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Korea's $449 bil. crypto economy leads in East Asia: Chainalysis

Korea's digital asset economy reached $449.1 billion from July 2025 to June 2026, the largest in East Asia, data showed Tuesday, as retail investors increasingly turned to artificial intelligence (AI)-related cryptocurrencies. According to global blockchain data platform Chainalysis' report, "East Asia Crypto Adoption Report: South Korea's AI Trade Comes to Crypto," Korea's crypto economy grew 12.3 percent from the previous one-year period to record $449.1 billion. Japan followed at $228.3 billion, with Hong Kong at $192.2 billion, China at $176.3 billion and Taiwan at $140.4 billion. The growth came largely from Korea's retail-driven crypto market, even amid limited participation by major financial institutions. The report highlighted AI-related cryptocurrencies as one of the clearest signs of that retail enthusiasm. As Korean investors piled into shares of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix amid an AI-fueled stock market rally, they also poured money into digital assets linked to AI-focused projects and infrastructure. As of June 2026, AI-related cryptocurrencies accounted for about 18 p

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Korea's $449 bil. crypto economy leads in East Asia: Chainalysis thumbnail

Nuri rocket set for 5th launch to place 15 satellites into orbit

Korea's homegrown Nuri rocket is set for its fifth launch Wednesday, carrying 15 satellites, including five that will form part of the country's first domestically launched microsatellite constellation. The three-stage rocket is scheduled to lift off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, at 12:25 p.m., Oh Tae-seok, administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), said. Oh said the rocket is technically ready for launch, with weather and space conditions also favorable and no concerns over potential collisions with space objects, allowing the launch to proceed as scheduled. The payload consists of five New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellation for National Safety (NEONSAT) microsatellites and 10 CubeSats. Shortly before 11 a.m., the launch team completed fueling the three-stage rocket with kerosene and liquid oxygen after conducting system checks. Nuri's first and second stages will separate about 123 and 268 seconds after liftoff, respectively, with satellite deployment beginning between 810 and 960 seconds at an altitude of aroun

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InterviewAt 94, Korea's oldest university president is still planning for future

At an age when most people have long stepped away from professional life, Lee Gil-ya is still thinking about what comes next. The 94-year-old president of Gachon University is Korea’s longest-serving university president. Lee took over the management of Kyungwon University in 1998 and became its president in 2000, later overseeing the integration of four institutions that culminated in the launch of Gachon University in 2012. She has since led the integrated university for nearly 14 years — an unusually long tenure in Korea, where university presidents typically serve relatively short terms. She attributes her forward-looking approach to decades spent building hospitals and educational institutions, where successes and failures alike taught her to recognize change early and act quickly — an approach now shaping Gachon University’s push to stay ahead in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. “Hardship itself is a kind of success. It becomes the foundation for success,” Lee said in a recent interview with The Korea Times, stressing that failures and setbacks are experiences peo

5 MIN READ
At 94, Korea's oldest university president is still planning for future thumbnail

Seoul open to joint 2036 Olympic bid with North Jeolla, mayor says

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Wednesday that the city is open to jointly hosting the 2036 Olympics with North Jeolla Province, but stressed that any proposal should be competitive enough to win International Olympic Committee approval. “We are prepared to accept any joint hosting arrangement North Jeolla proposes,” Oh said during a press conference at City Hall. He said the Seoul Metropolitan Government would not insist on changes as a condition for participating, urging the provincial government to formally propose one if it wishes.

