The Korea Times

The Korea Times
My TimesLatest

InterviewDefector who won $37,210 from Kim Jong-un in lawsuit vows to fight on

In July 2025, Choi Min-kyeong brought an unusual suit against someone few would have tried to lodge a case against: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It was the first time a North Korean defector filed a lawsuit against Kim, seeking damages for the torture and sexual violence she suffered in North Korea. "People around me said filing the lawsuit made no sense," Choi, 55, president of the Imprisonment Victims' Family Association, said in an interview with The Korea Times. "At first, a police officer who took my complaint thought it was ridiculous and dismissed it." However, in August, the Seoul Central District Court sided with Choi in her damages suit against Kim, awarding the full 50 million won ($37,210) she had sought. "I was happy and proud when I heard the ruling. I risked my life filing this lawsuit because I couldn't get my eldest daughter out. The 50 million won is just symbolic, calculated from court fees and legal costs, since even 500 billion won wouldn't satisfy my anger," Choi said, adding that the ruling established a legal basis to arrest Kim if he ever enters South Korea.

4 MIN READ
Defector who won $37,210 from Kim Jong-un in lawsuit vows to fight on thumbnail

DMZ art show reframes Korea's divided landscape

PAJU, Gyeonggi Province — Nine chairs stand in a loose circle, but none offers a proper place to sit. Some lack legs or backrests, while others have lost their seats. For artist Ahn Kyu-chul, these broken objects capture the contradictions of life and shared conditions of loss on both sides of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). He dismantled eight intact chairs and created the last chair from the discarded pieces, leaving all nine unable to fulfill their purpose, holding on even though they are seemingly on the edge of collapse. “I thought the absurd, irrational situation of breaking perfectly good chairs to make a ninth broken one resembled the DMZ,” Ahn said during a press walk-through, Monday. “It also conveys that people on both sides of the DMZ live in a state of incompleteness.” “Nine Chairs” offers a starting point for “DMZ Open Exhibition: Staging,” which opened Monday at Camp Greaves and Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Jointly hosted by Gyeonggi Province and the city of Paju, the exhibition presents 26 works by 14 Korean and international artist

3 MIN READ
thumbnail

InterviewHow g.o.d's Son Ho-young learned to take long way into solo career

For most of his career, Son Ho-young of legendary K-pop boy band g.o.d, believed that enough effort could fix anything, and that belief led him to spend eight hours a day on vocal practice for many years. Two decades into his solo career, the veteran idol has arrived at a gentler conclusion: Some things don't give way no matter how hard you push, and sometimes taking the long way around is how they finally work out. That idea runs through "Go Around," the digital single he drops Wednesday to mark the 20th anniversary of his solo debut and his first solo track in about five years. The 46-year-old will follow it with "HORIZON," his first solo concert in five years, on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at KBS Arena in Gangseo District, western Seoul. Son rose to fame as one of the five members of g.o.d, which debuted in 1999 under JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young with "To Mother," a song about a boy growing up poor while his mother quietly sacrificed for him. The group won over the nation with a string of hits including "Love and Remember" (1999), "Lies" (2000) and "Road" (2001), earning g.o.d th

4 MIN READ
How g.o.d's Son Ho-young learned to take long way into solo career thumbnail

Hyundai Motor Group chief marks 6 years at helm with physical AI ambitions

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun marks six years at the helm on Wednesday, spearheading the automaker’s transformation into a global top-three auto player by sales and steering it into a key future mobility player focusing on robotics, autonomous driving and artificial intelligence (AI). The next phase of his leadership, however, will hinge on whether the group can turn its physical AI ambitions into profitable businesses. Chung is also tasked with addressing mounting pressure on its core automotive operations and labor relations. Since taking the top post in 2020, Chung has overseen Hyundai Motor and Kia’s rise to the world’s third-largest automotive group by vehicle sales, behind Toyota and Volkswagen. The group maintained that ranking for four consecutive years through 2025. Hyundai Motor and Kia’s combined annual sales also surpassed the symbolic mark of 300 trillion won ($223 billion) for the first time last year. The expansion reflects a strategy that combined electrification with a stronger focus on high-margin vehicles, including SUVs and Genesis luxury m

