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  An Se-young wins first Asian Championships title to complete career Grand Slam An Se-young of Samsung Life won the Asian Badminton Championships for the first time, completing a career "Grand Slam" by winning the Olympics, world championships, Asian Games and Asian Championships. The world No. 1 beat China’s Wang Zhiyi (No. 2) 2-1 (21-12, 17-21, 21-18) in the women’s singles final on 12 at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center in Ningbo, China. The Asian Championships had long eluded An. She lost to Wang in the semifinals in Manila in 2022, then finished runner-up in Dub April 12, 2026
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  Korea’s Biopharma CDMO Exports Hit Record Q1 High Despite Mideast Risks South Korea’s biopharmaceutical exports posted a record first-quarter total despite prolonged Middle East risks, led by contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) firms, regulators said. At the same time, domestically focused drugmakers are moving to emergency measures as uncertainty grows over supplies of packaging-related materials. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said April 12 that biopharmaceutical exports in the first quarter totaled $2.0 billion (about 2.96 trillion won), up April 12, 2026
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  Singer Lee Hyo-ri’s Father Dies; She and Husband Lee Sang-soon Keep Vigil Singer Lee Hyo-ri is mourning the death of her father. Her agency, Antenna, said April 12 that her father, Lee Jung-kwang, died that day. A wake has been set up in Room 1 of the funeral hall at Chung-Ang University Hospital in Seoul. The funeral procession is scheduled for 7 a.m. April 14. Lee and her husband, Lee Sang-soon, are listed as chief mourners and have been keeping vigil at the wake. Lee has spoken publicly about her father on several occasions. She included family stories in April 12, 2026
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  MBC’s ‘21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’ hits 10% in Seoul area by Episode 2 MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama “21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife” crossed into double-digit ratings in the Seoul metropolitan area by its second episode. Nielsen Korea said Saturday that Episode 2, aired Friday, drew a nationwide rating of 9.5% and 10.1% among households in the Seoul area, ranking No. 1 in its time slot. Its 20-49 rating was 5.3%, the highest among all Saturday programming. The minute-by-minute peak reached 11.1%. The top moments were a scene in which Seong Hui-ju wins a to April 12, 2026
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  Rookie Kim Min-sol wins wire-to-wire at KLPGA iM Financial Open for third career title Kim Min-sol, billed as a “super rookie,” captured her third career title on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour on April 12 with a wire-to-wire victory at the iM Financial Open. Kim shot a 1-under 71 in the final round at Golfzon County Sunsan (par 72) in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, with four birdies, one bogey and one double bogey. She finished at 11-under 277, winning by four strokes over the trio tied for second at 7-under 281: Kim Si-hyeon, Jeon Ye-seong and Ahn April 12, 2026
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  Kakao VX Partners With Ourhome to Expand Food and Beverage at Screen Golf Sites Kakao VX, a sports platform company, has partnered with food service company Ourhome to expand food and beverage operations at screen golf venues. Kakao VX said it signed a memorandum of understanding on April 9 at Ourhome’s headquarters to promote food and beverage business tailored to screen golf sites. Attendees included Choi Gwang-ok, a director in charge of Kakao VX’s golf business, along with Shin Su-jin, head of Ourhome’s product business division, and Jeon Jun-beom, head of Ourhome April 12, 2026
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  Xdinary Heroes Unveil Track Sneak Peeks for New EP 'Dead and' Ahead of Release JYP Entertainment boy band Xdinary Heroes has released all track sneak peeks for its upcoming album, building anticipation for its return. The band is set to release its eighth EP, "Dead and (DEAD AND)," on April 17. Ahead of the release, it has been rolling out short previews of songs on its official social media channels. On April 11, it shared snippets of "No Cool Kids Zone" and the title track, "Voyager." On April 12, it unveiled part of the opening track, "Helium Balloon." In the "N April 12, 2026
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  Golfzon Cultural Foundation Opens 13th 'Daejeon: Draw and Dream' Exhibition Golfzon Cultural Foundation is hosting the 13th 'Daejeon: Draw and Dream' exhibition through April 22 at Art Center Koo on the sixth floor of Golfzon Joymaru in Daejeon, showcasing works by emerging artists. Launched in 2012, the annual exhibition marks its 13th edition this year. The foundation said the program is a signature social contribution effort aimed at highlighting talented young artists, encouraging their creative work and helping energize the local arts scene. It provid April 12, 2026
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  South Korea Medical AI Approvals Jump 2.5-Fold in Three Years, Reaching 157 in 2025 South Korea’s medical artificial intelligence market is expanding rapidly, with government approvals rising more than 2.5 times over the past three years, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The technology is also evolving beyond diagnostic support to systems that can generate preliminary findings for imaging readers, industry officials say. The ministry said approvals, certifications and filings for AI-based software medical devices climbed from 62 cases in April 12, 2026
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  KATSEYE Brings Surprise HUNTRIX Collaboration to Coachella, Crowd Sings Along KATSEYE delivered a surprise collaboration at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, sharing the stage with vocalists from HUNTRIX, the fictional girl group from “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” The group performed on the Sahara stage in Indio, California, on April 11 (Korea time). Opening with its newly released single “PINKY UP,” KATSEYE ran through 11 songs and dance breaks in a roughly 45-minute set. “We can’t believe we finally made it to Coachella. So many emotions are swirling,” the April 12, 2026