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Seoul open to joint 2036 Olympic bid with North Jeolla, mayor says thumbnail

GM Korea's multi-brand strategy falls short on localization

General Motors (GM) Korea’s decision to bring to market its first Buick model — imported entirely from China — is putting its multi-brand strategy at odds with its commitment to local production, experts and industry officials said Tuesday. Last week, the carmaker unveiled Buick, positioning the premium brand as a key pillar of the strategy to offer consumers a wider range of products, along with its other brands, such as GMC, Cadillac and Chevrolet. But since Buick’s first model, the Electra E7 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), will be imported from China, the latest decision has also renewed questions about GM Korea’s long-term commitment to domestic production. In March, GM Korea announced a $600 million (806 billion won) investment plan to expand its production infrastructure. At a media briefing, GM Korea CEO Hector Villarreal highlighted the benefits of operating multiple brands and providing customers with greater choice. But when asked whether Buick or other new models could eventually be produced in Korea, Villarreal did not offer a specific commitment. Kim Pil-so

2 MIN READ
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3 municipalities added to list of 'depopulation' areas, total at 92

South Korea has added three more municipalities to its list of "depopulation" areas, raising the number of cities, counties and wards facing risk of regional extinction to 92, officials said Thursday. The interior ministry newly designated Geumjeong Ward of the southeastern city of Busan, Dongducheon, just north of Seoul, and the southeastern city of Tongyeong in addition to the country's existing 89 depopulation areas. The ministry first announced the list of depopulation areas in 2021 as part of efforts to provide intensive support and help the areas combat shrinking populations. South Korea has been struggling with chronically low childbirths and an overcrowded capital region, which have left many areas struggling to overcome declining populations. The updated list includes 16 areas from the southwestern province of South Jeolla, 15 from the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang, and 12 each from southeastern South Gyeongsang Province and northeastern Gangwon Province. It also includes 10 from southwestern North Jeolla Province, nine from central South Chungcheong Province and six

1 MIN READ
3 municipalities added to list of 'depopulation' areas, total at 92 thumbnail

Seoul shares extend losses late Wed. morning as tech stocks fall

Seoul shares extended losses late Wednesday morning, weighed down by declines in technology stocks despite easing concerns over high bond yields as oil prices retreated. After opening 1.11 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 80.66 points, or 1.16 percent, to 6,860.73 as of 11:20 a.m. Local shares bucked gains on Wall Street despite easing pressure from bond yields. Global oil prices fell on easing supply concerns, while bond yields retreated from multidecade highs. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.49 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite gained 0.45 percent to reach a record high. Institutions and foreigners sold a net 313.14 billion won ($233 million) and 1.16 trillion won worth of stocks, respectively. Individuals bought a net 1.19 trillion won. Tech stocks led the decline in Seoul. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics fell 0.28 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix declined 2.09 percent. Home appliance maker LG Electronics plunged 7.74 percent, and top carmaker Hyundai Motor dropped 2.73 percent. Among gainers, cosmet

1 MIN READ
Seoul shares extend losses late Wed. morning as tech stocks fall thumbnail

K-books push deeper into global market at Frankfurt Book Fair

Korean publishers are expanding their reach at this week’s Frankfurt Book Fair, with 15 companies pitching rights deals and aiming to transform book titles into global, multimedia intellectual property. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Publication Industry Promotion Agency are operating an export consultation area at Frankfurt Book Fair from Wednesday through Sunday in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The 120-square-meter space features publishers including Munhakdongne, Pinkfong, Munpia, Mirae N, Book21 and Changbi, covering literature, picture books and web novels while connecting Korean rights holders with foreign publishers and agencies. Organizers are also displaying 103 titles from publishers unable to attend in person, with professional agencies handling consultations and follow-up discussions intended to move promising talks toward contracts. A separate 30-square-meter booth is highlighting 89 titles from 20 publishers and agencies selected for K-Book Global 100, a new program that supports translation and overseas marketing based on individual markets and langu

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K-books push deeper into global market at Frankfurt Book Fair thumbnail