4 MIN READ
Hyundai Motor Group chief marks 6 years at helm with physical AI ambitions thumbnail

Seoul shares start higher despite Wall Street losses, AI concerns

Korean stocks opened a tad higher Wednesday, despite overnight losses on Wall Street amid lingering concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) spending. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 26.73 points, or 0.44 percent, to 6,062.08 at the opening bell. The index tumbled 5.46 percent the previous day, dragged down by losses in technology shares amid renewed woes over big AI firms' heavy capital spending. U.S. stocks closed lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.35 percent, and the Nasdaq declined 0.15 percent. The PHLX chip index fell 0.23 percent, down for a fifth straight session, while Broadcom CEO Hock Tan likened the current AI investment flow to "casino gambling."

1 MIN READ
Seoul shares start higher despite Wall Street losses, AI concerns thumbnail

InterviewINFINITE's vocalist plays the devil on his solo anniversary album

Nam Woo-hyun, the vocalist of boy band INFINITE, could easily have marked his 10th year as a soloist by returning to the ballads that launched his solo career. Instead, the title track of his new album casts him as a devil, a character he traces back to the hardest stretch of his life. “2X8,” his second full-length album, drops Wednesday, and its title fits several milestones into three characters. Two plus eight makes 10, for his years as a soloist. Two times eight makes 16, matching both the number of tracks and the years since INFINITE debuted in 2010, and the two numbers together form his birthday, Feb. 8. Nam co-wrote the lyrics and music for every track on the album, which took about a year to complete and moves from an orchestral intro through pop rock and R&B before closing on a ballad. “The tracks span a lot of genres, and they’re the result of 10 years of making music,” Nam said in an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Gangnam District, Seoul, Tuesday. “This album gathers everything from the past decade in one place.” Nam debuted in 2010 as the main vocal

4 MIN READ
INFINITE's vocalist plays the devil on his solo anniversary album thumbnail

White House links $54 bil. in S. Korean investment to Alaska gas project

WASHINGTON — New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia said Tuesday that $54 billion was tied to an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project as part of a South Korean energy investment package, despite uncertainty over Seoul's participation in the project. Zacharia made the remarks during her first official press briefing at the White House while highlighting the South Korean energy investment package worth up to $200 billion that U.S. President Donald Trump announced earlier this month. "President Trump also unveiled a South Korea energy investment package of up to $200 billion in the United States. This is an amazing deal. This includes as much as $120 billion to build eight large-scale nuclear power plants," Zacharia said. "In addition to that, there is $54 billion tied to the Alaska LNG pipeline and terminal to service the Pacific Rim and sell fuel to our allies as well as $22.3 billion for a 6-gigawatt natural gas power facility in Texas." Following Trump's announcement, South Korea's industry ministry, however, said the Alaska project had not yet been finalized, stressing

1 MIN READ
White House links $54 bil. in S. Korean investment to Alaska gas project thumbnail

8 injured in knife attack in Incheon; Lee calls for thorough probe

Eight people were injured after a man went on a stabbing spree in a commercial complex in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Tuesday, police said. The 59-year-old man attacked people with knives fastened to both his hands at 1:40 p.m. while moving on an escalator between the second basement floor — where a Homeplus supermarket is located — and the second floor above ground, according to Namdong Police Station. The man was subdued by shoppers and later apprehended by police officers, who were questioning him in custody. All eight victims were rushed to hospitals, including a woman in her 20s in cardiac arrest. The woman recovered from cardiac arrest after undergoing emergency surgery but has not regained consciousness. Police plan to seek a warrant for the suspect's formal arrest Wednesday after questioning him about his motive. The suspect was found to be carrying a large quantity of drugs and wearing an electronic ankle monitor for a previous conviction, police said. He reportedly told police that he had taken drugs at the time of the attack. The suspect had been ordered to wear an ankle monit

