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Iranian official warns Korea's Hormuz deployment would mean joining war

A senior Iranian official has warned South Korea against deploying military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, saying any action against Iran would be considered direct participation in the war. “Any South Korean involvement against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz would amount to direct military participation in the aggression and war against Iran,” the unnamed senior political and security official was quoted as saying by Al Mayadeen, a Lebanon-based news network aligned with Iran and Hezbollah, on Friday. The official also urged Seoul not to “sacrifice its interests and reputation” by supporting U.S. military operations. The warning comes as South Korea weighs a possible contribution to efforts to secure the key waterway amid growing pressure from Washington. Seoul said Friday that no decision has been made. A senior U.S. administration official said Washington was “still waiting for South Korea to deploy resources to the region,” noting that the country is one of the largest buyers of Middle Eastern oil, media outlets reported Friday.

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Iranian official warns Korea's Hormuz deployment would mean joining war thumbnail

Fireworks show lights up Seoul skies

South Korea's largest annual fireworks show took place in Seoul on Saturday, lighting up the skies on this cool early autumn night. The Seoul International Fireworks Festival, hosted by Hanwha Group, began just past 8 p.m. in Seoul's Yeouido district, with about 530,000 spectators on hand, as estimated by Hanwha and police. This year's show took place about three weeks earlier than in previous years due mainly to the Chuseok fall harvest holiday coming later this month. Under the theme of "Find Your Light," this year's show featured fireworks teams from three countries — South Korea's Hanwha Corp., the United States, and Britain. A pre-festival event was also held for the first time in the history of the festival that was launched in 2000. The British team kickstarted the show, with its fireworks going off to the tune of "Soda Pop" from the original soundtrack of the Netflix megahit, "KPop Demon Hunters." The U.S. team followed with "O Fortuna" playing in the background. The South Korean team capped off the night with its show for the final 20 or so minutes, drawing oohs and aahs from

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Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026: Everything you need to know

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Young Koreans turn to court auctions as Seoul prices soar

Kim Yu-ji, 26, let out a sigh. "It failed," she said. "I had high hopes." It was the morning of Aug. 24 in Courtroom 101 of the Seoul Eastern District Court in Songpa District. The property on the block was a low-rise multifamily property commonly called a "villa" in Korean, located in Amsa-dong, Gangdong District, and appraised at 504 million won ($370,000). It drew 11 bidders, more than any other case heard that day. Kim had taken the morning off to sit beside her older brother, Kim Beom-jun, 31, who was making his first bid at a property auction. He had put his chances at about 80 percent. Then the judge announced the result. "The highest bid in this case is 436.07 million won," he said. Kim Beom-jun had bid 370 million won, falling 66.07 million won short of the winning bid. Neither of them lingered over it. They had to return to work that afternoon. They were not the only young bidders in the room. About 10 people in their 20s and 30s were there, among them Kang Ji-yun, 27, who lost a bid for a villa in Garak-dong. "Homes in Seoul are so expensive that I looked for a way to buy as c

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From ashes to architectural hotspot, Gangneung temple draws global attention

A wall of brightly colored rectangles floods the field of vision, creating a unique facade for a Buddhist temple. It traces a gentle curve, turning people's thoughts to the temple’s monks as they sit in meditation. Will this rid them of worldly thoughts, or sweep them away in a flood of ideas and inspiration? The wall belongs to Inwol Temple, near Gyeongpo Lake in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. This March, the temple drew international attention after winning a WA Award from the World Architecture Community. Word quickly spread that the temple was an example of “hip Buddhism,” even helping fuel memes. The temple is only one of Gangneung’s noteworthy architectural spaces. From Inwol Temple to the Sorol Art Museum, a public building that somehow emerged looking just like its architectural rendering, the coastal city hides a number of stylish spaces. The ‘temple that looks nothing like one' Inwol Temple is a single crescent-shaped building, modeled after the curve of the Buddha’s eyebrow. Rather than divide its long, narrow site into a separate prayer hall and meditation center, t