Teen drug offenders caught in Jan.-July near 80% of 2025 total

The number of teenagers apprehended by police for drug-related offenses in the first seven months of this year reached nearly 80 percent of last year's annual total, a lawmaker said Wednesday, citing data from the Korean National Police Agency. According to the police data released by Rep. Kim Jun-hyuk of the ruling Democratic Party, 370 teenagers were apprehended for drug offenses between January and July, equivalent to 78.7 percent of the 470 teenagers apprehended for such offenses throughout last year. The number of teenage drug offenders stood at 309 in 2021 and 294 in 2022, but surged to 1,066 in 2023. It subsequently decreased to 442 in 2024 before rising again to 470 last year. The total number of drug offenders rose from 10,626 in 2021 to 12,387 in 2022 and 17,817 in 2023. The number then fell to 13,512 in 2024 and 13,353 last year, while 8,426 offenders were apprehended in the first seven months of this year. Students accounted for a significant share of those apprehended. As of July this year, 295 students had been apprehended for drug offenses, or 63 percent of the 468 students

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Teen drug offenders caught in Jan.-July near 80% of 2025 total thumbnail

N. Korea warns of 'powerful counteraction' if S. Korea intrudes 'even a millimeter' into its territory

North Korea on Tuesday warned of an "immediate and powerful counteraction" if South Korea intrudes even "a millimeter" into its territory, after Seoul signaled corresponding measures over a recent land mine blast at the inter-Korean border that it has blamed on Pyongyang. The North's foreign ministry issued the statement a day after the South's military concluded the mines planted by North Korea caused the Sept. 21 blast on the southern side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that left two South Korean soldiers critically injured. The South's military also conducted a mine-clearing operation at the blast site on the same day, in coordination with the U.N. Command (UNC), which oversees the border area. "We do not care about them trying to remove the mines irrelevant to us, and we have no reason to pay heed to such farce of the ROK," the ministry said, calling South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. "However, if a jackboot or a spark of fire from the ROK goes even a millimeter beyond the border to violate our territory, the border guard forces of the DPRK will take an immedia

1 MIN READ
N. Korea warns of 'powerful counteraction' if S. Korea intrudes 'even a millimeter' into its territory thumbnail

BTS to kick off first-ever Peru concerts as Lima rolls out 'BTS Avenue'

Global K-pop sensation BTS will launch its first-ever concerts in Peru on Wednesday (local time), as the capital Lima rolled out a weeklong "BTS Avenue" and purple-lit landmarks to honor the group's historic visit. BigHit Music said the septet will perform at Estadio San Marcos in Lima on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday as part of its "Arirang" world tour. It marks the band's first shows in the South American country since its 2013 debut. To mark the occasion, the city's Santiago de Surco district temporarily renamed Sacramento Street as "BTS Avenue" from Oct. 5-11, installing signs along the route. Arco Morisco, a landmark structure in the district's Friendship Park, was illuminated in the group's signature color of purple on Monday and will host daily light shows through Sunday, while the Fountain of Fantasy at Lima's Fountain Park will run a BTS-themed show with music, lights and water screens during the same period. BTS opened the South American leg of the tour with two-day shows at Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campin in Bogota last weekend, attracting around 100,000 fans.

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BTS to kick off first-ever Peru concerts as Lima rolls out 'BTS Avenue' thumbnail

Korea targets 170 ticket scalpers in 1st mass police referral

Under newly tightened anti-scalping laws, Korean authorities referred 170 high-volume ticket resellers to police on Wednesday, targeting an illegal trade estimated at more than 1 billion won ($770,000). The sweep marks the first major enforcement action under amended legislation that bans reselling tickets above face value, regardless of whether automated buying software was used. The move follows an unprecedented wave of public tips: Between Aug. 28, when the law took effect, and Oct. 1, authorities received over 68,000 complaints — averaging roughly 2,000 a day, a seventeenfold surge compared to last year. Cooperating with online secondary ticket platforms, regulators blocked around 30,000 suspicious posts and obtained transaction data to identify the most severe offenders. The suspects, comprising 121 sellers in sports and 49 in entertainment, allegedly offered 11,032 tickets. In one extreme instance, a single individual offered more than 1,000 tickets with a combined listing price exceeding 100 million won. “Ticket scalping is a clear criminal act that deprives creators and athl