2 MIN READ
8 injured in knife attack in Incheon; Lee calls for thorough probe thumbnail

Hyundai Motor Group to invest $15.5 bil. in India through 2032

Hyundai Motor Group will invest $15.5 billion in India from 2026 through 2032 to expand production capacity, strengthen research and development (R&D) and build a broader automotive industry ecosystem in one of its key growth markets. The group announced the seven-year investment plan following a meeting between Executive Chair Chung Euisun and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday (local time). The investment will cover manufacturing expansion, R&D infrastructure, local supplier development and emerging mobility businesses, with the aim of strengthening India's role as a major production and export base for the group. To coordinate the investment, Hyundai Motor Group plans to establish a dedicated entity in India. The entity will oversee investments in R&D, future technologies and the broader automotive ecosystem, while identifying local partners and supporting strategic cooperation with Indian suppliers. “India remains one of Hyundai Motor Group’s most important and strategic markets globally. The past 30 years have been defined by our commitment to India. Thi

2 MIN READ
Hyundai Motor Group to invest $15.5 bil. in India through 2032 thumbnail

Cheong Wa Dae sets up task force to arrange golf outing with Trump

Cheong Wa Dae has formed a task force and begun preparations for a potential round of golf between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. A Cheong Wa Dae official said Tuesday that the task force was established late last month, shortly after Lee returned from his trip to the U.S. and Mexico, to prepare for a possible golf outing between the two leaders. The move follows Trump's request during a Korea-U.S. summit to arrange a golf outing. Although no date has been set, there is speculation that the two leaders could play golf on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Miami in December. The task force has reportedly already held an in-person meeting, during which members reviewed Trump's previous golf outings with other world leaders and discussed specific arrangements. The push to arrange a golf outing with Trump comes amid a separate controversy over Lee's own golfing activities. Politicians from the main opposition People Power Party, including Rep. Joo Jin-woo, accused Lee of indulging in "luxury golf" on the day the ceiling of a commercial building collapsed in

1 MIN READ
Cheong Wa Dae sets up task force to arrange golf outing with Trump thumbnail

Cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems hits 700 supermarkets, French gov't says

PARIS — Cyberattacks have disrupted European supermarket chains, causing refrigeration systems to overheat at hundreds of stores in France and forcing a major grocer to shut down websites serving customers in Europe and the United States. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told Parliament on Tuesday that about 700 of the country’s 10,000 supermarkets were affected. He said there was no risk to France’s food supplies but acknowledged that the attack “touches the heart of our food security.” ″It was a wake-up call for everyone,” he said. The Paris prosecutor’s office said Tuesday that its cybercrime unit was investigating the large-scale attack, including the extent of damage caused by spoiled food and possible fires. Dominique Schelcher, CEO of French grocery chain Cooperative U, said 80 of the company’s 2,000 stores were affected. Most managed to prevent disruptions to refrigeration, but some had to discard food, he said in a post on X. “Targeting equipment essential to the preservation of fresh products is an attack on the French food supply chain. It is unprecede

1 MIN READ
Cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems hits 700 supermarkets, French gov't says thumbnail

NK gaining troop deployment, combat experience in Ukraine war: USFK chief

WASHINGTON — North Korea is gaining experience in deploying troops and sustaining military operations over long distances through its involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Tuesday. U.S. Gen. Xavier Brunson made the remarks during a dialogue hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, highlighting the military benefits Pyongyang has gained from deploying troops and supplying weapons to support Moscow in the war. "They've learned how to go from North Korea to find themselves in Russia to move men, weapons and equipment there, as well to build supply lines that would allow them to support the Russian war effort," Brunson said when asked about the experiences Pyongyang gained through its participation in the conflict. Brunson stressed that North Korea's military has gained experience in strategic movement, mobilization and logistics, allowing it to develop capabilities that extend beyond tactical lessons learned on the battlefield. The commander warned that North Korea's military is becoming increasingly