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Review'Perfect Shoot' captures triumph of Korea's first developmental disability handball league

Taking the court for the first time in their lives, athletes with developmental disabilities are redefining what it means to compete. The new sports documentary "Perfect Shoot" offers an intimate look at the nation's first handball league All Win Peak, created specifically for players with developmental disabilities. Directed by Oh Kyu-ik, the film was originally produced to be released on MBC Chungbuk, a local branch of major broadcaster MBC, but the project expanded into a feature-length theatrical release after it gained widespread recognition. The documentary traces the origin of the league back to 2021, when the Sports Support Center for the Disabled at Seowon University launched an initiative to establish developmental disability handball teams. Backed by corporate sponsorship and local welfare funding, 10 teams were formed across the country. Handball was officially designated as a demonstration sport by Special Olympics Korea in 2022, paving the way for the historic launch of the national league in 2023. Oh captured the journey over a three-year period, following players from the

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'10 SNUs' plan faces backlash over funding gap, selection process

The government's initiative to create “10 Seoul National Universities” is facing growing backlash following the selection of three universities for concentrated funding, prompting questions over the transparency of the selection process and concerns that the initiative could create a new hierarchy among regional national universities. The Ministry of Education on Tuesday selected Pusan National University, Chonnam National University and Chungnam National University as the first beneficiaries of the initiative. Each will receive 70 billion won ($51 million) in government funding to advance education in artificial intelligence and industries tied to regional strategic priorities. While the three selected universities will each receive roughly 100 billion won more in government funding than last year, the six other regional flagship national universities will receive only about 40 billion won each in additional support for undergraduate education reform and shared university programs. Universities left out of the initiative warn that, by the end of the five-year program, the funding g

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WEEKENDER Korean shamanism spreads far beyond its homeland

As Korea has taken its place among the world leaders in technology, many facets of its traditional culture also have found their way to a global audience. Through a series of appearances in media and popular streaming content, Korean shamanism has achieved a a new level of global awareness in recent years. For some, the idea of Korean shamanism being a global entity began 20 years ago with the arrival of Andrea Kalff, a woman from Prien am Chiemsee, Germany, who became the very first European to become a Korean shaman. Kalff was raised in a Catholic family in Bavaria, with little knowledge or interest in any kind of shamanism, let alone the Korean version. “Since childhood, I had experienced unusual dreams, intuitive perceptions, illnesses that physicians could not explain and psychological crises that correspond to what Korean tradition understands as 'sinbyeong',” she explained, referencing the "spirit sickness" that is thought to affect people marked to become shamans. Initiation into world of Korean shamanism At the age of 32, while in declining health, she was invited by a frien

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[WEEKENDER] Korean shamanism spreads far beyond its homeland thumbnail

Fireworks show to light up Seoul skies

Korea's largest annual fireworks show is set to take place in Seoul on Saturday. The Seoul International Fireworks Festival, hosted by Hanwha Group, begins at 8 p.m. in Seoul's Yeouido area. This year's show takes place about three weeks earlier than in previous years due mainly to the Chuseok fall harvest holiday coming later this month. Under the theme of "Find Your Light," this year's show features fireworks teams from three countries — Korea's Hanwha Corp., the United States and Britain. A pre-festival event will take place for the first time in the history of the festival that was launched in 2000. About 6,800 personnel will be mobilized to manage crowds and handle emergencies. The Seoul city government said a safety headquarters will be set up together with the police, fire departments, Hanwha and other relevant agencies to oversee crowds and traffic around the site. Operational command centers doubling as emergency medical stations will be established at six locations across the Yeouido and Ichon neighborhoods, while 45 patrol boats will be used to monitor safety on the river. Add

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FM Cho to visit Nepal for ministerial talks on massive flood response

