Netflix Korean period film ‘Uprising’ to open 29th BIFF

Netflix original Korean period film “Uprising” will open the 29th Busan International Film Festival on Oct. 2, the first time for a streaming platform movie to open Asia’s largest film festival. “Uprising,” directed by Kim Sang-man (“Midnight FM”), gained attention as award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s first-ever project with Netflix. Park has participated as a co-screenwriter and producer. The period film stars Gang Dong-won, in the role of C

FilmSept. 3, 2024

Bus drivers urge passengers to give up seats for pregnant women

Stories of bus drivers encouraging passengers to give up seats for pregnant women have been circulating online, most recently with a woman's compliment posted on the Seoul Bus Labor Union website on Monday. A woman who identified herself as 12 weeks pregnant said she got on a Seoul bus No. 440 at around 6 p.m. on Monday with no real hopes of getting a seat during rush hour. But when the driver saw her pregnancy badge, he asked the passengers sitting in the priority zones to give up their se

Social AffairsSept. 3, 2024

AmCham partners with Tools for Humanity for privacy protection

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea joined hands with Tools for Humanity, the developer of Worldcoin, to stress the importance of personal data protection in the era of artificial intelligence. On Tuesday, the two entities signed a memorandum of understanding at a ceremony held in Seoul, agreeing to launch the “#IAmHuman” campaign here, highlighting the importance of safeguarding personal identity within an AI-driven economy. “The partnership is focused on promoting the p

EconomySept. 3, 2024

Incheon airport to prevent 'excessive private security' for celebrities

Incheon Airport will introduce a new manual on dealing with private security personnel employed by celebrities, in light of the recent controversy surrounding what was alleged to be excessive security measures for actor Byeon Woo-seok. The manual will detail proper responses for when the terminals get crowded due to high-profile personnel leaving or arriving at the airport, according to the Incheon International Airport Corp. report submitted to Rep. Jeon Yong-gi of the main opposition Democrati

Social AffairsSept. 3, 2024

Is Ador moving to isolate Min Hee-jin?

Ador may be taking steps to distance NewJeans from the influence of former CEO Min Hee-jin, as her close associate and director behind the music videos for “ETA” and “Ditto,” Shin Woo-seok, announced Monday that he would cease collaboration with the group. In May, Shin had submitted a petition opposing Min's dismissal as Ador's CEO. Shin revealed that the Hybe-owned label recently requested that he remove all NewJeans-related content from his production company

K-popSept. 3, 2024

Uzbekistan touts deepening ties with S. Korea on Independence Day

Uzbekistan touted deepening ties with South Korea, marking the 33rd anniversary of the country's independence and the 32nd year of their bilateral relations Friday. Uzbekistan, which became part of the Soviet Union in 1924, declared its independence on August 31, 1991. "Today, we celebrate remarkable achievements, including more than a one-and-a-half-fold increase in GDP, a doubling of business entities, and over 40 percent growth in the industry," said Uzbek Ambassador-designate

Foreign AffairsSept. 3, 2024

After criticism for mid-summer closures, Seoul extends public pool season for 2025

Public swimming pools along the Han River closed in the middle of heat waves this summer, even as the scorching temperatures persisted till the end of August. Next year, the outdoor pools will remain open till the end of August, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Tuesday. “We will do our best to prepare so that more people can enjoy swimming in the Han River pools throughout the summer next year,” said Joo Young-tae, an official with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. In 202

TravelSept. 3, 2024

Adult-only gaming arcades mushrooming in rural Korea

The number of adult-only gaming centers and internet cafes, known here as “PC bangs,” has seen a rapid increase in rural areas where agriculture and fishing are prevalent, data showed Tuesday. According to data provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, a total of 278 establishments received business permits to operate as adult-only gaming halls last year across the country, up from 215 in 2022. Of the total, Gyeonggi Province had the highest number with 52 newly licensed

Social AffairsSept. 3, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jin hits 100m views with ‘Super Tuna’ dance video

The performance video for “Supertuna,” a solo song from Jin of BTS, surpassed the 100 million milestone on YouTube as of Monday, according to label Big Hit Music on Tuesday. The artist uploaded the video in December 2021 to celebrate his birthday with his fans. Donning denim overalls and a T-shirt with a tuna he drew himself, he danced on a beach in Los Angeles. Inspired by his hobby, fishing, Jin’s self-written song “Supertuna” was officially released the following

K-popSept. 3, 2024

Agriculture expo offers glimpse into the future of rural areas

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will open “Korea Agri Expo 2024,” the largest agricultural exposition in the country, at aT Centre in Seoul on Thursday for a four-day run. Marking its sixth year, this annual event has been a platform for showcasing the diverse value and growth potential of agriculture and rural regions since its inception in 2019, ministry officials said Tuesday. Last year's exposition drew significant interest, attracting approximately 94,00

