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Lee Kyung-min

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Travel & Food

Seoul launches driverless night bus along Cheonggye Stream

Steering wheel-free shuttles will hit the streets of downtown Seoul this week, offering free automated rides along the historic Cheonggye Stream to connect the capital’s late-night food markets and nightlife hubs. Starting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 22, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is deploying the nation's first regularly scheduled driverless night shuttle — the Cheonggye A01. Stripped of both a steering wheel and a driver's seat, the futuristic pod-like vehicle weaves along a 4.8-kilometer loop, binding together the city's vibrant nightlife, culinary hubs and cultural landmarks under the glow of the city lights. The shuttle, operating two vehicles across 11 marked stops every 30 minutes until 11 p.m., connects Cheonggye Plaza with major commercial districts, including the neon-lit food alleys of Jongno, the industrial-chic bars of Euljiro and Gwangjang Market, world-famous for its street food. Following a successful pilot program in August and a year of daytime testing, the night shuttle offers night-shift workers, late-night shoppers and international tourists free transit between ke

Oct 20, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul launches driverless night bus along Cheonggye Stream
Travel & Food

Busan ranks No. 5 on Expedia's Top 10 global travel destinations for 2027

Busan — Korea’s vibrant southeastern port city celebrated for its beaches and bustling seafood markets — is cementing its status as one of Asia's hottest escapes, jumping into Expedia’s top ten global destinations for 2027 following a dramatic spike in worldwide travel searches. The city was the only destination in Korea to make the list in Expedia’s “Unpack ’27” report, ranking fifth worldwide as the result of a 50 percent increase in travel searches compared with the previous year. South Lake Tahoe, California, topped the ranking with a 195 percent increase, followed by Hyogo, Japan, at 95 percent; Punta del Este, Uruguay, at 65 percent; and Sedona, Arizona, at 55 percent. Expedia highlighted Busan’s lively coastal atmosphere, traditional markets and diverse food scene, recommending Haedong Yonggung Temple, Haeundae Beach and Jagalchi Market as key attractions visitors can explore in a single day. The city also met Expedia’s Smart Travel Health Check criteria, which recognize destinations aligned with sustainable tourism principles promoted by the World Travel & Tou

Oct 20, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Busan ranks No. 5 on Expedia's Top 10 global travel destinations for 2027
People & Events

Korean sci-fi writers bring imaginative worlds to major French festival

Three Korean authors are set to bring their imaginative visions to one of Europe’s premier science fiction festivals, offering French readers a fresh lens on identity, nature, humanity and power. The Literature Translation Institute of Korea, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said Kim Bo-young, Park Seo-ryeon and Dolgi Min will participate in Les Utopiales, an international science fiction festival in Nantes, France, from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. Under this year’s theme, “Perspectives,” the three writers will participate in seven programs showcasing Korean science fiction and other forms of speculative literature, including fantasy and queer fiction. Kim returns to the festival after being invited in 2023, while Park continues to expand her presence at international literary events and Dolgi, whose work has recently been published in French translation for the first time, will meet French readers. The Korean authors will join internationally recognized science fiction writers, including Hugo Award winner Robert Jackson Bennett and Audrey Pleynet, a recipient

Oct 20, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korean sci-fi writers bring imaginative worlds to major French festival
People & Events

Seoul launches stamp tour linking downtown cultural attractions

Seoul is turning Friday night into a cultural scavenger hunt, linking downtown exhibitions, hands-on activities and performances in a walking tour that invites visitors to explore the city one stamp at a time. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will pilot “Stamp Your Way Through Culture” on Nov. 6, connecting Seoul Gallery, Sejong Story, Chungmugong Story and Garden of Gratitude before participants choose between a craft performance and a literary reading. The tour is part of “Culture Night, Culture Bit by Bit,” a city program that runs every Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at eight cultural venues from April through December. Applications open Wednesday through Seoul’s public service reservation system, with places available for 50 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. The tour begins at 3 p.m. at Seoul Gallery, in the basement of Seoul City Hall, where participants can explore an exhibition marking the centennial of the creation of Korean Hangul braille and make business cards bearing their names in braille. Starting at 4 p.m., participants can visit Sejong Sto

Oct 20, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul launches stamp tour linking downtown cultural attractions
Companies

Hankook Tire extends Ballon d'Or partnership for 3rd straight year

Hankook Tire is extending its presence in global football as it returns for a third consecutive year as an official sponsor of the Ballon d’Or, with this year’s ceremony marking the award’s 70th anniversary and its first edition in London. Hankook Tire & Technology, part of Hankook & Company Group, said it will sponsor the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled for Oct. 26 at the London Palladium Theatre. Established in 1956 by French football magazine France Football, the Ballon d’Or is widely regarded as one of the highest individual honors in football, recognizing players for their performances during the previous season. Since 2024, France Football, part of the L’Équipe Group, has organized the awards in partnership with UEFA. This year’s ceremony moves to London for the first time, commemorating seven decades since the award’s founding and paying tribute to Stanley Matthews, the England international who won the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1956. The ceremony will also reveal the successors to last year’s winners, Aitana Bonmatí and Ousmane Dembélé. Hankook Tire said