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun was set to depart for Nepal on Saturday to meet with his Nepali counterpart and discuss Seoul's support for search-and-rescue efforts following devastating floods, the foreign ministry said. During his three-day visit through Monday, Cho plans to hold talks with Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and meet with the families of the missing Koreans, according to the ministry. Nine Koreans — six employees of Doosan Enerbility Co. and three of Korea South-East Power Co. — went missing on Aug. 26 after massive floods and landslides hit the country's Rasuwa District near the Nepal-Tibet border while they were working at a hydropower plant construction site. Cho is expected to ask for Nepal's support to facilitate and intensify search efforts for the missing nationals during his talks with Khanal, with the two sides also expected to discuss support measures for the recovery of the affected areas and other issues of mutual concern. Cho also plans to encourage the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) working at the disaster site and meet with officials from the comp

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No signs of missing crew members found in overnight search

No signs were found of six crew members missing after a tugboat capsized earlier this week off the southeastern city of Busan, despite search and rescue efforts entering their fourth day, officials said Saturday. The 286-ton vessel was carrying six Korean and two Indonesian crew members when it overturned Wednesday afternoon after setting off from Busan Port to tow a commercial ship. One Indonesian crew member was rescued alive while a Korean crew member was found unconscious and died later. Six Coast Guard vessels were mobilized overnight to search for the remaining six crew members amid high waves and strong winds, but no signs of them were found. Due to the bad weather, underwater searches of the sunken vessel have not yet been carried out. Search operations resumed during the day, but were having difficulty due to strong winds and high waves.

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Industry minister urges US to ease tariffs on hard-to-source steel mill equipment

Korea's industry minister urged the United States on Saturday to ease tariffs on equipment that Korean companies will need to import for a $5.8 billion steel mill in Louisiana they are investing in. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan made the request at a meeting with Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry before attending a groundbreaking ceremony for Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel LLC (HPLS), an electric arc furnace-based integrated steel mill scheduled to begin construction in the fourth quarter, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said in a press release. HPLS is a joint venture among Hyundai Motor Group affiliates Hyundai Steel, Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp., and steelmaker POSCO. Foreign steelmakers in the U.S. face tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the U.S. president to adjust imports deemed to threaten national security, as well as other trade remedy measures, the ministry said. Kim urged Washington to pay close attention to difficulties facing Korean companies investing in the U.S. and support the project by easing tariffs on equipment and ma

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InterviewKorea can lead in AI for older people, UN expert says

Korea is uniquely positioned to lead global efforts to design and test more inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) systems for older people, combining its advanced technological capabilities with the world’s fastest-aging population, according to a U.N. expert. The country’s rapid technological development and equally fast demographic transition give it an unusual opportunity — and responsibility — to develop an age-inclusive model that can be adopted by other countries, said Zvezdan Pirtosek, the U.N. Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Older Persons. Korea became a super-aged society in late 2024, as people aged 65 and older accounted for more than 20 percent of the population. The share is expected to continue to rise as its total fertility rate remains the world’s lowest, at around 0.8. “I think Korea can lead discussions about these very, very important and timely issues,” he said in an interview with The Korea Times on Wednesday, adding that Korea can pioneer the development and testing of its own comprehensive AI models and policies, and that

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North Korea to send 9 wrestlers to 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

North Korea will send nine athletes to compete in wrestling at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. According to the United World Wrestling (UWW) on Thursday, North Korea has entered two wrestlers in men's Greco-Roman wrestling — Ryu Yu-chol in the 60-kilogram class, ranked No. 51 in the world, and Son Man-kwang in the 67kg class, ranked No. 49. In men's freestyle, world No. 1 Han Chong-song will compete in the 57kg class, while Kim Kwang-jin, ranked No. 14, will compete in the 65kg class. North Korea's women's freestyle lineup includes Kim Son-hyang in the 50kg class, ranked No. 19; Choe Hyo-gyong in the 53kg class, ranked No. 7; Son Il-sim in the 57kg class, ranked No. 3; Kim Ok-ju in the 62kg class, ranked No. 3; and Pak Sol-gum in the 68kg class, ranked No. 10. North Korea, which has emerged as a wrestling powerhouse since making rapid strides on the international stage in the late 2010s, won seven medals — one gold, three silver and three bronze — at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. At last year's world championships, the country again claimed seven medals, including three golds,

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What changed Sonny's mind about joining LAFC?

