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COVER STORY Kids on stage: How young is too young to debut in K-pop?

A2O LITE, a K-pop act that debuted last week, gained attention not only because its debut single "Neon" topped Melon's Top 100 chart about 29 hours after its release, but also due to the fact that three of the nine members — Ayune, Oa and Aijing — are 13 years old. The group, launched by former SM Entertainment chief producer Lee Soo-man through A2O Entertainment, held its debut showcase on Oct. 12 and released its first single the following day. All nine members are minors. The lineup, which notably consisted of members born in 2013, has revived a question K-pop has long left unresolved — whether Korea's protections for child performers, built largely around weekly hour caps and contract clauses, are adequate for children who reach the stage before finishing middle school. Early debuts are nothing new, least of all for Lee. Solo singer BoA debuted under him at the age of 13 in 2000, while SHINee's Taemin and f(x)'s Krystal were 14 when they debuted in 2008 and 2009, respectively. NCT DREAM debuted in 2016 with its youngest members at 14. Culture critic Jung Duk-hyun said Lee's app

4 MIN READ
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Korea's int'l student boom puts universities to new test

SINGAPORE, LONDON, SEOUL — Korea reached its goal of attracting 300,000 international students ahead of schedule. Now comes the harder part. As the government shifts its focus from quantity to quality, universities face a tougher test of whether they can turn rising enrollment into quality education, meaningful career opportunities and long-term talent retention. Under its Study Korea 300K initiative launched in 2023, the government set a target of attracting 300,000 international students by 2027. It reached that milestone early, with enrollment climbing to 307,464 this year, according to the Ministry of Education. Yet the gap between recruitment and retention remains wide, raising questions about whether universities are equipped to deliver on the government's new priorities. Despite a surge in international enrollment, Korea continues to struggle to retain foreign graduates. Of the 36,271 international students who graduated from Korean universities between August 2023 and February 2024, 42.9 percent left Korea, while fewer than 5,000 secured employment in the country. The problem is

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BreakingBOK keeps rate steady at 3% after two consecutive hikes

The Bank of Korea (BOK) held its benchmark interest rate steady at 3 percent, Thursday, in a widely expected decision. The hold follows two consecutive 0.25-percentage-point increases in July and August, which lifted the rate from 2.5 percent to 3 percent. The central bank described the back-to-back hikes as “a preemptive response” to mounting inflationary pressures. Rather than push ahead with a third consecutive hike, the bank opted to take stock of the effects of its recent moves, while maintaining a hawkish stance that leaves the door open to further increases. Expectations of a pause grew after BOK Gov. Shin Hyun-song highlighted the strain that rapid rate increases have placed on vulnerable borrowers. Holding rates steady gives policymakers time to assess the impact of higher borrowing costs on inflation, the foreign exchange market and household debt.

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US troops in S. Korea must be ready for missions beyond peninsula, commander says

The commander of the U.S. Eighth Army in South Korea said his troops must be ready for deployment outside the Korean peninsula if ordered, arguing that it would be "irresponsible" to focus "myopically" on threats there. Lt. Gen. Joe Hilbert said that while his command's focus was on fulfilling U.S. commitments under its mutual defense treaty with Seoul, the Eighth Army's location did not limit the missions it could undertake. It would be "irresponsible to focus myopically" on threats on the Korean peninsula alone, he told the South China Morning Post by email, or to "suggest that we cannot do other things simply because we are in Korea." Describing the Eighth Army as part of a "global force" that trains for "readiness so that we can deploy where needed by our national command authority," Hilbert cited the Eighth Army's participation in multinational exercises across the Asia-Pacific as an example of its activities beyond the peninsula. "We view readiness as largely threat-agnostic. If we have a trained, ready force capable of executing the Army's assigned missions, we can apply that forc

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Publishers seek safeguards over suspected AI book-buying spree