IndustrySept. 3, 2024

Daewoo E&C, CSCEC team up for global infrastructure projects

Daewoo Engineering & Construction said Tuesday it has signed a strategic partnership with China State Construction Engineering Corporation, the world’s largest construction company by revenue, to team up on international projects. The signing event was held Monday at the CSCEC’s headquarters in Beijing, where Daewoo E&C Chairman Jung Won-ju and CSCEC International Operations Chairman Gao Bo were present. Founded in 1957, CSCEC has held the top position in US weekly ENR's

IndustrySept. 3, 2024

Seoul shares close lower ahead of US jobs data

South Korean shares fell as investors took to the sidelines ahead of key US data. The local currency lost ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 16.37 points, or 0.61 percent, to close at 2,664.63. Trade volume was moderate at 291 million shares worth 8.8 trillion won ($6.56 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 458 to 416. Foreign investors turned net sellers, offloading a net 287.5 billion won worth of shares, one day after they ended a six-day

MarketSept. 3, 2024

Writers from Canada, US win Nomo awards celebrating Korean diaspora

Three winners of the Nomo Literary Award were announced by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea on Monday. In the fiction category, Song Ji-young from Canada won for “Assembled Life,” which explores the linguistic, cultural and economic struggles of immigrants, likened to the challenges of assembling furniture. In the poetry category, Lee Won-jung from the US was recognized for “Telescope for Cherry Tomatoes” and four other poems, praised for the skill in poetica

BooksSept. 3, 2024

'River and Liver' sets stage for surrealism in Seoul

The National Theater Company of Korea is set to stage the surrealist "River and Liver" from Sept. 27 to Oct. 19 at the Myeongdong Theater in Seoul. Written by Dong I-hyang, the play won the 14th Cha Beom-seok Award in 2020. The script was recognized for its rhythmic, ping-pong-like dialogue, fragmented scenes and surreal situations. The story centers on L, a middle-aged woman living in an old home overlooking the Han River with her husband, O. Her life takes a bizarre turn as strange o

PerformanceSept. 3, 2024

Outgoing Japanese PM to visit Seoul on Friday

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will hold talks during Kishida's two-day visit to South Korea from Friday, in what would be his final one-on-one with Yoon before his planned departure from his post, the presidential office announced Tuesday. Yoon's office said in a note to reporters that the talks will highlight the past achievements through bilateral cooperation and ways to boost ties between the two East Asian countries in bilateral, regional and int

PoliticsSept. 3, 2024

Hansae Yes24 Foundation kicks off music initiative with baritone Benjamin Appl

After focusing on Southeast Asia’s literature and arts as well as supporting students for 10 years, the Hansae Yes24 Foundation announced it is expanding its scope to classical music, the German lied in particular. For the inaugural concert, "Winterreise in Summer," the foundation presents German baritone Benjamin Appl, who will perform Schubert’s "Winterreise" D. 911, a song cycle set to 24 poems by German poet Wilhelm Muller. The 42-year-old vocalist said that

CultureSept. 3, 2024

What's really going on in ERs?

Last month, 33-year-old office worker Kim A-young experienced a nightmare when a first responder refused to take her to the emergency room despite her severe stomach pain. "I was informed that ERs at university hospitals wouldn't accept patients with stomach pain, which was later diagnosed as acute appendicitis," she said. "I was taken to a nearby community hospital but couldn't have the surgery immediately. Although the doctor indicated that my case was severe, I had to

Social AffairsSept. 3, 2024

Inflation falls to 2% target

South Korea may be nearing the end of its fight against inflation, as the rate of rising prices eased to the 2 percent target last month, backed by a retreat in the prices of international crude oil and farm produce, data showed Tuesday. The Consumer Price Index, a key gauge of inflation, advanced 2 percent on-year last month, according to Statistics Korea. It was the lowest advance since 1.9 percent in March 2021. CPI inflation, which remained at 1.9 percent in March 2021, reached its peak at 6

EconomySept. 3, 2024

Jeong shines again with gold in Paralympics' boccia

At South Paris Arena 1, in Paris, Monday, South Korean boccia athlete Jeong Ho-won carefully surveyed the playing field from his wheelchair, as the referee, ruler in hand, measured the distances between the lined-up balls. In boccia, where winners are determined by how close their balls land to a target ball, called the jack, every fraction of an inch matters. As the referee's call all but guaranteed his win, Jeong cast aside his eye blinder and rushed to embrace his visibly emotional coach

More SportsSept. 3, 2024

How your tech choices show your age in South Korea

“Are you cool with Android?” Kwon Jung-hyeon, a soon-to-be middle school student, hesitated and shook his head. At 12, he said he had never considered using a mobile device that wasn’t an iPhone. Chae Yeon-woo, a 14-year-old middle school student, already owns an iPhone and iPad. She said if she could get a smartwatch, she would choose an Apple Watch to add to her collection. For her, the Samsung brand feels "bland,” catering to people of all ages but not appealing

Hashtag KoreaSept. 3, 2024