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Korea's public delivery apps struggle to turn low fees into lasting loyalty

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for measures that would help public delivery apps become a meaningful counterweight to dominant private platforms whose high fees are considered a burden on small businesses. But despite initially winning users over with cheaper rates, many public apps have struggled to maintain their user base and transaction volume once state subsidies scale back, raising questions about whether they can become self-sustaining. At a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Lee described the food delivery market as “effectively a powerful oligopoly,” after being told that food delivery apps Baemin and Coupang Eats together account for roughly 93 percent of the market. Lee Byeong-gweon, second vice minister of SMEs and startups, stated that the government plans to use next year’s budget to give public delivery apps a major boost. “We are planning a support program aimed at raising their combined market share to 15 to 20 percent.” There are currently 12 public delivery apps operated or supported by local governments across the country. Since 2020, loca

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Inside TikTok's transparency center: AI catches 97% of removed videos

SINGAPORE — Before a TikTok video reaches the recommendation feed, machines get the first look, scanning its images, sounds and other signals for potential violations of the platform’s community guidelines. In the first quarter of this year, automated systems detected and removed 178 million, or 96.7 percent, of the 184 million videos taken down globally — before they were reviewed by human moderators. Overall, 99.3 percent of removed videos were taken down before users reported them, according to the platform. At TikTok’s Transparency and Accountability Center in Singapore, a demonstration shows how machine-learning systems scan uploaded videos for signals associated with potential violations, such as smoking, drinking, physical violence and extremist symbols, even before human moderators step in to review cases requiring greater context or judgment. The systems use more than visual recognition to also analyze audio, keywords and hyperlinks. The technology can also recognize body posture and actions, allowing it to combine multiple signals — such as a cigarette and a person

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Expert says chance of Trump-Kim meeting is 'slim to none'

WASHINGTON — A prominent expert said Tuesday that he sees a "slim-to-none" chance of another meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, noting that the resumption of their summitry depends on how low the United States sets the bar or how willing Trump is to make concessions. Bruce Klingner, senior fellow at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, made the remarks during a forum in Washington, amid speculation that Trump could seek a summit with Kim during his next trip to Asia, likely to attend a regional forum in Shenzhen, China in November. "I think overall, the chance of a meeting is sort of slim to none, and slim just rode out of town," he said during the forum hosted by the Korea Economic Institute of America. "But it could still happen. It depends on sort of how low the U.S. sets the bar or how willing Trump is to offer concessions," he added. Klingner's comment came amid growing expectations for Trump's potential outreach to Kim, which some observers said might be an effort to win a diplomatic feat and burnish his image as a peacemaker, w

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Trump administration issues pause on visa appointments for applicants worldwide

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's administration has issued a pause on visa appointments for applicants around the world during an ongoing immigration crackdown by the U.S. government in the Republican leader's second term in the White House. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that it launched a global training initiative at all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide and that appointments for visa services will be adjusted to accommodate the training. Trump has pursued an aggressive deportation drive and immigration crackdown that includes revocations of visas and green cards and rejection of applications over a. range of reasons like political opinions and pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel's assault on Gaza. He says the crackdown aims to improve domestic security. The crackdown has faced some legal setbacks. A U.S. judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy suspending the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, saying that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statutory authority. The State Depa

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Chinese man questioned over alleged murder in Gyeongsan

GYEONGSAN — Police said Wednesday they were questioning a Chinese man in his 30s on suspicion of murdering a female graduate student, also from China, who was found dead in the southeastern city of Gyeongsan. The victim, a local university student in her 20s, was found dead at the suspect's residence Tuesday, five days after all communication with her had been lost and four days after she was reported missing by the man, according to Gyeongsan Police Station. The suspect, surnamed Jeong, was seen in CCTV footage entering his residence with the victim at around 2 p.m. Thursday, the police said. Later, he was seen leaving the premises dressed as a woman and wearing a hat, heading to Dongdaegu Station and changing clothes at a nearby restroom before returning home. He was found to have turned off the victim's phone at one point, according to the police. The police suspect Jeong tried to throw investigators off course and plan to charge him with obstruction of official duties. He was apprehended Tuesday on a street in the city and detained at the police station the same day. The police said

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InterviewYLAB shifts to sustainable model after 'Teach You a Lesson' success