Korean publishers are calling for stronger copyright protections and compensation as bulk book purchase requests suspected of being linked to artificial intelligence (AI) training raise concerns over intellectual property theft. Publishing groups are investigating suspicious orders and seeking a coordinated response. However, authors and publishers face a fundamental obstacle: they often cannot know for sure whether their books are being used to train AI systems. Kyobo Book Centre, a bookstore chain in Korea, said on Wednesday that 10 overseas companies, including businesses in the United States and Britain, had approached it since early this year, each seeking only one copy of roughly 100,000 titles. “Many introduced themselves as book wholesalers,” a Kyobo official was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency Tuesday. The official added that some denied an AI training purpose but identified data-related companies as the final recipients. The bookseller declined the request because it could not rule out the use of AI training. Yes24, another bookstore, also reportedly received an inqui

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S. Korea urges NK to stop border escalation acts amid Pyongyang's loudspeaker threat

The unification ministry on Thursday called on North Korea to immediately stop acts that could increase the risk of clashes with South Korea along the border after the North warned of resuming loudspeaker broadcasts against Seoul. The ministry issued the statement after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, threatened to resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts targeting South Korea within days, and warned of a "horrible and distressing situation" amid tensions over Pyongyang's ongoing border fortification work. "Actions that violate the Armistice Agreement, and heighten tensions and the risk of clashes along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) must be stopped immediately," the ministry said, referring to the agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War. It also warned against repeating past mistakes, noting that the two Koreas had operated loudspeakers targeting each other until June 2025, causing "unbearable suffering" for people on both sides of the border. "The fundamental solution to preventing tensions and the risk of clashes between the two Koreas is

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Seoul claims top spot in global AI adoption, 3rd overall in 2026 AI Cities Index

Seoul has secured third place overall — and claimed the top spot worldwide in AI adoption and implementation — in the newly released 2026 AI Cities Index compiled by Britain’s The Observer, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday. The benchmark evaluation, built on Tortoise Media’s established Global AI Index, assessed 57 major metropolitan centers across 36 countries using 50 indicators split into three core pillars: investment, innovation, and implementation. San Francisco and New York claimed the top two global spots, while Seoul finished third, outranking major international hubs including Beijing, Paris, and London, which filled out the fourth through sixth positions. The Observer, founded in 1791 as the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper, introduced city-level rankings for the first time this year, capturing a fundamental shift as AI power increasingly concentrates in urban centers. Seoul’s standout performance came in the implementation category, where it ranked first globally ahead of Tokyo (third) and Singapore (fifth). This metric measures the institutional fr

2 MIN READ
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Yonsei University portal hack leaks data of 10,000 students, graduates

Personal information belonging to about 10,000 Yonsei University students and graduates has been leaked in a hacking of the university's portal service, the university said Thursday. Yonsei University's information and communications office said it has confirmed unauthorized access to the portal by an external party, resulting in the exposure of personal information of some members of the university community. It apologized for the concern and inconvenience caused by the breach. The exposed data includes student ID numbers, mobile phone numbers and email addresses of current students and graduates, as well as certain system management information, the university said. However, sensitive personal information, such as resident registration numbers, was not compromised, it said. After discovering the hack, the university took steps to block the point of intrusion and requested a police investigation. The university said details of the breach, including the specific types of personal information exposed for each affected individual, will be available on its website from 1 p.m. Thursday.

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Busan shark returns to canal after brief exit

BUSAN — Bukang-i the shark, which was guided out of a canal in South Korea's southeastern city of Busan after more than a month there, has returned to the waterway. The shark was seen swimming Thursday morning in a narrow space between a flat floating platform installed near the canal's exit to prevent it from coming back and a net set up as a second backstop, a day after it was successfully guided out of the canal. Observers say the fish could have swum its way into the canal under the floating platform, known as a pontoon. The shark -- named Bukang-i after Bukhang, Korean for North Port -- was first spotted in the canal Sept. 18. Since then, the canal park, located about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, has turned into a major attraction, drawing over 1.6 million visitors as of Sunday. After two previous attempts to guide the fish to the open sea failed, officials had waited for it to exit the canal on its own. But after it didn't, the officials made a third attempt over concern it could die if water temperatures fell further. On Wednesday, a joint team involving municipal and Coast