When Son Heung-min first learned that Los Angeles FC (LAFC) were interested in signing him, he had no intention of moving to the United States. At the time, Son viewed Major League Soccer (MLS) as a league where players in the twilight of their careers went to wind down their playing days before retirement. Having made his professional debut with Hamburger SV in Germany’s Bundesliga, one of Europe’s top five leagues, and spent years playing in the English Premier League (EPL), widely regarded as the world’s best domestic league, Son understandably had a relatively low opinion of MLS. But his mind changed when he had one year remaining on his contract with Tottenham Hotspur. Son began to feel that he needed a new challenge and came to recognize the sincerity of LAFC, who had been interested in him for some time. That ultimately led him to choose MLS. Son discussed the story behind his move to LAFC, his experiences adapting to Germany and his thoughts on former and current teammates in an appearance on the podcast “The Late Run,” whose latest episode was released Friday. The first

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K-pop's new power fans? Middle-aged Americans with money and time to spend

Last year, the United States imported more kimchi from Korea than K-pop albums. However, in the first half of 2026, K-pop album exports to the United States surged to three times the value of kimchi exports, while the country surpassed Japan and China to become the largest overseas market for K-pop albums. The United States was not alone in seeing a surge in K-pop album imports. Germany became the fourth-largest overseas market after its imports increased more than sixfold in a year. K-pop also breathed new life into CDs, once thought destined for extinction, while fans in their 40s and 50s emerged as an increasingly visible part of the fandom. Korea also rose to become the world’s third-largest “music export powerhouse,” behind only the United States and Britain, breaking the English-speaking world’s monopoly on the top three. The global music market witnessed one K-pop surprise after another in the first half of this year. As striking as the pace of growth was the way that growth unfolded: Where, by whom and how K-pop is consumed are all changing. US reshapes K-pop album expor

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K-pop's new power fans? Middle-aged Americans with money and time to spend thumbnail

MORNING CALM TALES Descending into Korea's first PC bangs

The first time I went to a PC bang in Korea, it wasn’t for the internet. It was 1998, and I went with several of my students to play StarCraft, a game they raved about the way Americans talked about the Super Bowl. Like every other trend that swept the nation, PC bangs were appearing faster than a pop-up window on your computer screen. They were the cheapest way of accessing the internet in Korea, especially at the height of the Asian financial crisis. I knew what PC meant — personal computer. A bulky monitor and CPU that clicked and whirred, and occasionally froze for no reason. But “bang”? In Korea, bang means room, a simple word, functional and to the point. The PC bang we went to was located in a neighborhood of traditional shops, coffee houses, eateries, pharmacies and a traditional medicine shop with a strange-looking apparatus inside — less a pharmacy than a set piece from an old Frankenstein movie. The street was bright, with signs in Hangeul stacked like glowing dominoes. Food smells drifted through the air — dumplings, spicy rice cakes, charcoal and grilled meat — k

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[MORNING CALM TALES] Descending into Korea's first PC bangs thumbnail

Maritime patrol aircraft, support ship among Korea's options for Strait of Hormuz mission

As Seoul weighs how to contribute to efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, attention is turning to what military assets Korea could realistically send — and what missions they could perform without drawing the country directly into combat with Iran. Military experts say maritime surveillance, logistics support and mine-clearing operations could be the most practical roles for Korean forces in the Strait of Hormuz, allowing Seoul to contribute to securing the strategic waterway while limiting the risks of direct involvement in the conflict. Cheong Wa Dae said Friday that no decision has been made on whether to deploy forces or what assets could be sent, adding that it is considering a range of options, including combat, noncombat and search missions. Military readiness on the Korean Peninsula is also a key consideration. A Cheong Wa Dae official said Seoul could consider options that would not significantly undermine its readiness posture at home. Kang Eun-ho, former head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and a professor at Korea Aerospace Uni