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Korea targets 170 ticket scalpers in 1st mass police referral thumbnail

COVER STORY Ukraine's apology over NK POWs falls short of Korea's expectation: foreign minister

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday that Ukraine sent an apology over its disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea but the message fell short of Seoul’s expectations. He said the government is considering further diplomatic actions. Cho made the remarks during a parliamentary audit of the foreign ministry amid a dispute over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure of the transfer, which Seoul said the two sides had agreed to keep confidential. “I have been exchanging messages with the Ukrainian foreign minister, who is very troubled by the situation, and I received a message that included words of apology,” Cho told lawmakers. “But it was somewhat different from the level we had expected, so we intend to take firm measures,” he said. Asked whether Seoul could recall its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, Cho said the government was considering that option. When questioned about the reasons for Zelenskyy’s disclosure, Cho said that in his personal opinion, it seemed the Ukrainian president wanted to show U.N. members th

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[COVER STORY] Ukraine's apology over NK POWs falls short of Korea's expectation: foreign minister thumbnail

Trump to speak to Putin on plague as US, UN urge transparency

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would speak very soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the reported plague death of a laboratory technician, as Washington and the United Nations called for transparency from Moscow. Russian authorities denied that they were imposing anti-plague measures and played down the reports of an incident at a plague research institute in Siberia's Irkutsk region last week. But Washington is showing growing concern, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on Russia to be open about the situation. The World Health Organization issued a similar appeal Tuesday. "We encourage Russia to be transparent and share more information with the world so that all of us could react accordingly and appropriately," Rubio said during a trip to Iceland. Trump later said he would be speaking to Putin about what happened. "I have a call scheduled, yes," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if he had spoken to Putin on the issue yet, adding that it would happen "very soon." Asked what US intelligence agencies were saying about the situa

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Trump to speak to Putin on plague as US, UN urge transparency thumbnail

Actor Yoo Hae-jin put under police protection amid threats over film controversy

Police said Tuesday they have placed actor Yoo Hae-jin under protection following escalating threats over a film he starred in that has drawn intense backlash over alleged historical distortion. Seoul Seongbuk Police Station has provided Yoo with a smartwatch and registered him on the emergency 112 system, while stepping up patrol around his residence, officials said. The measures, however, do not include assigning a dedicated officer to the actor. A police official said protective measures can be taken if there are reasons to anticipate potential harm. Yoo has faced criticism from conservatives over his role in "The Assassin(s)," a movie depicting the 1974 assassination of then first lady Yuk Young-su, wife of late former President Park Chung-hee. Conservative groups are strongly criticizing the movie for allegedly implying Park's involvement in his wife's death, rather than the assassin, Moon Se-kwang, who was held accountable for the shooting. Conservative civic groups have staged protests outside Yoo's home in northern Seoul, demanding the movie be pulled from theaters and calling for

2 MIN READ
Actor Yoo Hae-jin put under police protection amid threats over film controversy thumbnail

Forget waking up at dawn: Young Koreans are embracing 'sleep maxxing'

Forget waking up before dawn to squeeze in another hour of self-improvement. For a growing number of young Koreans, getting ahead now means getting better sleep. The "miracle morning" trend, which encouraged people to wake up early and devote the extra hours to exercise, studying and other forms of self-development, once swept through Korea. Now, a contrasting wellness trend known as "sleep maxxing" is drawing attention among younger generations. The term combines "sleep" with "maxxing," internet slang for maximizing or optimizing something. Rather than simply trying to sleep longer, followers seek to improve sleep quality by systematically adjusting everything from daily habits to their bedroom environment. Kang, a 30-year-old office worker, is among those willing to spend money in pursuit of a better night's sleep. A smartwatch tracks total sleep time and the proportion of deep sleep, while supplements are part of a routine aimed at relaxation. A sleep mask and earplugs have also become bedtime essentials. "There were many days when I was exhausted but couldn't actually fall asleep onc