For viewers who enjoyed the Netflix series “Teach You a Lesson,” one of the platform’s most-watched TV shows worldwide in the first half of this year, the webtoon “Get Schooled” may already sound familiar, as the show was originated from the comics. “Get Schooled” was produced by comic and media company YLAB, one of the pioneers of the Korean webtoon industry. Their portfolio of intellectual properties (IPs) includes well-known titles such as “Jungle Juice,” “Study Group,” “Terror Man” and “IRL Quest.” For “Teach You a Lesson,” YLAB produced both the original webtoon and the live-action series, showcasing its ability to expand its IPs across different forms of media. “Based on our previous experiences, we tried to address real-life issues that viewers could relate to through a clear cathartic structure that delivers a strong sense of excitement,” YLAB CEO Kang Cheol-gu said in an interview with The Korea Times. “We also focused on preserving the personalities of the original characters and portraying their complex emotional arcs, and I think those

5 MIN READ
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WRTN raises $72 mil. in Series C funding round

Korean artificial intelligence (AI) service provider WRTN Technologies has raised approximately 100 billion won ($72.23 million) in a Series C funding round, the company said Wednesday. According to WRTN, the company was valued at more than 1 trillion won in the latest funding round, becoming the first Korean AI service startup to surpass the mark. WRTN has raised a total of 230 billion won in funding so far. This time, Coreline Ventures and Eugene Asset Management joined the Series C round as new investors, while existing investors including Goodwater Capital, Antler Global, Woori Venture Partners and the Korea Development Bank also participated. Coreline Ventures is a U.S.-based venture capital firm with offices in Silicon Valley and Tokyo. It has invested in promising companies in the consumer and business-to-business technology markets in Korea, the U.S. and Japan. Coreline Ventures’ major portfolio companies include Korea’s mobile giant Kakao and China’s Happy Elements, which is known for casual game franchise Ensamble Stars. Osuke Honda, co-founder and managing partner of Cor

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LS Electric, GE Vernova form HVDC joint venture

LS Electric has signed an agreement with global power infrastructure company GE Vernova to establish a joint venture focused on voltage-source converter high-voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) technology, seeking to strengthen their competitiveness in Korea’s next-generation power grid market. The two companies signed the strategic cooperation agreement at CIGRE 2026, a major global power grid technology event, in Paris on Tuesday (local time). LS Electric Chairman Koo Ja-kyun and CEO Chae Dae-seok attended the ceremony along with Philippe Piron, CEO of GE Vernova’s Electrification segment, and Johan Bindele, CEO of its Grid Systems Integration business. The joint venture, to be named Grid X Technology, will combine GE Vernova’s VSC-HVDC technology with LS Electric’s local manufacturing and project execution capabilities. The companies will cooperate on key equipment supply and the joint execution of HVDC projects in Korea, while seeking opportunities to expand into overseas markets. The partnership is expected to support Korea’s efforts to modernize its power grid and strength

2 MIN READ
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AnalysisJeju missing person cases raise doubts over police readiness for sole investigative power

Distrust of police is deepening over the premature closure of multiple missing person cases on Jeju Island, raising questions about the force's readiness to take full control of criminal investigations. President Lee Jae Myung ordered the creation of a government body in charge of measures to reform the police on Tuesday, a day after police found the body of Jang Mi-ran, a 37-year-old woman missing for months. The case sparked controversy after it emerged that a police officer had closed it without confirming her whereabouts. Police said Tuesday they had removed all four officers in the chain of command at Jeju Seobu Police Station from their duties pending an investigation. The Jeju Provincial Police said Tuesday an autopsy on the body found at a palm farm on Jeju Island confirmed it was Jang. They said its position when found suggested she died by hanging. “The recent breakdown in police discipline and irresponsibility in public safety matters have become serious problems,” Lee said during a Cabinet meeting, adding that police are likely to wield more power than any other state ins

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Could China's cabbage scandal hurt kimchi's booming popularity in US?

SEATTLE — A food safety scandal involving formaldehyde-treated napa cabbage in China is raising a new question for kimchi’s fast-growing presence in the United States: Could the controversy hurt American consumers’ appetite for the Korean staple? Chinese authorities recently confirmed that napa cabbages were illegally soaked in a solution containing formaldehyde, a chemical classified as a human carcinogen, to keep them fresh during transportation, prompting an investigation and efforts to trace where the affected produce was distributed. The case quickly raised concerns about kimchi, whose main ingredient is typically napa cabbage. Korea has strengthened inspections of cabbage imported from China and is seeking to determine whether produce linked to the case entered the country. There is currently no evidence that affected cabbage or kimchi has reached the U.S. Still, the controversy comes as kimchi enjoys unprecedented visibility among American consumers. Once mainly found at Korean restaurants and Asian supermarkets, kimchi has become a mainstream food in the U.S., showing up eve