2 MIN READ
NK gaining troop deployment, combat experience in Ukraine war: USFK chief thumbnail

S. Korea, US finance chiefs reaffirm bilateral economic cooperation

The finance ministers of South Korea and the United States have reaffirmed the importance of economic and financial cooperation between the two countries, according to Seoul's finance ministry. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il held a video conference with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for the first time since Lee took office last month, according to the ministry. Bessent congratulated Lee on his appointment and stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation in economic and financial affairs. Lee thanked Bessent for his congratulations and expressed hope for close communication and cooperation, the ministry said. The two ministers also discussed shared economic policy priorities and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The Treasury also issued a release on the finance chiefs' virtual exchange. "Secretary Bessent congratulated Deputy Prime Minister Lee on his new role and underscored the importance of the U.S.–Republic of Korea economic and financial relationship," the release said, adding, "The two officials discussed shared economic priorities and opportunities to strengthen

1 MIN READ
S. Korea, US finance chiefs reaffirm bilateral economic cooperation thumbnail

AI models may soon self-replicate across smart-home devices, Anthropic warns

Anthropic said on Monday that small AI models could be months away from self-replicating across internet-connected devices, raising the possibility of AI botnets spreading quickly, fighting takedown attempts and even breaking into data centers to turbocharge their growth. Last month, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei first floated the idea that within the next year or even sooner, AI might be able to hijack "the entire internet" with "a persistent botnet," a warning that raised eyebrows in the cybersecurity community. Botnets — vast networks of devices controlled by malicious operators — have been around since the early days of the internet, and are still around. The network typically includes poorly secured Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as Android TV boxes, smart appliances and security cameras, and is used by hackers to send spam, seed malware, or sabotage target companies using floods of bogus traffic. Anthropic's Monday blog post appeared to be the first attempt to articulate how that might happen. The company said that its experiments showed that a malicious AI agent could stit

2 MIN READ
AI models may soon self-replicate across smart-home devices, Anthropic warns thumbnail

President stresses national interests in diplomacy, acknowledges disagreements with US

President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that disagreements can exist between countries, while stressing that Korea must put its national interests first and “avoid submissive attitudes or excessive servility” in its diplomacy. Speaking to ministers and presidential aides during a live broadcast of the weekly Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee made the remarks as disputes over intelligence sharing, U.S. visa delays for high-profile Korean figures and limited access to senior White House officials heightened concerns over the Korea-U.S. alliance. Conservative politicians have accused Lee’s liberal government of undermining decades of trust, while progressive figures have argued that some objections from the U.S. are misplaced. “Disagreements can exist between countries ... how can their interests always align when each pursues its own national interests?” Lee said, adding that countries must continually discuss their differences, make their positions clear and work toward agreement. He called for efforts “to minimize differences and keep them within manageable bounds,” but em

2 MIN READ
President stresses national interests in diplomacy, acknowledges disagreements with US thumbnail

COVER STORY Why Gyeonggi Province is under financial strain

Gyeonggi Province, Korea's most populous province, narrowly averted disruptions to essential welfare programs with the passage of a supplementary budget on Monday. But restoring funding for the rest of 2026 has not resolved the fundamental problem behind the crisis: falling revenue, growing spending obligations and fewer resources to bridge the gap. With the provincial government required to submit next year’s budget proposal by Nov. 11, residents and welfare providers remain concerned and question whether the province's Gov. Choo Mi-ae can prevent further funding shortfalls. What did Monday’s agreement resolve? The provincial council approved the supplementary budget after last-minute negotiations restored 21.6 billion won ($16 million) for livelihood-related programs, including support for child care and postpartum care. The agreement broke a monthlong impasse over funding needed to keep essential services running through the final quarter. Some welfare programs had been allocated only nine months of funding, leaving them facing suspension this month and prompting protests by child