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Busan tourism: Urban national park attracts diverse hikers

On the morning of Aug. 25, hikers gathered in small groups outside Beomeosa Station on Busan Metro Line 1, in the city's Geumjeong District, and set off for Geumjeongsan National Park. From the station they walked about five minutes uphill and boarded the No. 90 city bus, which reached Beomeo Temple in about 10 minutes. Roughly a dozen hikers rode the bus, along with about a dozen more visitors bound for Beomeo Temple and other nearby sites. Kim Jong-seok, 66, who had come from Seoul, said he knew little about the mountain. "I didn't know much about Mount Geumjeong, but I came because I heard it had been designated a national park," he said. "It's more charming than I expected, and it's nice that you can see a famous place like Beomeo Temple at the same time." Beomeo Temple, a Buddhist site at the foot of the mountain, is a favored starting point for Mount Geumjeong hikers. The first route heads from the North Gate of the fortress to Godang Peak to the East Gate, Wonhyobong Peak, the Third Watchtower and the South Gate, covering about 13 kilometers. A second route starts at the South Ga

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Gwangju Biennale chief calls for separating China-Taiwan politics from art

As diplomatic tension over the Taiwan Pavilion threatens to overshadow the Gwangju Biennale, organizers of Asia’s premier contemporary art event appealed for the exhibition to be viewed separately from political disputes. The controversy centers on the decision by the organizers to use the name "Taiwan Pavilion" for a project organized by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. The move prompted Chinese artists and organizers to announce their withdrawal from the exhibition on Thursday, arguing that the title brought political issues into the cultural field. Youn Bum-mo, president of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation, expressed deep regret over the situation while defending the foundation’s original administrative process. "It is truly regrettable that we have reached this situation, and I am deeply sorry," Youn said during a press conference held at the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall in Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, Friday, the day before the 72-day event opens. "We wanted the Chinese Pavilion to participate until the end, and it is very disappointing that it led to the

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Korea eases visa extension rules for foreign victims of crime

Foreign nationals who are victims of crimes such as domestic violence will now be able to apply for permission to remain in the country, through immigration offices with jurisdiction over the shelters where they are staying. According to the Ministry of Justice, Friday, it has revised the rules to allow foreign victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse and other human rights violations to apply for extensions of stay and other permits at the immigration offices with jurisdiction over the shelters where they are staying, rather than their places of residence. Previously, foreign nationals were required to apply for immigration permits at offices covering their registered addresses. Concerns had been raised that requiring victims who fled domestic violence or other abuse to visit immigration offices near their former residences could expose their whereabouts and put their safety at risk. In response, the ministry expanded the rules so the foreign victims would not have to risk returning to the area of their registered address and potentially encountering the perpetrator of

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Would longer school days keep kids out of private academies? Korea weighs controversial fix

The National Education Commission is debating extending the school day for first- and second-graders, sparking a clash between policymakers and educators. Supporters argue that aligning instruction time with the OECD average will reduce parents' reliance on private tutoring centers, known as hagwons in Korean. However, teachers' groups warn that longer classes will merely delay the daily after-school hagwon cycle without solving the underlying gap in after-school care. The commission, the National Assembly Futures Institute and the Korean Educational Development Institute held a joint policy forum on Thursday at the National Assembly Library. The event marked the commission's first public debate on lengthening the school day for young students. Shorter school days strain working parents Hwang In-hyeok and Seong Mun-ju, associate research fellows at the National Assembly Futures Institute, presented data showing a severe gap in instructional time. Korean elementary students receive 655 hours of instruction a year, falling about 22 percent, or 190 hours, short of the OECD average of 845 ho