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US preparing for Freedom Edge joint exercise with S. Korea, Japan: US Pacific Command

The United States is preparing to conduct a trilateral military exercise with South Korea and Japan, the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) said Wednesday, suggesting that the drills are on track despite the recent scaling back of a Seoul-Washington combined exercise at U.S. President Donald Trump's directive. "In close coordination with the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, U.S. Pacific Command is preparing for the 2026 iteration of exercise Freedom Edge," Lt. Cmdr. Chloe Morgan, a PACOM spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency via email. "This premier multi-domain exercise will continue to reinforce our shared values, enhance our shared interoperability and further strengthen our defense partnerships to ensure peace and stability throughout the Pacific," Morgan said. She declined to provide further details, including whether this year's Freedom Edge will be carried out at the same scope and scale as those of the three previous drills, held in June and November of 2024, and in September last year. The Freedom Edge exercise was one of the key outcomes from the tri

2 MIN READ
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Seoul stocks up late Wednesday morning ahead of Nvidia earnings

Seoul stocks were trading higher late Wednesday morning, while investors kept a wait-and-see approach ahead of the earnings release from U.S. chip giant Nvidia. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was trading up 51.04 points, or 0.76 percent, to 6,793.78 as of 11:21 a.m. After opening lower, the index continued choppy trading as earnings from Nvidia are set to test the durability of the massive, global artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure boom. In Seoul, market top caps were trading mixed. Samsung Electronics rose 0.97 percent, while industry rival SK hynix added 1.19 percent. Top carmaker Hyundai Motor slid 0.36 percent, defense giant Hanwha Aerospace dipped 2.63 percent, and battery maker LG Energy Solutions added 0.14 percent. The Korean won was quoted at 1,382.3 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:21 a.m., up 0.4 won from the close of the previous stock trading session.

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Several Russian military aircraft briefly enter Korea's air defense zone: JCS

Several Russian military aircraft briefly entered Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) above its eastern waters before exiting, prompting the Korean military to dispatch fighter jets in response, officials said Wednesday. The Russian military aircraft entered the KADIZ near Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo and nearby Ulleung Island on Tuesday afternoon, before retreating from the air defense zone, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). "The Korean military detected the Russian military aircraft before they entered the air defense zone and deployed Air Force fighter jets to prepare for any possible contingencies," the JCS said in a statement. The aircraft did not violate Korea's airspace, it added. The air defense zone is not territorial airspace but is delineated to call on foreign planes to identify themselves so as to prevent accidental clashes. It marked the latest such incident after nearly 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft briefly entered and left the KADIZ above the country's eastern and southern waters in late June. The defense ministry lodged a strong pr

1 MIN READ
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Dolly Parton, music star, actor and beloved figure who spanned generations, has died at 80

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dolly Parton, the country music icon whose soaring vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the height of stardom and acclaim, has died. She was 80 years old. Known for her curvy physique, massive blonde wigs and skin-tight outfits that served her self-deprecating wit, she was among the most beloved personalities in music and beyond — the rare celebrity whose appeal transcended generations, geography and politics. She wrote hundreds of songs, including classics like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” that totaled more than 100 million worldwide sales and more than 1 billion online streams. Parton, who plucked bejeweled banjos, guitar and dulcimers with her long fingernails during performances, was a generous philanthropist and successful businesswoman whose projects included a theme park in the Smoky Mountain foothills near her birthplace. Her career was forever influenced by her upbringing as one of 12 children born into what she called a “d

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COVER STORY President pressed to change course as approval rating hits record low

President Lee Jae Myung is grappling with a falling approval rating and no clear sign of a turnaround, as a string of disputed government-led initiatives continues to unsettle the public. This has prompted Cheong Wa Dae to pledge a renewed focus on livelihoods and tangible economic results. Disputes over policies have piled up rather than letting up, including controversies in the past weeks over a real estate tax overhaul, prosecution reform and a proposed merger of military academies. More recently, the controversies have spread to plans to build rental housing instead of parkland on a vast site in central Seoul’s Yongsan District, as well as the scaling back of South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and Cheong Wa Dae’s clash with the Supreme Court over the nomination of new justices. Analysts said Tuesday that the president has limited options for making a breakthrough amid the disputed initiatives, as the public increasingly perceives them as threats to their economic interests and their access to justice and national security, rather than as ideological issues. The analysts s