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N. Korea backs China on Taiwan, blames US for regional instability

North Korea on Wednesday defended Beijing's "One China" policy while accusing the United States of supporting Taiwan independence and "escalating" tension in the region. The criticism came in an article titled "U.S. Is Acting Rashly" by international affairs analyst Kim Myong-chol, carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The U.S. has systematically destroyed regional stability and persistently escalated the situation under the pretext of 'opposing unilateral attempt at change of phenomenon' in the Taiwan Strait," Kim wrote. Referring to the recent delivery of a U.S. fighter jet to Taiwan, Kim said, "This is nothing but a shameless act of planting a bomb at the gate of other's house and asserting that the bomb is for ensuring the security of the house." He claimed munitions supplied by the U.S. to Taiwan through overseas arms sales over the past decade alone amounted to more than $39 billion. "The Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China, so how to settle it is entirely the affair of the Chinese people, and no outside forces have the right to interfere in it," he said. Kim war

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Busan Int'l Film Festival kicks off star-studded 10-day run

BUSAN — The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opened Tuesday for a 10-day run, bringing 316 films from 59 countries to Korea’s southeastern port city and ushering in an expanded set of cinema events with international prestige. The opening ceremony, hosted by actor Kim Min-ha, took place at the Busan Cinema Center, officially kicking off Asia’s largest film festival. Following the opening ceremony, director Kim Jong-kwan’s "The Table: Day and Night" will have its world premiere as the opening film. The movie explores the intersecting lives of four couples visiting a cafe during the transition from summer to autumn. Kim expressed his gratitude for the festival's spotlight on details, lauding their importance for his film, which weaves together four separate stories. "This movie is a story about small, subtle things, focusing on the meaning and beauty held within them," Kim said during a press conference at the Busan Cinema Center. "I am deeply honored and delighted to present this film on such a prestigious stage as the opening of the Busan International Film Festival.

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Appeals court set to rule on ex-President Yoon's trial over free opinion polls

An appellate court was set to rule Wednesday on former President Yoon Suk Yeol's charges of receiving free opinion polls ahead of the 2022 presidential election. The Seoul High Court was scheduled to hand down its ruling for Yoon at 2 p.m. after a lower court sentenced him to two years in prison on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team earlier indicted Yoon on charges of colluding with his wife and receiving 58 opinion polls worth about 270 million won ($202,000) in total for free from self-proclaimed power broker, Myung Tae-kyun, between April 2021 and March 2022. The lower court convicted Yoon on 14 of the occasions, ruling they amounted to illegal political donations. It said the other 44 times could not be seen as being given with the couple's consent. The special counsel team has sought a four-year prison term for Yoon. His wife, Kim Keon Hee, was acquitted of the same charges in her separate first- and second-instance trials. She is awaiting a final ruling from the Supreme Court. Yoon is standing multiple criminal trials following his faile

1 MIN READ
Appeals court set to rule on ex-President Yoon's trial over free opinion polls thumbnail

Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] North Korea's border fortification raises questions over DMZ buffer role

COVER STORY North Korea's border fortification raises questions over DMZ buffer role

North Korea’s continued construction of minefields, fences and barriers along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) is raising questions over whether its border fortification campaign is changing the role of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which has served as a military buffer between the two Koreas since the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement. The risks are becoming more apparent as North Korea builds fortifications close to the MDL in areas where Seoul, Pyongyang and the United Nations Command (UNC) do not always agree on the exact location of the line. North Korean troops have repeatedly crossed the MDL during construction work, prompting warning broadcasts and warning shots from the South Korean military. North Korea began clearing land, laying mines and building fences, barriers and tactical roads along the MDL in 2024, after leader Kim Jong-un defined inter-Korean relations as those between “two hostile states.” The South Korean military expects the project to be completed around 2028. As of August, land-clearing work was about 90 percent complete, while construction of fences and m