1 MIN READ
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Seoul stocks sharply down late Thursday morning amid AI concerns

Seoul stocks were trading sharply lower late Thursday morning as concerns over investments in the artificial intelligence (AI) value chain sparked a sell-off in major chip shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 129.12 points, or 2.25 percent, to 5,605.54 as of 11:20 a.m. After opening 1.14 percent lower, the index extended its losses amid apparent profit-taking. Overnight, U.S. stocks closed mixed as AI-related shares rebounded following SpaceX's quarterly results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.69 percent, while the S&P 500 gained 0.58 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.05 percent. After delivering sound earnings, Meta Platforms boosted its bet on the AI sector. In Seoul, tech stocks led the decline. Chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix lost 3.36 percent and 3.63 percent, respectively. Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., an electronics components affiliate of Samsung Electronics, inched down 0.98 percent after opening higher on news of cooperation with Nvidia. The Korean won was trading at 1,324 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11

1 MIN READ
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Foreign visitors to Korea top 17.1 mil. through September, nearing 2025 full-year level

Korea welcomed 17.11 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of this year, marking a 21.5 percent increase from the same period in 2025 and puts the country on track to pass last year's full-year total by October, the government said Thursday. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 2.06 million foreign tourists arrived in September alone, up 21.1 percent from a year earlier, keeping monthly arrivals above the 2 million mark. The January-September total compares with 14.08 million a year earlier and 18.94 million for all of 2025. China remained the largest source market with 5.47 million visitors, up 29.2 percent. Japan followed with 3.12 million, up 16.9 percent, while visitors from Taiwan were recorded at 1.86 million, up 32.4 percent. Arrivals from the Americas rose 12 percent to 1.62 million and those from Europe climbed 20 percent to 1.19 million. Spending grew even faster. Foreigners’ card spending in tourism-related sectors, including online purchases, reached 15.94 trillion won ($12 billion) through September. That was up 47.7 percent from 10.79 tril

2 MIN READ
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Merck opens new semiconductor materials facility in Korea

Merck opened a new production facility for key materials used in semiconductor deposition in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, Thursday, underscoring its commitment to expanding its presence in Korea's chip industry and strengthening a local-for-local supply chain. According to the company, the new facility produces molybdenum precursor solutions used in semiconductor manufacturing. New Merck Electronics CEO Benjamin Hein, Head of Thin Films Business Bing Han and other company executives attended the opening ceremony, while North Chungcheong Province Gov. Shin Yong-han delivered a congratulatory video message. This marks Hein's first visit to Korea since his appointment as Merck's Electronics CEO in May. During a press conference a day before the opening ceremony, Hein said customers increasingly want integrated solutions backed by local support, requiring closer cooperation between Merck's materials business and its delivery systems and services business. "What customers expect is that you provide an integrated solution. They don't just want to buy the precursor. They don't just wa

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InterviewKentucky bourbon master eyes global expansion with Korean bartenders

Jefferson’s Bourbon founder Trey Zoeller was in Seoul last week for a special event in Korea, offering a unique opportunity to introduce his Kentucky-based brand to Korean consumers. It marked the finale of a six-month program involving 40 Korean bartenders who explored the brand and developed their own cocktails using its bourbon. Zoeller, who founded the brand with his father, Chet Zoeller, in 1997, came to Korea to recognize the bartenders whose cocktails for the Camp Jefferson program sold the most and best reflected his vision for the brand. In 2023, Zoeller and his late father were inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. During the event, he shared insights into the brand with the participating bartenders, explaining how his passion for outdoor adventure helped shape its identity beyond bourbon-making traditions. Zoeller said he was surprised to see his bourbon transformed into a variety of creative cocktails he had never imagined before. “I loved it. There was so much creativity that came through so many different variations of products that I never had. I tasted every

5 MIN READ
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Cold wave advisory set to take effect Thursday night as temperatures drop 10 degrees