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SK hynix unions reject wage deal over stock-based bonuses

Production workers’ unions at SK hynix on Tuesday voted down a tentative agreement reached between their delegates and management, sending the issue of how much of their hefty performance bonuses should be paid in treasury shares back to the negotiating table. According to industry officials, the tentative agreement was rejected after 50.08 percent, or 7,535 members, of the two unions voted against it. The two unions represent production workers respectively at the Icheon plant in Gyeonggi Province and Cheongju plant in North Chungcheong Province. The approval rate stood at 49.92 percent, or 7,510 votes, leaving a margin of just 25 votes. About 94 percent of the unions’ combined 16,083 members participated in the vote. The company’s third union, which represents office workers, was scheduled to complete its own vote on the agreement on Tuesday afternoon, but regardless of the outcome, the tentative deal is expected to be scrapped, with labor and management returning to negotiations. The tentative agreement was reached last Thursday, calling for a 6.3 percent wage increase. For perf

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Seoul warns mosquitoes may return as summer heat eases

Seoul is warning residents not to let their guard down against mosquitoes as temperatures ease, saying the insects could remain active into the fall and continue posing a risk of mosquito-borne diseases. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that it will intensify mosquito surveillance and prevention efforts through late autumn as outdoor activity increases and cooler temperatures could revive mosquito populations after the summer heat. The warning comes after the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency detected genetic material from the malaria parasite in mosquitoes collected in Paju and Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, during the week of July 27 to Aug. 2. The agency issued a nationwide malaria alert Aug. 13, while noting that mosquito numbers remained lower than last year amid the heat wave. As of Aug. 1, Korea had recorded 201 malaria cases this year, down 43.4 percent from 355 cases during the same period last year, the agency said. But cooler weather does not necessarily end the risk, with last year’s Seoul cases showing that transmission continued into the fall. Of 70 m

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Lee Chang-dong explores power of human connection in 'Possible Love'

Master director Lee Chang-dong says his new feature film "Possible Love" explores how human affection and personal bonds can sustain people through economic hardship and societal pressure. "The movie is literally a story about love," Lee said during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. "It goes beyond romantic love to explore the love people experience throughout their lives, asking what kind of love is possible for us and how we can protect it." The story centers on a laid-off worker and his wife who cross paths with a wealthy couple living in a completely different social tier. Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) works at a mask factory, while her husband Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu) suffers from severe trauma after losing his job during a violent strike crackdown. Their quiet struggle changes when they meet documentary filmmaker Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jung) and her husband Sang-woo (Zo In-sung). When Ye-ji invites the struggling couple to Sang-woo's beachfront villa for a joint summer vacation, long-suppressed desires and deep-seated class tensions begin to surface. The project faced severe funding hurdles durin

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Korea considers opening National Skills Competition to foreigners

INCHEON — Labor authorities said they will consider opening the country’s top vocational skills competition to foreign nationals, as demand grows for highly skilled overseas workers in manufacturing and other industries. Lee Byoung-hoon, president of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea), a government agency overseeing the National Skills Competition, said Tuesday that the agency would consult relevant ministries on expanding eligibility for the annual state-run event. “Because this would require a review and amendment of relevant laws and regulations, we will discuss the matter with the ministries of labor and justice when the opportunity arises,” he said. Currently, foreigners are eligible to compete in regional skills competitions but are barred from participating in the national event under the Act on Encouragement of Skilled Crafts, which limits eligibility to Korean citizens. Mun Hyun-tae, a senior official in charge of global affairs at HRD Korea, said allowing foreign nationals to enter the national competition could help revitalize skills contests

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Gyeonggi deploys 300 officers to protect teachers from malicious complaints

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education launched the country's first dedicated teachers' rights protection officer system Saturday, bringing previously scattered support functions under a single channel. The system was one of Gyeonggi Superintendent Ahn Min-seok's core policy initiatives, pledged shortly after he took office amid growing cases of false child abuse reports and malicious complaints against teachers. “I made the decision to establish the dedicated teachers' rights protection officer system while thinking of the teachers who tragically passed away, unable to endure malicious complaints,” Ahn said at the inauguration ceremony. “I will delegate all substantive authority related to the superintendent's teachers' rights protection activities to you. At this very moment, I declare an all-out war against malicious complaints. Teachers, just teach. We will protect you.” The response far exceeded expectations. Open recruitment held from July 15-28 drew 1,823 applicants for 50 positions, a competition rate of more than 36 to 1. Citing the unexpectedly large pool of qualif

