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Lee Kyung-min

Korea Times AI content 2 team Reporter

Value context and insight. lkm@koreatimes.co.kr

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South Korea

Music, commentary breathe new life into royal tombs of Joseon Dynasty

Beneath the pine-draped burial mounds of the royal tombs for rulers of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, where generations of kings and queens have rested in quiet repose, a different kind of resonance is beginning to stir — not of ritual silence, but of music, memory and measured revival. Beginning in May, the Joseon Royal Tombs Eastern District Office will present a new cultural series, “Royal Tombs Story Path with Music,” an effort to reimagine these solemn grounds as living spaces where history is not only preserved, but felt. The initiative, announced by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, reflects a broader shift in heritage programming, away from static observation and toward immersive encounters. The opening program on May 2 will take place in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, at Donggureung, the largest of the royal tomb complexes and the burial site of King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The event will connect the king’s legacy with the Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido — a 14th-century map of the night sky that charts constellations as they were understood at t

Apr 22, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Music, commentary breathe new life into royal tombs of Joseon Dynasty
South Korea

Korea aims to renovate fading villages into guesthouses, co-working spaces

As the specter of population decline looms over the aging rural areas of Northeast Asia, Korean and Japanese officials are undergoing a radical architectural reimagining of the countryside by turning entire dying villages into decentralized hotels. This week, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs convened a two-day "Rural Empty House Regeneration Forum" in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, bringing together local policymakers and private innovators to exchange notes on the growing crisis of abandoned properties. The guest of honor was Shunpei Shimada, CEO of Satoyume Corp., a Japanese consulting firm dedicated to regional revitalization, and the mastermind behind the Kosuge Village hotel project, which has become a regional benchmark for rural regeneration. The "village hotel" concept rejects the traditional resort model of a single, massive building. Instead, the community itself functions as the hotel. An abandoned house becomes the reception desk, another is transformed into a luxury guest suite, the local public bath serves as the spa, and neighborhood residents s

Apr 22, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea aims to renovate fading villages into guesthouses, co-working spaces
South Korea

Physics breakthrough born in Korean lab wins global recognition

A specialized field of physics born in a Korean laboratory received a definitive seal of global recognition, marking a rare instance where a locally pioneered theory has been elevated to an international reference standard. The Ministry of Science and ICT said Wednesday that a comprehensive review of two-dimensional van der Waals magnetism, led by Park Je-geun, a professor at Seoul National University's department of physics and astronomy, has been published in Reviews of Modern Physics. Issued by the American Physical Society, the journal is widely regarded as the most selective in the field, typically reserved for senior authorities whose work defines the trajectory of entire subdisciplines. The 88-page paper synthesizes more than 15 years of inquiry into a fundamental question: Can magnetism survive in materials only one atomic layer thick? While the theoretical possibility was first proposed in 1943 by the Nobel laureate Lars Onsager, a Norwegian American theoretical physicist and physical chemist, the hypothesis remained unproven for decades, languishing as a classic problem of co

Apr 22, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Physics breakthrough born in Korean lab wins global recognition
Business

KOTRA courts Seattle students in recruitment push

As Korea grapples with a tightening domestic labor market and a race for dominance in emerging technologies, the nation is increasingly looking toward American university hubs to secure its next generation of skilled workers. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) hosted a targeted recruitment drive on Tuesday (local time) in Seattle, Washington, a city that has become central to the agency’s efforts to bridge the talent gap. The event, held in conjunction with the Study in Korea Fair 2026 and supported by the Korean Consulate General, drew approximately 2,000 students from 11 regional institutions, including the University of Washington and Portland State University. KOTRA, a state-funded organization established in 1962, functions as the government’s key agency for international trade and investment. While its historical mandate focused on export promotion, its modern role has expanded significantly into attracting foreign direct investments and, more recently, orchestrating a global "brain gain" strategy to support the country's semiconductor, biotechnology and arti

Apr 22, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
KOTRA courts Seattle students in recruitment push
South Korea

Public invited to tour heritage sites under restoration

In an effort to demystify the meticulous and often secretive world of architectural conservation, the National Heritage Administration said Wednesday it will open 15 major restoration sites to the public through the end of the year. The initiative offers a rare, unvarnished look at the traditional craftsmanship required to maintain the nation’s historic palaces, temples and ancient monuments. The program, which has operated in various forms since 2014, aims to increase transparency and public appreciation for the technical rigor involved in cultural preservation. This year’s selection was curated based on site safety, accessibility and the presence of "core processes" — significant stages of work, such as the dismantling of heavy timber frames or the delicate application of traditional pigments. Among the headlining sites is the Donhwamun, the main gate at Changdeok Palace, a World Heritage-listed structure currently undergoing a comprehensive dismantling and repair process. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe how centuries-old wooden components are categorized, treated

Apr 22, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Public invited to tour heritage sites under restoration
Business