Thursday morning temperatures are forecast to drop about 10 degrees Celsius from Wednesday, with parts of northeastern Gyeonggi Province and inland and mountainous Gangwon Province dipping below freezing. A cold wave advisory will take effect after midnight Thursday for most inland areas. It is issued from October to April when the morning low is forecast to fall at least 10 degrees from the previous day to 3 degrees or below and to run at least 3 degrees below normal. Morning lows on Thursday are forecast at 0 to 10 degrees nationwide. Frost will form in inland areas and ice in eastern Gyeonggi Province, inland and mountainous Gangwon Province, North Chungcheong Provice, northeastern North Jeolla Province and inland central and northeastern mountainous areas of North Gyeongsang Province. Daytime highs will stay between 14 and 19 degrees. Temperatures will swing by 15 degrees or more between morning and afternoon. Forecast lows and highs are 5 and 16 degrees in Seoul, 3 and 15 in Incheon, 3 and 17 in Daejeon, 8 and 17 in Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, 5 and 17 in Daegu, 7 and

1 MIN READ
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Websites go dark worldwide as AI exposes critical security flaws

WASHINGTON — Government agencies and companies around the world shut down websites Wednesday after two critical flaws came to light involving PHP, a programming language that is the basis for a large share of the internet. PHP sits underneath popular web design platforms, so the weaknesses potentially affect a vast range of websites, from online stores and news outlets to government services. Wiz, one of the security firms that found the issues, estimated that PHP runs about 70 percent of the world's websites and said the flaws rank "among the most severe vulnerabilities discovered in PHP, and arguably in software history." The US National Security Agency told organizations to patch immediately or pull vulnerable systems offline. The flaws "often provide a direct path to the server's file system or database," the NSA said in a statement on X. Attackers could use them to take over web servers without needing a password. Volker Dusch, a security engineer at the PHP Foundation, told the Wall Street Journal it was the most serious problem PHP had faced in more than a decade, comparing it to

2 MIN READ
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Gangnam arson attack renews alarm over elderly men with grudges

A man in his 70s arrested on suspicion of injuring 19 people in an arson attack cited a personal grudge as his motive, renewing concern over elderly people driven by resentment starting fires. On Tuesday, two buildings in Seoul’s Gangnam District were set on fire and the suspect was caught fleeing. He mostly acknowledged planning and committing the arson, police said Wednesday. He is believed to have harbored a grievance against patent law firms over their handling of a trademark registration. When reporters asked about his motive, he shouted that the firms had cheated him. Asked what he would say to the victims, he replied, “Tell them to stop cheating people.” The suspect had already been detained in 2022 for preparing to commit arson after visiting the same two law firms, dousing employees with gasoline and threatening them with a lighter. The case is the latest in a pattern of arson attacks by older adults acting on accumulated grudges. One of the most striking was the 2008 arson of Sungnyemun — Korea's National Treasure No. 1, built in 1398 as the main southern gate of Seoul'

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'No retirement from giving': Catholic priest returns to school to care for elderly

A Catholic priest in his 60s who has spent his life serving others is embarking on a new educational journey after decades away from the classroom, hoping to continue his service to the elderly after retirement. Father Carlo Yoon Haeng-do, 65, is head of the Wolyeong Catholic Church in the Diocese of Masan. Yoon enrolled in a master's program in social welfare at Kyungnam University in South Gyeongsang Province in March. He returned to his studies after nearly 30 years to prepare for a new chapter of service to the elderly after retirement. Although priests step down from active ministry at 70, Yoon believes that “there is no retirement from serving one's neighbors.” “As the elderly population grows, someone has to work for older people, and older people themselves should also take part in that work,” he said with a broad smile. Yoon begins each day by rising around 3 a.m. and praying for about two hours before cleaning the church and nearby alleyways. He has maintained this routine since taking up his post at Wolyeong Catholic Church in 2024. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings,

3 MIN READ
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Brunson refuses to back down on his position on OPCON transfer

