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  Some South Korea Highway Gas Stations Cap Fuel Purchases Amid Supply Strain Middle East war fallout is deepening concerns about South Korea’s supply of petroleum products, with some gas stations now limiting how much customers can buy. The restrictions follow refiners’ cuts to fuel deliveries to discount stations in cities and at highway rest stops. Industry officials said Sunday that many EX-OIL discount stations on expressways, operated by the Korea Expressway Corp., have begun posting notices capping purchases at 30,000 won per person for gasoline and 100,000 March 17, 2026
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  Singer Insooni Says She and Her Husband Sleep in Separate Rooms Singer Insooni introduced her husband on television. Insooni appeared on TV Chosun's "Joseon's Lovebirds" on the 16th. Her husband said, "I'm the person who lives with Insooni, whom you all know well. I'm a bit flustered to be out here, but I think I'll just show things as they are." He added, "I majored in golf, so I teach pros and non-pros. Right now, I'm giving golf lessons." The couple also showed their bedroom. Insooni said, "We sleep in separate rooms," add March 17, 2026
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  Producer Lim Eun-jung on 'The Man Who Lives With the King' and Gen Z repeat viewings Two years after the last Korean film to hit 10 million admissions, “The Man Who Lives With the King” has kept building momentum. The period drama drew audiences through word of mouth, passed 10 million moviegoers and has continued to climb, topping 13 million admissions — an unusual run for a traditional historical film. At the center is Lim Eun-jung, CEO of the new production company Onda Works. “Director Jang Hang-jun said in an interview that he joined because I persuaded him. So on March 17, 2026
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  Thinkware Launches Caltrwin KX and KR Window Tint Film Lineup Thinkware said March 17 that its automotive tint brand Caltrwin is launching two new window film lines, KX and KR. The new lineup consists of a reflective type and a nonreflective type, aimed at improving both driving visibility and heat-blocking performance. The reflective KR film is a metal-based product made with a high-purity sputtering process, the company said. It is offered in visible light transmission (VLT) grades of 11% and 27%, with infrared rejection (IRR) of up to 85% and t March 17, 2026
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  RideFlux Releases Video of Fully Hands-Off Autonomous Truck Hauling 11 Tons RideFlux, an autonomous-driving software startup, said Tuesday it has released video showing a heavy-duty self-driving truck carrying 11 tons of cargo completing a long-distance route between Seoul and Jincheon, North Chungcheong province, without any intervention by a safety operator. The footage highlights a key result from RideFlux’s middle-mile autonomous freight transport service, which the company has been piloting since October last year. RideFlux’s autonomous truck regularly runs March 17, 2026
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  Jin Air Expands Onboarding Training for New Aircraft Mechanics Jin Air said on the 17th it has overhauled its onboarding program for newly hired aircraft mechanics to strengthen their skills. The carrier said the revamped training makes active use of Korean Air’s maintenance training infrastructure and includes joint sessions with Air Busan, focusing on raising maintenance expertise and standardizing quality ahead of integration. Since January, Jin Air has been running the strengthened program for 38 new mechanics. Starting this year, it moved part March 17, 2026
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  Netflix to Release BTS Comeback Documentary 'BTS: The Return' on March 27 Netflix said it will release a feature-length documentary, “BTS: The Return,” chronicling the group’s comeback journey on March 27. Netflix on the 17th unveiled an official poster and trailer to launch promotion. The documentary follows BTS as the seven members reunite after a 3-year, 9-month hiatus and complete their fifth full-length album, “Arirang (ARIRANG).” The film looks back on the group’s rise since its 2013 debut and focuses on the members’ struggles and growth as they prepar March 17, 2026
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  KakaoBank Cuts Rates on Real Estate-Backed Loans for Sole Proprietors to Low 2% Range KakaoBank said on 17 it will cut interest rates on its “real estate-backed loans for sole proprietors” by as much as 0.75 percentage points to ease financing burdens for small business owners. The bank said it will lower loan rates by up to 0.60 points and expand its preferential rate discount to 0.30 points a year from 0.15. With both applied, the minimum rate is 2.895% a year. KakaoBank said it is the only financial firm offering rates in the 2% range among banks providing real estate March 17, 2026
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  Kakao Mobility Launches Late-Night Self-Driving Taxi Service in Seoul’s Gangnam Self-driving late-night taxis have begun service in Seoul’s Gangnam area, widening the rollout of autonomous mobility services beyond buses. As commercialization advances mainly through public transportation, Hyundai Motor Co., which has said it will develop independent autonomous driving technology next year, is increasingly seen as facing a major test this year. According to industry officials on the 16th, Kakao Mobility began operating a self-driving taxi service in parts of Gangn March 17, 2026
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  Seoul to Boost Public Delivery App Budget as Shinhan’s Ttaenggyeoyo Expands Seoul and other local governments are stepping up support for public food-delivery platforms, with the city planning to expand next year’s related budget to 3.5 billion won. The push comes as concerns grow that domestic demand could weaken amid global wars and rising oil prices, and officials look to public delivery apps as a way to boost small-business sales and local economies. According to the financial sector on March 16, Seoul drafted a 2026 public delivery app budget totaling 3.5 bi March 17, 2026