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Lee Kyung-min

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People & Events

Lotte World Aquarium offers up-close look at capybara, otter behavior

Lotte World Aquarium in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul, has launched a series of tailored behavioral enrichment programs for its capybaras and Asian small-clawed otters, giving visitors an up-close view of the animals' natural instincts and playful routines. Timed to celebrate World Animal Day — an annual global event observed on Oct. 4 to advocate for animal welfare and foster deeper bonds between humans and nature — the special activities took place on Oct. 2 and Friday inside the aquarium's main animal habitats. Designed around the unique biological traits and natural habits of each species, the initiative introduced fresh environmental stimuli to encourage problem-solving and curiosity. For the capybaras, aquarists constructed scarecrow-shaped toys woven from hay and packed with seasonal autumn treats. The novel objects prompted the world's largest rodents to forage, inspect and interact with their food in ways that mimic wild behaviors. Meanwhile, the nimble Asian small-clawed otters received tactile enrichment setups featuring autumn pine cones, chestnuts and various text

Oct 19, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Lotte World Aquarium offers up-close look at capybara, otter behavior
Companies

Samjin Foods opens Shanghai store, targets China expansion

Samjin Foods is taking its Korean fish cake brand deeper into China, opening its first store in Shanghai’s central shopping district as it looks to turn early sales momentum into a broader retail presence. The Busan-based company said Monday that Samjin Fish Cake opened its first store in eastern China, Friday, at New World Dawan Department Store on Nanjing East Road in Shanghai’s Huangpu district. The shop sits near Nanjing Road, one of Shanghai’s best-known shopping streets, and the Bund, a major tourist destination. Unlike the company’s direct-run stores in Korea, the Shanghai outlet offers freshly cooked fish cakes on-site. Its menu includes fish cake croquettes and fish cake bars, along with two varieties of spicy fish cake rice cakes, one fish cake soup dish and two beverages. The company is highlighting cheese-filled croquettes and rosé-sauce fish cake rice cakes, which combine familiar local flavors with Korean street food offerings. Samjin Foods said the store’s preopening period showed promising demand, with daily sales meeting targets from the early days and reaching

Oct 19, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Samjin Foods opens Shanghai store, targets China expansion
Others

Job seekers in Korea spend $400 monthly preparing for employment, survey finds

Nearly 7 in 10 young job seekers in Korea feel financially strained by the cost of finding work, spending an average of 580,000 won ($400) a month on exam fees, training and other preparation, according to a survey released Monday. The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) commissioned Mono Research to survey 1,000 job seekers ages 19 to 34 nationwide from Sept. 10-18. Respondents spent the largest share of their preparation budgets on certification and language-test fees, which accounted for 30.7 percent, followed by education costs at 22.6 percent and textbooks and study materials at 16.1 percent. The financial burden was particularly pronounced among those who had spent three years or more preparing for employment, whose monthly expenses averaged 800,000 won, compared with 560,000 won for those preparing for less than six months. Job seekers ages 30 to 34 spent an average of 600,000 won a month, more than those ages 25 to 29, who spent 580,000 won, and those ages 19 to 24, who spent 560,000 won. By academic field, respondents studying education, medicine and health reported the highest

Oct 19, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Job seekers in Korea spend $400 monthly preparing for employment, survey finds
Companies

LG CNS earns global recognition for AI-powered workplace services

LG CNS has earned international recognition for its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered workplace services, becoming the first Korean company named a “Major Player” in IDC’s 2026 assessment of the global digital workplace services market. The IT services company said Monday that it was included in the evaluation alongside 18 global technology companies, including Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, NTT DATA, Cognizant, Dell and HP. IDC MarketScape evaluates technology vendors based on their business capabilities, future strategies, products, services, customer references and real-world client experiences. LG CNS attributed its recognition to its agentic AI platform, a:xink, which is designed to move beyond information retrieval and routine assistance to execute workplace tasks autonomously. The platform offers services including enterprise portals and groupware, mobile workplace tools, personal AI agents, AI-powered translation and meeting support, and automated document creation. IDC highlighted LG CNS’ AI-native platform capabilities, expertise in regulated industries and secur

Oct 19, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
LG CNS earns global recognition for AI-powered workplace services
K-pop

SEVENTEEN's Jeonghan, Joshua chase dreams in new unit album

SEVENTEEN members Jeonghan and Joshua explore the shifting boundaries between fantasy and reality in “DREAMSCAPE,” their first mini album as a unit, released Monday, with seven tracks built around dreams, personal aspirations and their evolving vocal styles. The lead single, “12 o’clock,” blends dance-rock with modern interpretations of 1970s and 1980s disco and funk, following the two singers as they chase a dream between noon and midnight. A music video teaser released Sunday features surreal imagery, including a train seemingly covered in snake scales and a picturesque meadow, setting the tone for the album’s dreamlike world. In an interview provided by their agency, Pledis Entertainment, Jeonghan and Joshua discussed their creative process, musical experiments and hopes for fans. Q. How do you feel about releasing your first mini album as a unit? Jeonghan: I feel proud of what we have created, especially because it has been a while since I released an album, and I spent a lot of time thinking about what new things we could show CARAT; although I feel some nerves as I retur