The Korean Peninsula faces a rapidly evolving threat environment, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson and a senior U.S. official said in back-to-back warnings from Seoul and Washington, raising questions about how those changes could affect the timing of the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON). Their remarks followed a renewed dispute over the OPCON transfer after Brunson suggested on Oct. 14 that evolving threats called for new transition standards, drawing objections from Seoul’s defense ministry and an unusual response from President Lee Jae Myung. “Our security environment is not standing still. We see continued DPRK use of ballistic and cruise missiles and their advancements,” Brunson said Wednesday at a luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), using the acronym for North Korea’s official name. Brunson and U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Park Steel were the featured speakers at the event, attended by Korean and American business leaders. Held to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S., the program exp

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InterviewKorean doctor operates remotely from Seoul on pig in Shanghai

Sitting at a console in Seoul, a Korean doctor successfully operated on a pig using a surgical robot about 870 kilometers away in Shanghai, marking Korea’s first cross-border telesurgery demonstration using a commercial platform. Kang Seok-ho, a professor of urology at Korea University College of Medicine, says the technology could profoundly transform surgical care, allowing doctors to operate from distant facilities and across borders, including on patients in disaster zones and battlefields. “I was delighted. I also found it remarkable that I could actually perform surgery in Shanghai from here,” Kang said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. The demonstration was conducted on Friday at Coex in Seoul during the Korean Urological Association’s annual meeting. The Toumai system developed by China’s MicroPort MedBot was used, according to the hospital. Telesurgery allows a physician to control surgical instruments through a communications network rather than being physically present in the same surgery as the patient. Unlike remote consultations, it involves the surgeon

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Shoppers turn to warehouse stores as grocery bills climb

For Kim Eun-young, a 42-year-old mother of two living in Seoul’s Gwangjin District, a monthly trip to Costco has become routine this year. She used to pick up what she needed at a nearby supermarket, but rising prices prompted her to change her shopping habits. She said buying groceries and household essentials in bulk seems more economical, at least for her family of four. “The bill is bigger each time, but buying in bulk works out cheaper for the same amount,” Kim said. “I mainly buy food we eat regularly and everyday household essentials, and divide the food into meal-sized portions for storage.” Kim’s changing habits reflect a growing appetite for warehouse shopping as consumers seek relief from high prices. According to market tracker WiseApp Retail, combined estimated card spending at Costco and Emart Traders totaled a record 1.45 trillion won ($1.09 billion) in September. The estimates are based on a sample of Korean consumers’ credit and debit card payments. They exclude cash and bank transfers and therefore differ from the retailers’ reported revenue. Warehouse ret

2 MIN READ
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New Netflix series starring Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo to premiere in December

"Tantara," a new Netflix original Korean series starring actors Song Hye-kyo and Gong Yoo, will be released on Dec. 11, the streaming platform said Thursday. Set in the 1960s-80s, the period drama follows Min-ja (Song), who overcomes poverty and ventures into the recording industry, and her childhood friend Dong-gu (Gong), who supports her dream. The show's cast also includes Kim Seol-hyun, Cha Seung-won, Lee Hanee and Na Moon-hee. The upcoming series marks star screenwriter Noh Hee-kyung's return after more than four years. Noh has penned popular works such as "Worlds Within" (2008) and "That Winter, the Wind Blows" (2013) — both starring Song — as well as "Our Blues" (2022).

1 MIN READ
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InterviewLee Sun-bin embraces comedy, chaos in movie about college entrance exam

In the upcoming comedy film "Ugly Duckling Ms. Maeng," actor Lee Sun-bin plays Maeng Bo-ram, an earnest provincial high school teacher who unexpectedly finds herself locked away in a top-secret camp to draft questions for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). Ahead of the movie's theatrical release, Lee expressed both anxiety and anticipation during a recent interview in Seoul, saying the unique subject of the annual exam posed its own challenges. "This moment right before the release is both the time I want to avoid and the moment I look forward to," Lee told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Wednesday. "I tend to be harsh on myself and worry about my shortcomings. At the same time, I am deeply curious whether audiences will recognize actors’ intentions behind the performance. It feels like I am scared, but also eager to face the verdict as soon as possible." The movie centers on the 40-day isolation period where test developers are completely cut off from the outside world under strict security. Lee said that while the CSAT is an inescapable part of life in Korea, the secre