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Lawmakers suggest AI monitoring to protect children, create jobs for vulnerable groups

Lawmakers held a policy seminar Tuesday to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to protect children and teenagers from harmful online content while creating jobs for people with disabilities and older adults. Reps. Park Ji-won and Seo Mi-hwa of the Democratic Party of Korea co-hosted the seminar at the National Assembly Library in Seoul. The event focused on using AI to detect harmful content, including deepfake sex crimes, online grooming and illegal gambling, while leaving the final assessment to human reviewers. Under the proposed model, AI agents would monitor and analyze online content around the clock and flag potentially harmful material for human review. Organizers said the approach could address the limits of labor-intensive monitoring while creating remote and flexible jobs for people who have faced barriers to entering the workforce. “Having AI first detect and analyze large amounts of data, with people with disabilities and older adults conducting the final review and making judgments, shows how technology can complement people’s abilities rather than rep

2 MIN READ
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Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] Korea's AI ethics principles lack binding force, specificity

COVER STORY Korea's AI ethics principles lack binding force, specificity

The government's new artificial intelligence (AI) ethics principles provide a broad framework for responsible AI use but lack legal force and specific implementation standards, experts noted, raising questions about their practical impact. The government announced national principles for the ethical development and use of AI on Monday, setting out three core values and seven guidelines for AI use across industries and everyday life. The principles provide a common but nonbinding reference for developers, providers, users, government agencies and civil society, the Ministry of Science and ICT said. Choi Kyoung-jin, director of the Center for AI, Data and Policy at Gachon University, said the principles should be viewed as a broad declaration of values rather than a set of enforceable rules, with their effectiveness ultimately depending on how they are translated into sector-specific practices. “The principles should be understood as declaring the fundamental principles that we need to think about in this era,” Choi said. “Ethical principles are something that would be good to follow

3 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Seoul invites 500 dog families to walk the Han River at autumn festival

Seoul invites 500 dog families to walk the Han River at autumn festival

Seoul is inviting 500 teams of dogs and their families to trade the city’s streets for a 4-kilometer walk along the Han River as its annual Animal Happiness Festa returns in October. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that the third annual festival will take place Oct. 17 and 18 at the plaza in front of Mulbit Stage at Yeouido Hangang Park. Applications for the Animal Happiness Run will open at 11 a.m. Sept. 2 on the festival’s official website, with spots available on a first-come, first-served basis. The run will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Oct. 17, when 500 teams of dogs and their families will walk together along the river, with commemorative gifts provided to participants. The festival will also feature a talk by veterinarian Seol Chae-hyun, a prominent animal behavior specialist, who will discuss dogs’ behavior, health and the relationship between pets and their owners. A “Second Chance in Life” showcase will give adopted dogs that have endured abandonment or abuse a chance to take the spotlight with their families. The program will accept 80 teams acr

2 MIN READ
Seoul's bridge festival returns for eight Sundays of autumn fun

Seoul's bridge festival returns for eight Sundays of autumn fun

2 MIN READ
'No Permission to Dance': Venue closure in Busan leads to petition to change laws on live performances

'No Permission to Dance': Venue closure in Busan leads to petition to change laws on live performances

5 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Before taking away children's smartphones

Korea is moving to keep minors off social media and phones out of classrooms, but the adults writing those rules cannot look up from their own screens. A few days ago, heading home from work, I was standing seven stories underground at Daegok Station on Subway Line 3. Six elevators connect to the transfer platform, and long lines backed up at each. I picked the shorter one and waited. The elevator stayed on the second floor. Wrong line? Then I looked at the call button. Dark. Nobody had pressed it. Nobody waiting seemed to have noticed, or cared. Every person in that line was looking down at a phone. I stepped forward and pressed it myself. When the doors finally opened, the commuters filed in with blank faces, eyes still down. "Smombie" is a portmanteau of "smartphone" and "zombie," a term for people who walk without looking up. When the word arrived more than a decade ago, it was treated as a new phenomenon of the smartphone age, something to study. Now it is unremarkable. Anyone can be a smombie a dozen times before lunch, as those commuters were. We have given up the idle minutes betw

2 MIN READ
Before taking away children's smartphones
Toe socks become fashion must-have, but are they good for your health?

Toe socks become fashion must-have, but are they good for your health?