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Would longer school days keep kids out of private academies? Korea weighs controversial fix thumbnail

Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] 'Taiwan Pavilion' issue could become another THAAD row: Chinese official

COVER STORY 'Taiwan Pavilion' issue could become another THAAD row: Chinese official

Controversy over the name of a Taiwanese exhibition venue at Gwangju Biennale has fueled concerns of a potential diplomatic conflict between Korea and China. Chinese officials say that the biennale organizers’ permission for the participating Taiwanese artists to use the name of “Taiwan Pavilion” is against the “One China” principle, and that the decision crossed a “red line.” They warned that its impact on the bilateral relationship between Korea and China could be as serious as the diplomatic row over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system deployment in 2017. China protested on Thursday through a press release criticizing the Gwangju Biennale Foundation’s decision to permit Taiwanese artists to use the name “Taiwan Pavilion” at the international art event instead of the institutional name, the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA). The release followed Chinese artists' official announcement of their withdrawal from the exhibition. In the release, the embassy said the incident “directly damages the political base of Ch

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Life in Korea

Dating in Korea: Young adults vet partners for values

Dating in Korea: Young adults vet partners for values

Political and social divisions between young men and women have become increasingly visible in Korea, raising questions about whether the divide is spilling over into their romantic relationships. But for young Koreans themselves, differences in political views do not necessarily make romance impossible. Instead, they say they are finding their own balance between love and personal values — while some see checking a potential partner's views as an essential step before entering a relationship. The following is the first installment of "Tiki-Taka," a Hankook Ilbo roundtable series that presents the perspectives and ideas of young people whose outlook differs from and may never become the same as that of older generations. Screening before dating Participant 2: “I have a friend who checks what online communities someone uses and who they follow on social media before dating them. She doesn't automatically rule someone out just because they support a particular politician, but she feels that following that politician on social media means they're an active supporter, so it makes her thi

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Busan on pace to hit 3 mil. foreign visitors 2 months earlier than last year

Busan on pace to hit 3 mil. foreign visitors 2 months earlier than last year

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Concerts, traditional architecture headline autumn festival at Bukseoul Dream Forest

Concerts, traditional architecture headline autumn festival at Bukseoul Dream Forest

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Lifestyle

Inside Jung Kook's medicine bag: Here's what experts say

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. BTS member Jung Kook revealed during a livestream that he takes dozens of medications, vitamins and supplements, prompting concerns about potential adverse effects. Jung Kook showed fans the various products he takes while speaking on the fan community platform Weverse on Tuesday. “I have to take magnesium,” he said, looking around in the middle of the livestream. “Let me show you the vitamin bag I normally carry around.” He then held his personal medicine bag up to the camera. “There’s a lot in here,” Jung Kook said with a slightly embarrassed laugh. The plastic bag he pulled from the medicine bag was packed with dozens of white pill bottles. And that was only the beginning. He proceeded to take out a dizzying array of products, including his morning vitamins, prescription medications for colds and tonsillitis, medication for elevated liver enzyme levels, an all-in-one cold remedy, sleep aids, medications for skin inflammation and allergies, and liquid vitamins. As he explained what each product was for, the BTS member also discus

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Inside Jung Kook's medicine bag: Here's what experts say
Korea reimagines overseas cultural centers as gateways to Korean lifestyle

Korea reimagines overseas cultural centers as gateways to Korean lifestyle

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Korea Heritage Service sets up temporary shelter to restore Egypt's Ramesseum temple gate

Korea Heritage Service sets up temporary shelter to restore Egypt's Ramesseum temple gate