4 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Seoul to hold friendship festival to link foreign, local residents through beauty, culture

Seoul to hold friendship festival to link foreign, local residents through beauty, culture

Seoul will host a cultural festival on Friday, bringing together local and foreign residents to experience Korean beauty, wellness and lifestyle programs, city officials said Tuesday. The second Better Together Seoul Culture & Wellness Festival will run from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at Oullim Square of Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a landmark in central Seoul. Friday is Hangeul Day, a national holiday. The event is hosted by the Seoul Foreign Resident Center and supported by the city. The embassies of Colombia, Vietnam and Uzbekistan and a Spanish cultural center plan to attend, while international student associations will help run booths. A K-beauty and health zone will offer artificial intelligence skin analysis, personal color diagnosis and face painting, along with blood pressure and blood sugar checks, a virtual reality safety program and CPR training. A K-culture zone will feature activities such as making key rings shaped like the "gat," a traditional Korean horsehair hat, as well as calligraphy and folk games including "jegichagi," in which players keep a shuttlecock aloft with their feet, and

2 MIN READ
[MORNING CALM TALES] The irresistible appeal of Korea's 'pojangmacha' food tents

MORNING CALM TALES The irresistible appeal of Korea's 'pojangmacha' food tents

6 MIN READ
Traditional fireworks tours to draw 1,800 Japanese visitors to Andong, Haman

Traditional fireworks tours to draw 1,800 Japanese visitors to Andong, Haman

2 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Monk becomes 'Buddhist world's G-Dragon' with razor-sharp dance moves

“Bad, bad, bad….” At Jajaeam Temple, nestled deep in the valleys of Soyo Mountain in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, the silence was broken by “BAD,” a popular song by boy band ATEEZ. The man engrossed in popping moves, his gray Buddhist robes flying around him, was Ven. Deoksan, the temple’s abbot. He shot to fame after dancing to G-Dragon and Taeyang’s “Good Boy” at a Buddhist Expo in April and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” at the Lotus Lantern Festival in May. Despite being in his 60s, his unconventional dance moves have earned him colorful nicknames such as the “G-Dragon of Buddhism,” “Deoksan Daegong” and “Michael Jack-sunim,” a play on Michael Jackson and the Korean word for monk, “sunim.” Ven. Deoksan, who uses dance as a way to spread Buddhist teachings, was interviewed on Sept. 30. 'Dacing is part of my practice' Ven. Deoksan gave a shy smile when asked about the popularity of his dance videos on social media, saying he was “embarrassed” by the attention. “As a practitioner, I hope this can help me convey Buddhist teachings in a more

4 MIN READ
Monk becomes 'Buddhist world's G-Dragon' with razor-sharp dance moves
Jongmyo Shrine, Basilica of Saint-Denis exchange French, Korean visitor guides

Jongmyo Shrine, Basilica of Saint-Denis exchange French, Korean visitor guides

2 MIN READ
Yunchan Lim performs in Daegu for Mozart's 270th anniversary

Yunchan Lim performs in Daegu for Mozart's 270th anniversary

2 MIN READ
Could sharing ketchup over french fries be an 'indirect kiss?'

Could sharing ketchup over french fries be an 'indirect kiss?'