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Editor's Pick

[COVER STORY] French residents of Korea blame unresponsive gov't for unrest

COVER STORY French residents of Korea blame unresponsive gov't for unrest

The public anger in France spilling over into unrest has been brewing for a long time, with little response from the government over calls for reforms for better education and living conditions, French nationals living in Korea say. They generally agree that the French government's long-standing neglect and inaction have fueled mounting public anger, saying people's concerns have long gone unheard. "Government hasn’t listened enough to people’s concerns about the climate, the economy and now education. When people repeatedly feel unheard, frustration builds up," Hugo Adam, a graduate student at Seoul National University, told The Korea Times. A French filmmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, agreed that the French government has failed to "listen to its people," despite the many protests that have taken place over the years. He said his family and friends back home are participating in the protests. The protests began in mid-September by students calling for a better education environment, including more teachers and improved school facilities. Illustrator Zoe Constans said it

3 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Seoul Architecture Festival draws 40,000 visitors in extended monthlong run

Seoul Architecture Festival draws 40,000 visitors in extended monthlong run

The 18th Seoul Architecture Festival drew about 40,000 citizens and architects during its run, which was extended to about a month this year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday. The festival was held from Sept. 15 to Oct. 11 at the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture in central Seoul under the theme “Assembling Seoul: Discovering Seoul.” Last year’s two-week edition drew 19,505 visitors. Its centerpiece exhibition, created in collaboration with a photographer, placed photos of Seoul’s urban architecture throughout a maze-like space so that visitors could look at familiar city scenes in a new way. The festival’s director built the exhibition spaces from recycled wooden pallets to keep down costs and environmental impact. An exhibition of the 10 winners of the 44th Seoul Architecture Awards, the city’s annual prize for buildings, was led by the grand prize winner, the Seo-Seoul Museum of Art, designed by THE_SYSTEM LAB. A special exhibition featured last year’s grand prize winner, “Core Dismantling System” by FHHH Friends. The festival also highlighted you

2 MIN READ
Seoul Wellness Travel Week brings meditation, food, art to city

Seoul Wellness Travel Week brings meditation, food, art to city

2 MIN READ
Seoul spreads nighttime attractions across all 25 districts

Seoul spreads nighttime attractions across all 25 districts

2 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Rarely opened gate links 2 Seoul palaces for exclusive night tours

Visitors will be able to walk between Changdeok Palace and Changgyeong Palace in central Seoul at night next month through a gate that is normally closed to the public, as part of a ticketed night tour, the Korea Heritage Service said Wednesday. The tour, called “Donggwol Dongnak,” runs from Nov. 10-15. It is organized by the agency’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and the Korea Heritage Agency. The two palaces were together known as Donggwol, or the “Eastern Palaces,” during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) because they stood east of Gyeongbok Palace, the main royal palace. The 110-minute program combines a guided tour of both palaces with free time to explore their rear gardens. Guides playing court painters from Dohwaseo, the Joseon-era royal bureau of painting, will lead participants through major halls of Changgyeong Palace and the rear garden of Changdeok Palace. Short plays about historical figures linked to each site will be staged at four stops along the route. During the free-viewing time, participants can pass through Yeongchunmun, a gate between the palaces’ rear g

2 MIN READ
Rarely opened gate links 2 Seoul palaces for exclusive night tours
In Seoul's Seongbuk-dong, art finds a home in historic spaces