2 MIN READ
Whole-wheat bread but blood sugar still spikes? Beware of this ingredient

Whole-wheat bread but blood sugar still spikes? Beware of this ingredient

2 MIN READ
Seoul's art scene takes center stage as Frieze, Kiaf open

Seoul's art scene takes center stage as Frieze, Kiaf open

2 MIN READ

K-Culture

IU to release new digital single next week

Singer-songwriter IU will release a new digital single next Thursday, her agency said, marking her first new music in a year after health issues forced concert cancellations and delayed her sixth studio album. EDAM Entertainment announced the return in a statement Friday, alongside a teaser video uploaded to the artist's social media channels. The agency did not provide further details about the single, including its title. IU's most recent release was the digital single "Bye, Summer" in September 2025. The 33-year-old artist, one of Korea's best-selling solo acts, had planned to hold standalone concerts in Goyang near Seoul earlier this month. The shows were canceled after she suffered a flare-up of patulous Eustachian tube, a condition in which the tube inside the eardrum remains abnormally open. She also postponed the release of her sixth studio album due to the same health issue and has not announced a new date.

1 MIN READ
IU to release new digital single next week
Monsta X releases new EP 'The Phase'

Monsta X releases new EP 'The Phase'

1 MIN READ
Kwon Eun-bi opens new chapter with 1st single since label move

InterviewKwon Eun-bi opens new chapter with 1st single since label move

3 MIN READ
Stray Kids' EP 'This & That' certified gold in France

Stray Kids' EP 'This & That' certified gold in France

1 MIN READ
Busan film fest ticket sales to begin Sept. 17

Busan film fest ticket sales to begin Sept. 17

1 MIN READ

Celebrities

Lisa reveals solo song was inspired by past secret relationship, says ex approved its release

BLACKPINK’s Lisa has opened up about the hardships and restrictions she faced as a K-pop idol. According to a report by the Toronto Star on Thursday, Lisa discussed her past relationships and the constraints of idol life in her solo documentary, “Always Lalisa.” Lisa moved to Korea in 2011 at the age of 14 to begin training under YG Entertainment. Recalling those years, she said, “I didn’t dare speak up or express my thoughts.” She was also seen wiping away tears as she described the monthly performance tapes she submitted to bosses for review during those years and the feedback. “In K-pop culture, we can't date,” Lisa said. “When I was younger, I dated a few times, but we had to hide when we’re dating. I didn’t want my dating to be the thing that hurts BLACKPINK's popularity.” She also revealed that her debut solo studio album, “Alter Ego,” released last year, draws on her own romantic experiences. One of its songs, “Dream,” was inspired by a relationship she had kept secret in the past, Lisa explained. The artist added that she had contacted her former pa

1 MIN READ
Lisa reveals solo song was inspired by past secret relationship, says ex approved its release
Ansel Elgort faces Korean backlash for wearing Japanese attire in Seoul

Ansel Elgort faces Korean backlash for wearing Japanese attire in Seoul

1 MIN READ
Korean celebs 'blessed with successful wives' — who's No. 1?

Korean celebs 'blessed with successful wives' — who's No. 1?

2 MIN READ
Kwak Si-yang, Yoo Ji-ae share handwritten letters after announcing marriage

Kwak Si-yang, Yoo Ji-ae share handwritten letters after announcing marriage

2 MIN READ
BigBang's Daesung bought Seoul apartment for $1 million — now it's reportedly worth $ 7 million

BigBang's Daesung bought Seoul apartment for $1 million — now it's reportedly worth $ 7 million

2 MIN READ

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. '10 SNUs' plan faces backlash over funding gap, selection process

  2. Fireworks show to light up Seoul skies

  3. Iranian official warns Korea's Hormuz deployment would mean joining war

  4. What changed Sonny's mind about joining LAFC?

  5. How Korea was really colonized

  6. South Korean man sentenced to 5 years in prison for spying for NK

  7. Young Koreans turn to court auctions as Seoul prices soar

  8. US strikes 3 Iranian oil tankers after IRGC attack on American naval ship

  9. Rescuers in Nepal pull Chinese national, woman alive 10 days after floods

  10. Trump shrugs off Iran conflict, calls it 'small potatoes'

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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
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