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Lee Kyung-min

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People & Events

Seoul to transform Han River into giant water park

Urban rivers are usually reserved for scenic strolls or sunset picnics, but Seoul's municipal planners are taking a decidedly more hands-on approach to beating the early summer heat. As temperatures climb and summer settles over the city, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is turning the banks of the Han River into a sprawling oasis. This Saturday, the city’s Future Han River Headquarters will host the 2026 Floating Stage Water Festival at Yeouido Hangang Park. The seven-hour event is designed to transform the popular public waterfront into an interactive, all-ages playground where families can cool off. Rather than relying on standard city park sprinkler pads, the festival introduces heavy-duty infrastructure to maximize the splash factor. The venue's dedicated Water Zone features massive swimming pools, towering water slides, giant water rollers and a stylized fishing pool to keep visitors cool and safe. To make sure that nobody stays dry, municipal staff will coordinate recurring water cannon blasts, foam play areas and organized water gun fights throughout the afternoon. But the ev

Jun 17, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul to transform Han River into giant water park
Korean Heritage

Stray Kids’ Felix to become face of hanbok’s modern redesign

Traditional attire has long wrestled with a stiff, museum-piece reputation, but Korea's cultural policy officials are betting that a dose of high-octane K-pop stardom can turn centuries-old garments into the next global streetwear trend. This week, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that Felix, the deep-voiced, ethereal member of the chart-topping boy band Stray Kids, has been officially crowned as the face of the "2026 Hanbok Wave." The annual initiative pairs contemporary design houses with top-tier Korean wave luminaries to aggressively rebrand the hanbok — Korea’s traditional dress — for a modern, international audience. Now in its seventh year, the campaign boasts an enviable roster of past muses, including figure skating legend Kim Yuna and screen stars Suzy, Kim Tae-ri and Park Bo-gum. But selecting Felix marks a sharp, tactical pivot toward the hyper-globalized Gen Z fandom. Stray Kids commands a massive, intensely loyal international following, making their front man the perfect vessel to break through Western fashion barriers. The government is launching a

Jun 17, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Stray Kids’ Felix to become face of hanbok’s modern redesign
South Korea

Korea to deepen police ties with Thailand, Malaysia to combat transnational crime

Korea is ramping up law enforcement cooperation with Thailand and Malaysia to address cross-border syndicates involved in online scams, cyber gambling and illicit drug trafficking. The Korean National Police Agency said Wednesday that Park Jun-sung, director general of the International Bureau, met with foreign affairs officers from the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok. The bilateral talks aimed to fortify joint strategies against a "balloon effect," where criminal syndicates shift locations across national borders following localized law enforcement crackdowns. Both nations formalized plans to enhance operational collaboration. Key initiatives include tracking major fugitives, exchanging data on evolving criminal methodologies, ensuring the safety of overseas nationals and broadening Official Development Assistance programs in public safety. The meeting builds on reciprocal successes in high-profile extraditions. Law enforcement officials lauded the recent arrest and extradition of a Korean drug-trafficking suspect named Choi Byung-min, also known as the "Cheongdam CEO," from Thailand, alon

Jun 17, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea to deepen police ties with Thailand, Malaysia to combat transnational crime
South Korea

Han River triathlon draws 893,000 as Seoul pushes inclusive sports model

A sprawling summer festival along the Han River has drawn nearly 900,000 visitors, transforming Seoul’s waterfront into what city officials are calling a new model for inclusive public sports. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that the third edition of the “Relaxed Han River 3-Event Festival,” held June 5 to June 7, attracted 893,272 visitors across Ttukseom and Jamsil Hangang Parks. The event blended swimming, cycling and running with large-scale cultural programming, positioning itself as one of Seoul’s signature summer gatherings. City officials said 25,000 participants completed the triathlon-style course, which emphasized finishing over competition and was designed for a range of fitness levels from beginner to advanced. The festival expanded this year to include foreigner-only swimming events, a children’s triathlon segment called “Iron Rookie,” and a disability swimming competition, reflecting what organizers described as a broader commitment to accessibility. A foreign participant in the swimming event said the experience was more difficult than expected

Jun 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Han River triathlon draws 893,000 as Seoul pushes inclusive sports model
South Korea

KAIST unveils breakthrough that could slash AI data center cooling power

As artificial intelligence systems demand ever more computing power, a team of Korean researchers says it has found a way to tackle one of the industry’s most expensive and stubborn problems: heat. Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said Tuesday they have developed a liquid cooling technology capable of reducing the power needed for semiconductor cooling to roughly one-tenth of current levels while delivering significantly higher efficiency. The team said the technology integrates microscopic cooling channels, thinner than a human hair, directly into semiconductor chips and combines them with a manifold structure that distributes coolant through multiple pathways. The design is intended to shorten the distance coolant must travel, reducing energy losses while improving heat removal. Researchers said previous manifold microchannel cooling systems often suffered from uneven coolant distribution, with some channels receiving more flow than others. To address that problem, the team optimized the structure so that coolant moves more evenly throughout the sy