3 MIN READ
[COVER STORY] Why Gyeonggi Province is under financial strain thumbnail

IMF raises Korea's growth forecast to 3.3% as chip exports outweigh war impact

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lifted its forecast for Korea’s economic growth this year to 3.3 percent from 2.6 percent three months ago, a 0.7-percentage-point increase driven by strong semiconductor exports, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said Tuesday. The IMF sees chip demand providing enough support to outweigh the economic damage from the Middle East war. But the benefits have yet to reach households and the broader domestic economy fully, raising concerns that weaker artificial intelligence (AI) spending or chip demand could expose Korea’s heavy dependence on a single industry. The IMF’s October World Economic Outlook, published earlier Tuesday, gave Korea a larger upward revision than either the global economy or advanced economies as a group. It raised its world growth projection by 0.1 percentage point, from 3 percent to 3.1 percent, and its estimate for advanced economies by 0.4 percentage points, from 1.7 percent to 2.1 percent. Among the individual advanced economies listed in the ministry’s summary, Germany’s 0.6-percentage-point upgrade was second to

3 MIN READ
IMF raises Korea's growth forecast to 3.3% as chip exports outweigh war impact thumbnail

Records prove secrecy premise in POW row despite no signed deal, Seoul says

South Korea and Ukraine remain at odds over the scope of a "binding" nondisclosure agreement regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs), with the dispute now centering on a fine but crucial distinction: Seoul says a consensus on confidentiality existed from the start of negotiations, while Kyiv says no official document of any agreement exists. South Korean officials acknowledged that no formal nondisclosure agreement was signed, but maintained that both sides had operated from the beginning under a shared understanding that the entire negotiation would remain confidential. "There is no official document signed by the two sides on nondisclosure," a senior foreign ministry official told The Korea Times. "We have internal documents on the meetings, which we cannot disclose. But Seoul and Kyiv have been communicating based on the consensus that the entire negotiation should remain subject to a binding nondisclosure agreement." The official added that President Lee Jae Myung’s remarks on the matter “have some grounds” and that Cheong Wa Dae and the foreign mini

2 MIN READ
Records prove secrecy premise in POW row despite no signed deal, Seoul says thumbnail

CXMT's new DRAM tech to test Korean memory makers' dominance

Concerns are growing that the technological gap between China's CXMT and Korean memory makers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in DRAM technology has already narrowed, after the Chinese company unveiled plans to launch server memory product by the end of this year featuring a next-generation memory cell architecture that remains only on the technology road maps of the two Korean chipmakers. According to South China Morning Post and other Chinese media outlets, CXMT President Cao Kanyu said the company plans to roll out a new server DDR5 based featuring the new architecture during an industrial event in Shanghai on Saturday. The new architecture uses a design called 4F square, which reduces the space occupied by each memory cell. F refers to the minimum line width that a given DRAM manufacturing process can draw. In current processes such as 1a, 1b and 1c, F is just over 10 nanometers. 4F square means each cell occupies an area equivalent to four times F squared. The current industry standard is 6F square, meaning the new technology could theoretically reduce the area occupied by each me

3 MIN READ
CXMT's new DRAM tech to test Korean memory makers' dominance thumbnail

President urges firm response to false claims about Brazilian egg imports

President Lee Jae Myung called Tuesday for a firm government response to the spread of false information about eggs imported from Brazil. During a closed-door session of a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee asked Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Song Mi-ryung how she was responding to the spread of misinformation about Brazilian eggs, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. Lee emphasized that "we must make it clear that stirring up public sentiment with false information is not a demonstration of influence or competence," Kang added. Earlier, some media outlets reported that the government had imported eggs from Brazil at a cost of 39,000 won per tray and sold them domestically for around 4,000 won. The reports sparked criticism over the excessive use of public funds in the import process. Some critics went so far as to allege a so-called "left-wing connection," citing political ties with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained that the imports were a precautionary measure aimed at addressi