In Seoul's Seongbuk-dong, art finds a home in historic spaces

3 MIN READ
Korea to certify 1,000 Korean restaurants abroad with expanded rating system

Korea to certify 1,000 Korean restaurants abroad with expanded rating system

2 MIN READ
Seoul Hiking Week to offer unique autumn trail experiences

Seoul Hiking Week to offer unique autumn trail experiences

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

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

2 MIN READ

K-Culture

IVE turns Seoul's futuristic DDP into K-pop comeback stage

Seoul is transforming one of its most iconic architectural landmarks into a high-octane venue for K-pop, partnering with girl group IVE to launch its latest comeback campaign at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in an effort to turn global fandom into tourism revenues and longer hotel stays. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Design Foundation are supporting the campaign, titled “DIVE IN TO LIGHT,” which began Monday at DDP and runs through Nov. 30. The building’s exterior displays special videos featuring IVE, with a more elaborate presentation planned to coincide with the release of the group’s new album on Monday, when synchronized laser effects and lighting will accompany its new music. A promotional booth is operating at DDP from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. through Nov. 1, featuring album-themed photo zones and displays of hero masks worn by IVE members. Visitors who post photos of the installations and DDP’s outdoor media displays on social media can receive commemorative postcards created through the collaboration, while Honey Presso, a cafe inside DDP Market, is offering

2 MIN READ
IVE turns Seoul's futuristic DDP into K-pop comeback stage
Lee Soo-man-produced boy group to release debut album 'Superstar' next month

Lee Soo-man-produced boy group to release debut album 'Superstar' next month

1 MIN READ
After 20 years in acting, Jung Il-woo ventures into film investment, distribution

After 20 years in acting, Jung Il-woo ventures into film investment, distribution

5 MIN READ
Illit's 'Magnetic' becomes fastest debut song by K-pop group to reach 900 mil. streams

Illit's 'Magnetic' becomes fastest debut song by K-pop group to reach 900 mil. streams

1 MIN READ
ITZY's Chaeryeong to make solo debut with mini album 'Lovesick' on Nov. 9

ITZY's Chaeryeong to make solo debut with mini album 'Lovesick' on Nov. 9

2 MIN READ

Celebrities

TWICE's Jihyo leaves JYP after 21 years to launch own agency

Jihyo, a member of K-pop girl group TWICE, said Wednesday she has left JYP Entertainment to establish her own agency. In a handwritten letter posted on social media, Jihyo said she had ended her contract with JYP, where she had been for 21 years since childhood. "I have established Emithaus," she wrote. "Through this new home, I hope to freely explore even the possibilities within myself that I have yet to discover." The 29-year-old singer added, "I will approach every future choice and activity with greater care and a stronger sense of responsibility, as I step out of a familiar environment and continue my work in a new way." Jihyo plans to pursue her solo music career under the new agency while continuing activities with TWICE. JYP Entertainment, one of Korea's major K-pop agencies, had managed Jihyo since she joined the company as a trainee before TWICE's 2015 debut.

1 MIN READ
TWICE's Jihyo leaves JYP after 21 years to launch own agency
Son Ye-jin's Japan vacation look sparks unexpected fashion debate

Son Ye-jin's Japan vacation look sparks unexpected fashion debate

2 MIN READ
Inside EJAE's Seoul wedding: 'KPop Demon Hunters' singer unveils bridal photos

Inside EJAE's Seoul wedding: 'KPop Demon Hunters' singer unveils bridal photos

2 MIN READ
Ha Ji-won has special way of eating kimchi to reduce sodium intake

Ha Ji-won has special way of eating kimchi to reduce sodium intake

2 MIN READ
Actress Oh Yoon-ah shares details of newlywed life

Actress Oh Yoon-ah shares details of newlywed life

1 MIN READ

Get key insights on Korea from the members-only personalized news service My Times.

Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Korea's int'l student boom puts universities to new test

  2. N. Korea to resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts toward S. Korea: Kim Yo-jong

  3. Brunson refuses to back down on his position on OPCON transfer

  4. Gangnam arson attack renews alarm over elderly men with grudges

  5. Cold wave advisory set to take effect Thursday night as temperatures drop 10 degrees

  6. COVER STORY French residents of Korea blame unresponsive gov't for unrest

  7. NK leader's sister, military marshal inspect border fortification site, warn of 'overwhelming' responses

  8. Publishers seek safeguards over suspected AI book-buying spree

  9. Websites go dark worldwide as AI exposes critical security flaws

  10. Busan authorities guide shark out of canal on third attempt

Video

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