Oct 20, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Hankook Tire extends Ballon d'Or partnership for 3rd straight year
Companies

CJ ONE expands membership perks to public transit with new partnership

CJ ONE is bringing its rewards program onto public transit, joining forces with mobility fintech company E-Dreams to connect travel, shopping and dining through a single membership platform for Korean and international customers. CJ OliveNetworks, which operates the lifestyle membership service, said Tuesday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with E-Dreams to expand membership benefits into mobility and payment services. The agreement was signed Monday at E-Dreams’ headquarters in central Seoul, with Yoo In-sang, CEO of CJ OliveNetworks, and Lee Jung-hwan, CEO of E-Dreams, in attendance. The first initiative will be a transportation card designed for international visitors to Korea, scheduled for release by the end of 2026. The card will combine E-Dreams’ public transportation payment functions with CJ ONE membership benefits, allowing foreign tourists to use buses and subways while earning and redeeming points at participating businesses. Distribution is planned through E-Dreams’ existing retail network, including airports and convenience stores. The partnership follows CJ

Oct 20, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
CJ ONE expands membership perks to public transit with new partnership
Companies

Samsung Bioepis secures 10-year exclusive drug supply deal in Brazil

Samsung Bioepis has secured a decade-long exclusive supply deal for a rare disease treatment in Brazil, strengthening its position in Latin America’s largest pharmaceutical market while opening a new chapter in its partnership with the Brazilian government. The Korean biopharmaceutical company said Tuesday it had signed a local partnership agreement to supply SB12, a biosimilar of Soliris with the active ingredient eculizumab, to Brazil’s Ministry of Health. SB12 is used to treat rare conditions including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, a blood disorder, and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can damage blood cells, kidneys and other organs. Brazil’s health regulator, the National Health Surveillance Agency, known as ANVISA, approved the drug in December 2024. The Brazilian eculizumab market was worth about $170 million (250 billion won) last year, according to the company, which expects the 10-year exclusive supply agreement to provide a stable source of revenue. Under the government-led Productive Development Partnership program, Samsung Bioepis will work with Brazilia

Oct 20, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Samsung Bioepis secures 10-year exclusive drug supply deal in Brazil
People & Events

Seoul-themed goods turn city pride into revenues for small businesses

Seoul’s landmarks, colors and cultural identity are becoming selling points for small businesses, with city-backed merchandise generating more than 114 million won ($84,000) in sales in the first half of 2026. Seoul Design Foundation said Monday that 90 small businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises selected through its first Seoul Brand Goods Commercialization Contest recorded combined sales of 114.74 million won from February through June. The initiative helps businesses incorporate Seoul’s city branding and landmarks, including the “Seoul, My Soul” identity and Dongdaemun Design Plaza, into products, while offering opportunities to reach customers through retail stores and pop-up shops. Twenty-seven participating businesses, including magnet maker Magumagu and bag brand Ashe, generated 13.76 million won in sales during a three-week pop-up at DDP Design Store, the foundation said. Interest in the program has continued to grow, with 155 businesses submitting 237 product proposals for the second contest, held from Aug. 24 to Sept. 20, according to the foundation. A total

Oct 19, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul-themed goods turn city pride into revenues for small businesses
People & Events

Seoul to turn Han River campsites into open-air feast for 2026 Barbecue Festival

Seoul is turning an autumn weekend along the Han River into a sprawling culinary festival, bringing together celebrity chefs, premium charcoal-grilled meats and live entertainment for the 2026 Seoul Barbecue Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Set against the scenic backdrop of Nanji Camping Ground in Mapo District, the two-day event blends urban camping culture with authentic Korean barbecue, showcasing the capital’s vibrant gastronomy to both local residents and international visitors. The festival’s centerpiece — a gear-free, self-service barbecue zone — allows attendees to purchase fresh, high-grade domestic beef and pork to grill on-site without hauling their own equipment. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, demand for the experience has been overwhelming: Advance online table reservations sold out instantly, with the first booking window filling in just five minutes and the second in two. For those who missed out, a limited number of tables will be made available for walk-in registration during the festival. For festivalgoers seeking curated dishes, the BBQ Villa

Oct 19, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul to turn Han River campsites into open-air feast for 2026 Barbecue Festival
Global Community

Jeju expands job opportunities to bring overseas Korean youth into local workforce

As provincial communities grapple with demographic shifts and labor shortages, island authorities and national agencies are forging a new pathway to revitalization. The Overseas Koreans Agency announced a strategic partnership with Cheju Halla University to attract young ethnic Koreans from abroad, offering specialized education, professional training and long-term employment directly on the resort island. The initiative comes at a critical juncture for Jeju, which has suffered a sharp demographic turnaround after more than a decade of uninterrupted growth. Recent government data reveals a deepening net population loss driven primarily by an exodus of residents in their 20s searching for broader career and educational prospects in metropolitan Seoul. At the same time, regional economic pillars such as tourism, hospitality and health care face compounding labor deficits. The agreement, finalized earlier this month, establishes a collaborative framework designed to channel overseas Korean youth into these key sectors. Under the pact, the university will expand vocational programs tailored

Oct 19, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Jeju expands job opportunities to bring overseas Korean youth into local workforce
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