3 MIN READ
INSPIRE revamps OASIS Gourmet Village with Korean, other Asian cuisines

INSPIRE revamps OASIS Gourmet Village with Korean, other Asian cuisines

2 MIN READ

K-Culture

Hearts2Hearts releases Korean version of Japanese debut single 'Iconic Heart'

Girl group Hearts2Hearts released a Korean-language version of "Iconic Heart," the title track of its first Japanese single, on Monday, its agency SM Entertainment said. "Iconic Heart (Korean Ver.)" is available on major streaming platforms, about two months after the original came out in Japan on Aug. 12. The song is a dance track inspired by Jersey club, a fast-paced style of club music that originated in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and is built around bright synthesizers and bouncy beats. Its lyrics convey the excitement of moving forward together through playful, youthful imagery, according to SM, one of Korea's largest K-pop agencies and home to acts such as aespa and NCT. The agency said the Korean version offers a new take on the track while keeping the energy of the original. The group first performed the Korean version Friday at Spotify Closer, a concert held in partnership with the music streaming service in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District. Spotify launched the series to spotlight Korean artists. Hearts2Hearts was its first featured act. Hearts2Hearts plans to promote the single

1 MIN READ
Hearts2Hearts releases Korean version of Japanese debut single 'Iconic Heart'
Actor Park Bo-gum turns palace sounds into new Korean travel experience

Actor Park Bo-gum turns palace sounds into new Korean travel experience

2 MIN READ
RM reveals art that inspires him at SFMOMA

ReviewRM reveals art that inspires him at SFMOMA

3 MIN READ
'Possible Love' asks if love can survive without understanding

'Possible Love' asks if love can survive without understanding

4 MIN READ
Human prism: Lee Byung-hun

InterviewHuman prism: Lee Byung-hun

5 MIN READ

Celebrities

'I Live Alone' viewers captivated by actor who lives in 90-year-old home

Actor Kim Min has won praise from viewers after revealing his unconventional daily life and personal philosophy on MBC's reality show "I Live Alone." Beyond the intensity he has shown in acting roles, Kim displayed a free-spirited side as he filled his days with home repairs, martial arts and hands-on projects. But it was his outlook on life — particularly his belief that being "cool" comes from how a person spends their time rather than their looks — that resonated most with viewers. The Oct. 2 episode of "I Live Alone" offered a glimpse into Kim's life in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, where he has lived alone for 28 years. He resides in a roughly 90-year-old house whose distinctive atmosphere and unconventional setup immediately drew attention. Kim began his day by running a generator for electricity and tearing into an entire baguette. He repaired a damaged floor himself with cement, worked on woodworking projects and practiced martial arts. Despite living in surroundings that might seem inconvenient to others, Kim appeared perfectly at ease, making and repairing what he needed

2 MIN READ
'I Live Alone' viewers captivated by actor who lives in 90-year-old home
Model, actress Jang yoon-joo moves to UK with family

Model, actress Jang yoon-joo moves to UK with family

2 MIN READ
Jim Carrey reportedly weds girlfriend believed to be of Korean descent

Jim Carrey reportedly weds girlfriend believed to be of Korean descent

1 MIN READ
IVE member Jang Wonyoung's first Dior show — and a meeting with BLACKPINK's Jisoo

IVE member Jang Wonyoung's first Dior show — and a meeting with BLACKPINK's Jisoo

1 MIN READ
Taemin postpones North American tour two weeks before launch over US visa delays

Taemin postpones North American tour two weeks before launch over US visa delays

1 MIN READ

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. InterviewAt 94, Korea's oldest university president is still planning for future

  2. COVER STORY Ukraine's apology over NK POWs falls short of Korea's expectation: foreign minister

  3. Ukraine says S. Korea exports eased Russia fuel crisis caused by drone strikes

  4. Forget waking up at dawn: Young Koreans are embracing 'sleep maxxing'

  5. Korea's $449 bil. crypto economy leads in East Asia: Chainalysis

  6. Interview'China has never asked Seoul to choose a side between Beijing, Washington,' envoy says

  7. Korea beat Uzbekistan behind Son Heung-min's milestone goal

  8. N. Korea warns of 'powerful counteraction' if S. Korea intrudes 'even a millimeter' into its territory

  9. What do we know about plague institute lab worker's death in Russia?

  10. Trump orders firing squad for gunman who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas

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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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