Oct 19, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
SEVENTEEN's Jeonghan, Joshua chase dreams in new unit album
K-pop

NMIXX explores unusual muses, makes wishes with 'Strange Muse'

K-pop powerhouse NMIXX is back on Monday with "Strange Muse," the group's sixth mini album that pushes the boundary-pushing sextet into bold new creative territory. Anchored by a genre-defying lead single, the release marks a career milestone for the group as the members step into songwriting and composition roles for the first time. Alongside group tracks like "Birthday Wish," "Kerosene" and "RudE TaLK," the six-song collection breaks NMIXX into distinct sub-units for the very first time. The duo pairings highlight each member's unique dynamic — featuring Lily and Haewon on "Sing to the Moon," Sullyoon and Bae on "Hot ’n Unbothered," and Ji-woo with Kyujin on "WHIP." The lead single, "Birthday Wish," pairs future house with moombahton — a genre combining slowed-down house synths with reggaeton’s signature rhythmic bounce. Blending these with Afro-house influences, the song moves from energetic dance drops to a quiet piano and vocal passage before culminating in a narrated bridge. In an interview provided by JYP Entertainment, the members discussed the album’s concept, their c

Oct 19, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
NMIXX explores unusual muses, makes wishes with 'Strange Muse'
Others

Korean 'haenyeo' diver honored by UN for work in food systems, rural life

When Sung Jung-hee slips into the cold waters off Korea’s eastern coast, she wears no oxygen tank — just a mask, a weight belt and four decades of practical instincts from making her living harvesting the ocean floor by hand. That lifetime of hard labor and leadership earned international recognition earlier this week when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations named Sung one of 100 women honored globally for their contributions to food systems and rural life. Timed to mark the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the distinction recognizes 100 visionary leaders, scientists and community advocates driving sustainable change across global food and maritime networks. Selected from nearly 600 nominees submitted by member nations, Sung is the only honoree from Korea. Sung also serves as head of the Guryongpo fishing community and president of the Gyeongbuk Haenyeo Association. Beyond her daily dives, she has spent years improving working conditions, expanding welfare support for fellow divers and elevating the public profile of women in coastal industries. Her sel

Oct 17, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korean 'haenyeo' diver honored by UN for work in food systems, rural life
People & Events

Seoul animal festival brings dogs, sports, live music to city parks

Seoul is turning three weekends in October into a celebration of animals, bringing dog walks, canine sports competitions, live music and adoption events to parks across the city in an effort to promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. The Seoul Animal Happiness Week runs from Oct. 17-31, with events at Yeouido Hangang Park, World Cup Park’s Peace Plaza and Oil Tank Culture Park in Sangam, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The opening weekend, Oct. 17-18, features the Animal Happiness Festa at Yeouido Hangang Park, where 500 teams of dogs and their owners are expected to take part in a group walk along the Han River. Other activities include a showcase celebrating families who have adopted abandoned dogs, an adoption event called Pimki Red Carpet and interactive programs highlighting the welfare of companion, farm, wild and laboratory animals. The following weekend, Oct. 24-25, Seoul Petlympics will bring dogs and their owners together for competitions at World Cup Park, with events designed for beginners as well as experienced handlers. Activities include a 4-

Oct 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul animal festival brings dogs, sports, live music to city parks
People & Events

Seoul's 32 core landmarks, policies captured in single 3D poster

Seoul is bringing 32 landmarks and public initiatives together in one intricate 3D illustration, turning everyday city life into a colorful visual story designed to show how public policy shapes residents’ daily experiences. The Seoul Metropolitan Government unveiled the poster, titled “Healthy Seoul, Shining Seoulites,” on Friday. The poster featured initiatives spanning transportation, health, social welfare and public spaces. Among the programs depicted are the Hangang Bus service, the Wrist Doctor 9988 health management initiative, the city’s campaign to combat loneliness, the Seoul International Garden Show and Seoul Moonlight Night Market. The poster follows a 2024 project, called Seoul, Where the Extraordinary Becomes Everyday, and was created in collaboration with Superfiction, a global design studio known for working with brands including Nike, Samsung Electronics and Porsche. The illustration centers on the idea that public policies come to life when residents experience them, depicting 3D characters moving through an energetic day across Seoul. Rather than presenting in

Oct 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul's 32 core landmarks, policies captured in single 3D poster
People & Events

Gangnam Global Festa brings K-culture experiences to foreign visitors

Gangnam, the bustling district in southern Seoul made famous around the globe by K-pop and its high-end lifestyle, will transform into a celebration of Korean culture and international exchange later this month, offering hands-on activities, traditional performances and music for foreign residents and visitors. Gangnam District will host the Gangnam Global Festa on Oct. 21 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Gangnam Square near Exit 11 of Gangnam Station, bringing together international visitors and local residents for an afternoon of cultural experiences. The event aims to introduce visitors to Korea’s traditional heritage and contemporary cultural trends while creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds to connect. A K-culture experience zone will offer activities including making traditional Korean "gat" hat keychains inspired by the hit animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” preparing "dalgona" candy, creating "norigae" ornaments and crafting keychains featuring names written in "Hunminjeongeum," the original Korean writing system. Visitors will also be able to receive face paint

Oct 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Gangnam Global Festa brings K-culture experiences to foreign visitors
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