1 MIN READ
President urges firm response to false claims about Brazilian egg imports thumbnail

Kim Ji-won, Kim You-jung face off as genius surgeon, pickpocket in weekend drama battle

Kim Ji-won of "Queen of Tears" and Kim You-jung of "Dear X" are going head-to-head on weekend television, returning with dramatically different roles after acclaimed performances in their previous series. Kim Ji-won stars as a brilliant surgeon in SBS' new Friday-Saturday series "Doctor X: Mafia in White," while Kim You-jung transforms into a master pickpocket in tvN's 20th anniversary special project "100 Days of Deception." The two dramas premiered just one day apart, with "Doctor X" airing its first episode Friday and "100 Days of Deception" following Saturday. Their schedules put the two stars in direct competition on Saturday nights, adding another high-profile matchup to the weekend drama race. Expectations are particularly high because both actors are coming off performances that marked significant moments in their careers. Kim Ji-won returned to a leading television role about two years after the hit tvN series "Queen of Tears," in which she played Hong Hae-in, a third-generation chaebol heiress confronting love, loss and a life-threatening illness. Her performance, which shifted

3 MIN READ
Kim Ji-won, Kim You-jung face off as genius surgeon, pickpocket in weekend drama battle thumbnail

Editor's Pick

1-star motels, cult villages, N. Korean restaurants: YouTuber goes where viewers won't

Interview1-star motels, cult villages, N. Korean restaurants: YouTuber goes where viewers won't

When YouTuber Inevitable Yunhwa walked into North Korean restaurants in China, she spoke nothing but English, convinced she was passing as a foreigner, only to realize while editing the footage at home that she looked unmistakably South Korean and that the staff had most likely let her slide. Born in 1999, Yunhwa is a religious studies graduate who once planned to go to law school. Now, she runs one of the more unusual channels on the Korean side of YouTube. Since posting her first video in February 2024, she has drawn 570,000 subscribers as of Monday, not with "mukbangs" (eating broadcasts) or daily vlogs but with long, meticulously edited videos that take her into one-star motels and bars, villages run by religious groups with criminal histories and North Korean state-run restaurants. She insists she is not a journalist, yet her audience increasingly holds her to the standards of one, a tension that shapes nearly every decision she makes as she sets her sights on viewers beyond Korea. 6-month experiment The channel was never meant to last. Yunhwa had quit her office job to prepare for l

5 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Why some Koreans look beyond their culture to Islam

Why some Koreans look beyond their culture to Islam

An estimated 45,000 ethnic Koreans born and raised in South Korea have changed their faith to Islam. Among them is Yusuf, an ethnic Korean in his 30s who converted to Islam in 2014. “Most of the men do it to find wives," Yusuf said. Disillusioned with Korea's competitive dating culture, especially in Seoul, many of the men seeking out Islam are also seeking a return to what Yusuf described as a simpler path to marriage. At Seoul Central Masjid in Itaewon, between five and 25 new converts arrive every month for the training course in basic Islamic tenets. Students may choose to recite the Shahada — the Muslim declaration of faith and the first of the five pillars of the religion — and officially convert to Islam at the end. Most of them are men. Female converts, while not explicitly motivated by marriage, also cited “simplicity” when asked about why they became Muslim. Two interviewees said they found the basic premise of Islam — one God — appealing. Areum, a Korean follower in her 30s, said Islam’s respect for elders also aligned well with her native Korean culture, makin

4 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Bread, pizza, fish: Seoul unveils GPS art running trails

