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  South Korea Culture Ministry Sets 461.4 Billion Won Supplementary Budget for Tourism Loans, Ticket Discounts The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday that its first supplementary budget for 2026 was finalized at 461.4 billion won. The ministry said the package was designed to limit damage to the culture, sports and tourism industries amid economic pressures such as high oil prices and inflation, while providing early support for livelihoods including those of grassroots artists. It also aims to spur domestic spending through discounts for movies and performances and support for lo April 12, 2026
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  BTS Launches 'Arirang' World Tour in Goyang, Drawing 132,000 Fans Over Three Shows BTS returned to solo touring with a stadium-scale production that paired mass choreography and fireworks with distinctly Korean imagery, using its new album, "Arirang," to signal what the group called a new chapter, "BTS 2.0." The group held "BTS World Tour Arirang in Goyang" on April 9 and April 11-12 at the main stadium of Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, south of Seoul. It marked BTS’ first standalone tour in about four years since "BTS Permission to Dance on Stage" ended in April 2022 April 11, 2026
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  Kang Gye-yeol, 102, Featured in ‘My Love, Don’t Cross That River,’ Dies Kang Gye-yeol, who appeared in the documentary film “My Love, Don’t Cross That River,” has died. She was 102. Director Jin Mo-young announced her death on social media on the 10th. Jin said he visited Kang on March 31 to say goodbye. Though her memory had faded, she recognized the group, greeted them and offered kind words, he said. “Even when I first met her in September 2012, she was like a young girl,” Jin wrote, mourning her death after she lived past 100. Released in 2014, “My April 11, 2026
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  ‘A Man Living With the King’ Becomes South Korea’s No. 2 All-Time Box Office Hit The film ‘A Man Living With the King’ has risen to No. 2 on South Korea’s all-time box office list. On its 67th day in theaters, it reached a cumulative 16,283,970 admissions on Friday, surpassing the final total of ‘Extreme Job’ (16,266,641). The only domestic release with more viewers is ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents,’ which drew about 17.61 million. Showbox and the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing network said the movie has sustained a long run since opening Feb. 4. After t April 11, 2026
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  YouTuber Kwak Tube Addresses Postpartum Care Center Sponsorship Involving Civil Servant Wife Travel YouTuber and TV personality Kwak Jun-bin, known as Kwak Tube, said his wife received a sponsored room upgrade and some services at a postpartum care center despite her status as a civil servant, prompting debate over whether it could violate South Korea’s anti-graft law. Kwak posted a lengthy statement on his YouTube channel on April 10. “As a public official’s family member, I deeply realize I should have acted more cautiously,” he wrote, acknowledging that after his wife gave April 10, 2026
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  National Theater Company, LG Arts Center to Stage Rival Takes on Chekhov’s 'Uncle Vanya' in May Two big-stage productions will put different faces on Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” this May, as the National Theater Company of Korea and LG Arts Center mount new versions with overlapping runs. According to the theater community on April 10, the National Theater Company of Korea will stage “Vanya Ajjae,” while LG Arts Center will present “Uncle Vanya.” The source text is the same, but the titles signal different points of view. Both productions will play in theaters with more than 1, April 10, 2026
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  KB Kookmin Bank Expands Mobile Rate-Reduction Requests for Sole Proprietors KB Kookmin Bank said Thursday it will expand the scope of its non-face-to-face service for sole proprietors seeking lower loan rates, aiming to reduce interest burdens and improve access. Under South Korea’s “right to request an interest rate reduction,” borrowers can ask a financial company to cut their rate when their credit profile improves, such as through employment, higher income or better credit. With the change, sole proprietor customers can apply and check results through KB Co April 10, 2026
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  Seo Seung-man Named CEO of National Jeongdong Theater The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Seo Seung-man was appointed CEO of the National Jeongdong Theater foundation, effective April 10. His term is three years. Seo is a performing arts and content planner with experience in broadcasting, stage production and theater operations, the ministry said. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theater, film and visual media at Kookmin University and a doctorate in public administration. His past roles include head of the theate April 10, 2026
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  Korean Banks Shift Small-Business Lending to Sales-Based Credit Scores South Korean banks are moving to expand financing for small business owners by adopting credit-scoring models that factor in nonfinancial data such as sales and local market conditions. The shift aims to improve access to credit by moving beyond assessments centered on collateral and past borrowing history and by weighing growth potential. Major lenders including KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank and Woori Bank are taking part in a pilot program for the Financial Services Commission’s Small Bu April 10, 2026
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  Child Prodigy Baek Kang-hyeon Says He Left Science High School After Bullying Baek Kang-hyeon, who drew attention after appearing on SBS’ “Gifted Discovery Team” as a toddler who could solve equations at 41 months old, has shared an update on his life in a recent broadcast. On the April 9 episode of SBS’ “Gifted Discovery Team Infinity,” Baek, now 12, appeared and spoke about his recent experiences. He became a national talking point after entering a science high school at age 10, but left after five months. He also recently applied to the University of Oxford in April 10, 2026