissance and support combat operations.

    Fuel cell technology offers multiple advantages, including quieter operation, faster acceleration, superior fuel efficiency, and reduced maintenance due to fewer moving parts. With minimal heat output and sound, the tank achieves heightened stealth, making it less detectable in combat scenarios. Mobility is also improved, allowing the K3 to maneuver through steep and rugged terrains more effectively.

    Designed to operate with a streamlined crew of three—a driver, commander, and gunner—the crew will be secured within a reinforced armoured capsule at the front of the tank. This layout ensures enhanced protection and operational efficiency.

    The hydrogen-powered K3 demonstrates South Korea’s commitment to integrating sustainable, high-performance technologies into its military arsenal, setting a benchmark for modern warfare with cleaner and more capable military assets.




    korea

    Piracy Kingpin Behind ‘Noonoo TV’ and ‘TVWiki’ Arrested in Korea

    Korean authorities have shut down the popular video piracy service TVWIKI, which had millions of users. A special unit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism arrested the alleged operator, who is also believed to be connected to other streaming platforms. These include OKTOON, which was also pulled offline, and piracy giant NoonooTV, which voluntarily threw in the towel last year.

    From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.




    korea

    Korea star denies match-fixing charges

    Son had served a 10-month detention last year





    korea

    For the love of Trump, S Korea's Yoon heads to golf course for first time in 8 years

    A combination of image shows South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President-elect Donald Trump. — Reuters/File

    South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol recently began practicing golf, for the first time in eight years, in preparation for future meetings with...




    korea

    Treasury targets China with sanctions over North Korea missile help

    The Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed financial sanctions on Chinese companies and their executives for supplying missile- and space-related goods to North Korea.




    korea

    Russia launches first missile attack on Kyiv in months as North Korean troops fight Ukraine in Kursk

    Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with a sophisticated combination of missiles and drones for the first time in 73 days on Wednesday, authorities reported, as the Pentagon said most of the North Korean troops sent to help Moscow's war effort are fighting to drive Ukraine's army off Russian soil in the Kursk border region.




    korea

    South Korean actor Song Jae-lim found dead at 39

    Song Jae-lim, a South Korean actor known for his roles in K-dramas "Moon Embracing the Sun" and "Queen Woo," was found dead at his home in capital Seoul. He was 39.




    korea

    IC Realtime Shifts Production to South Korea

    Today, IC Realtime announced a strategic plan to provide advanced video surveillance products from South Korea, a TAA-compliant country. 




    korea

    Momofuku Korean BBQ Sauces

    Both sauces come in a squeezable format, making them easy to use for dipping, drizzling, or drenching. The consistency of the sauces is thicker than normal, more like a traditional BBQ sauce, which enhances their versatility and application.




    korea

    DamduOne Korean Dumplings

    Made in DamduOne’s state-of-the art Korean facility using fresh local farm produce and proprietary recipes, the dumplings are low calorie and contain no artificial preservatives. 




    korea

    SPAM Korean BBQ Flavored Variety

    From its integration into traditional dishes like Budae Jjigae (army stew) to unique gifts during Korea’s Chuseok celebrations, the SPAM® brand’s taste of comfort and symbol of resilience has made it a piece of Korean heritage.




    korea

    Korean Red Ginseng-Infused Sparkling Herbal Drink

    Korea Ginseng Corp. US announced the introduction of the six-year-old Korean Red Ginseng-infused sparkling herbal drink HSW to the health-conscious consumers of WaBa Grill, a healthy rice bowl chain.




    korea

    Diagnosing communities’ childcare friendliness: case studies of two South Korean cities.

    Children's Geographies; 09/03/2024
    (AN 179347240); ISSN: 14733285
    Academic Search Premier