Seoul has created three running routes that trace the shapes of a loaf of bread, a slice of pizza and a fish on a map, and will hold an event for runners who complete them starting Wednesday, the city government said Tuesday. The routes are part of what is known as “art running,” in which runners use the GPS function of a running app to record their route. Following a set path draws a picture on the app’s map. The city said it designed the routes to connect Korea’s growing running culture with local tourism and give people a new way to visit sites chosen for Seoul Edition 25. The project aims to promote lesser-known local spots as tourist attractions beyond well-known landmarks. In July, residents voted to select 25 sites, one in each of Seoul’s 25 districts. The 1.4-kilometer “bread run” circles Seoul Forest, a large park in eastern Seoul, and is linked to D Museum, a Seoul Edition 25 site. Runners can visit nearby bakeries and the museum’s exhibitions afterward. The event runs through Oct. 31. The roughly 6-kilometer “pizza run” around Maeheon Citizen’s Forest, a

2 MIN READ
Bread, pizza, fish: Seoul unveils GPS art running trails

K-Culture

Roh Jeong-eui, Show Kasamatsu uncover dark romance in 'Shaving'

BUSAN — Director Kim Jung-hoon said he hopes his new psychological thriller “Shaving” will offer catharsis and comfort to viewers dealing with past emotional scars. "Shaving is a daily routine for most men, but if you examine it closely, it is also dangerous and chilling," Kim said during a press conference at Busan Cinema Center at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on Friday. "It suited the concept of an ordinary couple's daily life turning into something hazardous. I focused on following Su-yeon's emotional arc across genres to reach a sense of catharsis, hoping the film helps people overcome their trauma." The film was invited to the competition section of the 31st edition of the film festival. It also marks Kim’s return to feature filmmaking 13 years after his debut "Tinker Ticker" (2013). The movie follows Su-yeon (Roh Jeong-eui), a horror novelist carrying past trauma, who spends a holiday at a countryside house with her caring boyfriend Shinji (Show Kasamatsu). The peaceful trip turns into a nightmare when Shinji accidentally cuts his face while shaving with an

2 MIN READ
Roh Jeong-eui, Show Kasamatsu uncover dark romance in 'Shaving'

Celebrities

Former fromis_9 member Roh Ji-sun opens up about 15 years in entertainment industry

Former fromis_9 member Roh Ji-sun has offered a rare and deeply personal account of her 15 years in the entertainment industry, days after revealing that she once had to rely on a credit card loan to cover basic living expenses after ending her activities with the K-pop girl group. On Oct. 11, Roh shared a thumbnail from her appearance on Min Sae-rom's YouTube channel on her personal social media account, along with a lengthy message reflecting on the years she spent as an idol. "I tried to fit the 15 years from age 14 to 29 into just over 20 minutes," Roh said. "It wasn't enough time to tell every story, but there were also things I couldn't tell." "There were moments when I was an adult and moments when I wasn't. There were people I was grateful for and things that were difficult to understand," she said. Roh also reflected on how years in the idol industry changed her relationship with beauty and appearance, tied to the intense visual expectations placed on K-pop stars. "I like pretty things. I like dressing myself up and choosing what to wear, and I like seeing and creating beautiful

3 MIN READ
Former fromis_9 member Roh Ji-sun opens up about 15 years in entertainment industry

Get key insights on Korea from the members-only personalized news service My Times.

Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. 8 injured in knife attack in Incheon; Lee calls for thorough probe

  2. InterviewDefector who won $37,210 from Kim Jong-un in lawsuit vows to fight on

  3. White House links $54 bil. in S. Korean investment to Alaska gas project

  4. COVER STORY Why Gyeonggi Province is under financial strain

  5. Records prove secrecy premise in POW row despite no signed deal, Seoul says

  6. President stresses national interests in diplomacy, acknowledges disagreements with US

  7. AI models may soon self-replicate across smart-home devices, Anthropic warns

  8. Samsung chairman to receive Samsung Electronics shares worth $1.94 bil. from mother

  9. Hyundai Motor Group chief marks 6 years at helm with physical AI ambitions

  10. Cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems hits 700 supermarkets, French gov't says

Video

Interesting contents

Taboola 후원링크