Jun 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
KAIST unveils breakthrough that could slash AI data center cooling power
Companies

Korean missile maker, Rheinmetall eye joint venture as Europe races to bolster air defenses

A leading Korean defense company and one of Europe’s biggest military suppliers are moving to deepen ties as demand for air defense systems accelerates across the continent. LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) said it has entered a strategic partnership with Rheinmetall Air Defence to pursue advanced air defense opportunities in Europe and among NATO members, including discussions on establishing a joint venture in Europe. The agreement was signed Sunday at the Eurosatory international defense exhibition in Paris. The companies said they are exploring ways to provide integrated air defense solutions tailored to growing European demand for multilayered protection against a wide range of aerial threats. As a first step, the two companies are holding detailed discussions on creating a joint venture that would support localized development, production and sales activities in Europe. The collaboration would combine LIG D&A’s medium- and long-range air defense missile systems with Rheinmetall’s expertise in very short-range air defense systems. The companies also plan to jointly develop a ne

Jun 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korean missile maker, Rheinmetall eye joint venture as Europe races to bolster air defenses
South Korea

Seoul taps delivery riders to spot, report danger early

The people who know Seoul’s streets best are being asked to do more than deliver food. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday it has launched the 2026 Seoul Citizen Safety Guardians program, enlisting 20 delivery riders to help identify hazards such as potholes, flooding risks and damaged infrastructure before they lead to accidents. The initiative, which officially began with a launch ceremony Monday at Jeon Tae-il Memorial Hall in Jongno District, will run through September and is designed to strengthen citizen-based safety monitoring across the city. City officials said the program draws on the mobility and on-the-ground experience of delivery riders, who travel dozens or even hundreds of kilometers each day and are often among the first to encounter potential dangers in neighborhoods and along major roads. Participants will receive training on safety reporting procedures and emergency response measures before beginning field activities. While carrying out delivery work, riders will report potholes, flooding, fallen objects, damaged facilities and other hazards through Seoul

Jun 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul taps delivery riders to spot, report danger early
K-pop

Red Velvet sets August return, ending 2-year wait for full group comeback

After more than two years away from group promotions, Red Velvet is preparing to return to the spotlight with a new album and a fan concert timed to the anniversary of its debut. SM Entertainment said the five-member group will make its comeback in August, marking its first full group release since “Cosmic,” which was released in June 2024. The announcement immediately fueled anticipation among fans, who have been waiting for the return of all five members together. The company also unveiled details Sunday for “2026 Red Velvet FAN-CON 'A Day in Red & Velvet,'” a two-day event that will bring the group together with fans as it celebrates its 12th debut anniversary. The fan concert will take place at Korea University’s Hwajeong Gymnasium on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2. According to SM Entertainment, the performances will feature a selection of songs spanning Red Velvet’s career, along with interactive segments designed to engage fans. The opening night carries particular significance as it marks the anniversary of the group’s debut. The event is expected to serve as both a celebration of

Jun 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Red Velvet sets August return, ending 2-year wait for full group comeback
South Korea

Korea expands multilingual lifeline for migrant women facing violence

Migrant women experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking or other forms of violence in Korea will soon have easier access to help in their native languages under a new government outreach effort announced Tuesday. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said it has produced web posters in 11 languages to raise awareness of support services available to migrant women affected by violence, including information on eligibility, available assistance and reporting procedures. The posters are available in Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino, Mongolian, Russian, Thai, Khmer, Uzbek, Japanese, Lao and Nepali. The ministry said the materials will be distributed through 20 immigration and foreigner offices nationwide, seven regional labor offices and local administrative welfare centers to ensure that migrant women are aware of available support regardless of language barriers or immigration status. The ministry said all migrant women who experience violence, including marriage migrants, migrant workers and undocumented migrants, are eligible for assistance. Women affected by domestic viole

Jun 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea expands multilingual lifeline for migrant women facing violence
Companies

Hyundai Wia makes European defense debut with AI-based weapon system, mobile artillery

Hyundai Wia is taking its defense ambitions to Europe, unveiling a lineup of artillery and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered weapon systems at one of the world’s largest defense exhibitions as the company seeks a bigger role in the continent’s military modernization drive. The company said Tuesday it is participating for the first time in Eurosatory 2026, a major international defense exhibition being held from Sunday through Thursday at the Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre in Paris. More than 2,100 companies from 70 countries are taking part in this year’s event, according to Hyundai Wia. At the center of the company’s display is a lightweight 105mm self-propelled howitzer mounted on a light tactical vehicle. Hyundai Wia said the system weighs less than half as much as wheeled self-propelled artillery currently deployed by the Korean military while maintaining a maximum firing range of 18 kilometers. The system is designed to operate alongside a fire-control vehicle and an ammunition transport vehicle, allowing rapid deployment and battlefield support. The company said the pla

Jun 16, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Hyundai Wia makes European defense debut with AI-based weapon system, mobile artillery
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