Hanwha expands foothold in Canada through partnership with Alberta

In a move showing Korea’s deepening industrial ambitions in North America, Hanwha Group signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding with the government of Alberta in Canada, bridging sectors from energy infrastructure to high-stakes defense procurement. The agreement, formalized in Edmonton, brings together one of Korea’s largest conglomerates and the leadership of Canada’s energy heartland, including Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith and Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow. Led by Hanwha Energy CEO Lee Jae-kyu, the Korean delegation laid out a road map for a long-term industrial anchor in the Canadian province involving key affiliates such as Hanwha Ocean, Hanwha Aerospace, and Hanwha Power. While the partnership emphasizes a shared interest in the low-carbon energy transition — specifically targeting liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage — the geopolitical undercurrents are equally significant. The deal arrives as Hanwha Ocean aggressively presses to bid for the Royal Canadian Navy’s multibillion-dollar submarine

Apr 22, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Hanwha expands foothold in Canada through partnership with Alberta
South Korea

AMF Holdings joins new alliance to modernize Korea’s global tourism strategy

In a bid to capitalize on the enduring global appetite for Korean soft power, three of the nation’s prominent cultural and commercial entities formalized a partnership Monday, aimed at expanding the country’s international tourism footprint. A memorandum of understanding signed by the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), amusement park operator Seoul Land, and AMF Holdings, a prominent Korean cultural platform specializing in the fashion, beauty and modeling industries, aims to recast domestic cultural assets as potent drivers of global marketing. The agreement points to a broader shift toward more tightly integrated public-private partnerships, as Seoul seeks to expand the reach of “hallyu,” or the Korean wave, beyond its traditional strongholds in music and television. Under the terms of the agreement, the organizations will pool their resources: KOFICE’s extensive global diplomatic network, Seoul Land’s physical tourism infrastructure and AMF Holdings’ expertise in fashion and model-driven content planning. The collaboration is designed to prod

Apr 22, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
AMF Holdings joins new alliance to modernize Korea’s global tourism strategy
South Korea

Sungkyunkwan University charts surge in advanced solar cell research

A solar technology pioneered in Korea has emerged as one of the fastest-growing areas in global energy research, according to new analysis released by Sungkyunkwan University. The report, co-authored by the university’s chemical engineering department and the analytics firm Clarivate, traces the rise of perovskite solar cells since a pivotal breakthrough in 2012. That year, a team led by professor Park Nam-gyu demonstrated the first solid-state perovskite cell, helping to redirect photovoltaic research by showing the materials could be both stable and efficient. Perovskite materials have long been seen as a leading successor to silicon, which still dominates the global market. Unlike silicon, which requires energy-intensive, high-temperature processing, perovskites can be manufactured at relatively low temperatures. Their crystalline structure also allows them to be applied to thin, flexible surfaces, opening the way for solar integration into windows, clothing and curved building facades. The report finds that performance gains have accelerated at a pace rarely seen in materials scie

Apr 21, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Sungkyunkwan University charts surge in advanced solar cell research
South Korea

Korea, Peru partner to protect Machu Picchu from climate threats

Korea has launched a formal initiative to assist in the preservation of Machu Picchu, the 15th century Incan citadel in Peru, as the UNESCO World Heritage site faces intensifying pressure from climate change and mass tourism. The Korea Heritage Service announced that its affiliate, the Korea Heritage Agency, signed a detailed agreement with Peru’s Ministry of Culture last Friday (local time) in Lima. The document establishes the framework for a five-year international development project scheduled to run from 2026 through 2030. The Machu Picchu Preservation and Management Capacity Building initiative marks a significant expansion of Korea’s cultural diplomacy in South America. The project’s scope includes technical assistance for structural stabilization, the implementation of advanced monitoring systems to track environmental degradation, and a coordinated strategy for sustainable tourism management. The partnership stems from a preliminary memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries in April 2025. Following a year of working-level negotiations to finalize the bu

Apr 21, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea, Peru partner to protect Machu Picchu from climate threats
South Korea

Hyundai debuts IONIQ 3 compact electric hatchback geared to Europe’s urban drivers

A sleek, compact electric hatchback made its debut Monday in Milan, as Hyundai Motor unveiled the IONIQ 3, a strategic entry designed to anchor the automaker’s expansion into Europe’s increasingly competitive electric vehicle market. Revealed during the 2026 Milan Design Week, the vehicle serves as a critical pivot for the Korean automaker as it seeks to capture urban drivers who have long favored smaller, more maneuverable dimensions. The IONIQ 3 joins a lineup that has garnered critical acclaim for its retro-futuristic aesthetic, yet this latest iteration represents a move toward high-volume accessibility. Built on Hyundai Motor's dedicated E-GMP electric architecture, the IONIQ 3 introduces what designers call an “aero hatch” silhouette. The profile is engineered to reconcile two traditionally conflicting goals: the aerodynamic efficiency required to maximize battery range and the interior volume expected by modern commuters. The exterior follows a design language the company calls "art of steel," characterized by taut, simplified surfaces and the brand's signature "parametri

Apr 21, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Hyundai debuts IONIQ 3 compact electric hatchback geared to Europe’s urban drivers
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