2 MIN READ
Author Jo Jung-rae returns with love story, calls literature defense of humanity

Author Jo Jung-rae returns with love story, calls literature defense of humanity

3 MIN READ
From Tufts art student to Miss Korea: Woo Seo-yoon takes 2026 crown

From Tufts art student to Miss Korea: Woo Seo-yoon takes 2026 crown

3 MIN READ
Book lovers flock to buy cover art, collectibles, literary buns

Book lovers flock to buy cover art, collectibles, literary buns

3 MIN READ

K-Culture

KATSEYE lands 4 songs on Billboard Hot 100

U.S.-based K-pop girl group KATSEYE has simultaneously landed four songs on Billboard's Hot 100, according to the latest chart released Tuesday (U.S. time), after scoring its first No. 1 on the main albums chart. "Animal," a single on the group's third EP, "Wild," rose six notches to No. 24, while "Hootie Frutti," the title track, debuted at No. 31, according to the singles chart. "Pinky Up" came in at No. 81, while the group's collaboration single "Iconic By Mistake," with fellow HYBE girl groups LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT, ranked No. 94. Elsewhere on the Hot 100, BLACKPINK's Jennie held steady at No. 8 with "Dracula," a collaboration song with Australian act Tame Impala. On the main albums chart, Katseye clinched its first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with "Wild," while the group's other albums "Beautiful Chaos" and "SIS (Soft is Strong)" also made the chart. Stray Kids' "This & That" reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200, down from the top spot last week, while the BTS album "ARIRANG" ranked No. 24.

1 MIN READ
KATSEYE lands 4 songs on Billboard Hot 100
Original author hints at 'The Trauma Code' Season 2, raising questions over Ha Young's return

Original author hints at 'The Trauma Code' Season 2, raising questions over Ha Young's return

2 MIN READ
BLACKPINK's Jisoo to release new solo single on Sept. 4

BLACKPINK's Jisoo to release new solo single on Sept. 4

1 MIN READ
BLACKPINK's Jennie to release new album this week

BLACKPINK's Jennie to release new album this week

1 MIN READ
KATSEYE scores its first No. 1 on Billboard 200

KATSEYE scores its first No. 1 on Billboard 200

2 MIN READ

Celebrities

Jang Dong-yoon to marry actor Kim Seung-yoon in October

Actors Jang Dong-yoon and Kim Seung-yoon have announced that they will marry in October after quietly dating for years. Jang shared the news Tuesday through a handwritten letter posted on social media. “This October, I will marry someone I have been with for a long time,” Jang wrote. “We plan to hold a quiet Christian wedding attended by our families.” Jang said he had given the decision considerable thought. “As we spent more time together, we came to know and understand each other better and grew to cherish one another,” he wrote. “We have decided to stand by each other’s side and build a fun and happy life together,” Jang continued. “I understand that this sudden news may come as a surprise, but I would be grateful if you watched over us with warmth.” The announcement came as a surprise to fans, as the two had kept their relationship private. Jang and Kim, who have a five-year age gap, first met as director and actor through the 2023 short film “Please Be My Ear,” Jang’s directorial debut. Kim also played the lead role in “The Yeast,” Jang’s feature-leng

1 MIN READ
Jang Dong-yoon to marry actor Kim Seung-yoon in October
Kim Soo-hyun appears emotional in 1st public event since controversy

Kim Soo-hyun appears emotional in 1st public event since controversy

2 MIN READ
Tearful fans, flowers and gifts greet Kim Soo-hyun as he goes overseas

Tearful fans, flowers and gifts greet Kim Soo-hyun as he goes overseas

2 MIN READ
G-Dragon says he can't use mobile banking, relies on wealth manager

G-Dragon says he can't use mobile banking, relies on wealth manager

1 MIN READ
'Sincerity, humility, honesty:' Gunil's exit highlights JYP's strict idol character standard

'Sincerity, humility, honesty:' Gunil's exit highlights JYP's strict idol character standard

3 MIN READ

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. AnalysisJeju missing person cases raise doubts over police readiness for sole investigative power

  2. Could China's cabbage scandal hurt kimchi's booming popularity in US?

  3. Korea considers opening National Skills Competition to foreigners

  4. North Korea denuclearization missing from US readout as Trump pushes for Kim talks

  5. Korea's public delivery apps struggle to turn low fees into lasting loyalty

  6. US family dinner turns deadly: 8 killed, including children

  7. COVER STORY President pressed to change course as approval rating hits record low

  8. Canada unveils counter tariffs of 15% to 50% on US goods

  9. InterviewYLAB shifts to sustainable model after 'Teach You a Lesson' success

  10. Korea set to draw up 'super budget' of over $578 bil. on chip boom

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