BTS’ J-Hope: Main Dancer Who Built a Distinct Solo Career With BTS set to return as a group in March, anticipation is building worldwide. The comeback news, carried by Arirang, along with plans for a world tour, is prompting immediate reactions beyond the music industry, including in tourism and broader local economies. BTS is seen as both a force with global economic impact and a symbolic name that elevates South Korea’s image. Ahead of the comeback, this outlet is profiling the seven members in a “BTS Member Spotlight” series. <Editor’s note> February 18, 2026

Lee Hae-in, Shin Jia Advance to Women’s Free Skate at 2026 Milan Olympics Lee Hae-in of Korea University and Shin Jia of Sewha Girls’ High School both qualified for the free skate in the women’s singles at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Lee scored 70.07 points in the short program at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 18 Korean time, earning 37.61 in technical elements (TES) and 32.46 in program components (PCS). It was her season-best short-program score, and she stood second in the interim standings after 17 skaters acr February 18, 2026

Albania’s Lara Colturi, Once ‘in the Womb’ at Turin Games, Races at Milan-Cortina Some athletes have experienced both the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics and the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, returning to the same stage 20 years later. Among them are American ski star Lindsey Vonn and Italian short-track standout Arianna Fontana. Another athlete has an unusual link to both Games: Albanian alpine skier Lara Colturi. Born in November 2006, Colturi was already at the Turin Olympics — in her mother’s womb. Her mother, Daniela Ceccarelli, competed for Italy in alpine skiin February 18, 2026

Korea Sports Council Holds Lunar New Year ‘Korea Day’ Event in Milan The Korea Sports Council held a Lunar New Year “Korea Day” event in Milan, Italy, where the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics are being staged. The council said it ran a hands-on program Feb. 17 (local time) at Korea House set up at Villa Necchi Campiglio, introducing Korean holiday traditions to local residents and Koreans living in the area. The event included traditional folk games such as jegichagi, along with a K-pop cover dance performance and a stage by the Jeonbuk State February 18, 2026

South Korea women fall 7-5 to top-ranked Switzerland in Olympic curling round-robin South Korea’s women’s curling team lost 7-5 to world No. 1 Switzerland in Olympic round-robin play, tightening the race for a spot in the semifinals. World No. 3 South Korea — skip Kim Eun-ji, third Kim Min-ji, second Seol Ye-ji, lead Seol Ye-eun and alternate Kim Su-ji — fell in its seventh round-robin game at the Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Feb. 18 (Korea time). South Korea dropped into a tie for fourth at 4-3 with Canada. Sweden led at 6-1, fo February 18, 2026

Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final With Yoo Seung-eun Postponed to Feb. 18 at Milan Olympics The women’s snowboard slopestyle final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics was postponed for a day because of heavy snow. The organizing committee said on Feb. 17 (local time) that worsening weather forced it to delay the final, now set for Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m. local time (10:30 p.m. in South Korea). The event had been scheduled for 1 p.m. on Feb. 17 at Livigno Snow Park, but heavy snowfall in the Alps prompted a change. The organizers and the International Ski and Sn February 18, 2026

Eileen Gu Wins Big Air Silver for Fifth Career Olympic Medal Eileen Gu of China, one of the biggest stars heading into the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, added a milestone even without gold: She became the first woman in freestyle skiing to win five career Olympic medals. Gu scored 179 points to take silver in the women’s freestyle skiing big air final at Livigno Snow Park in Italy on Feb. 17 (Korean time). Canada’s Megan Oldham won gold with 180.75. “I’m really proud to have won five medals. It feels special,” Gu said afterward. Gu was the i February 18, 2026

Snowboarder Lee Chae-woon reflects after landing historic trick but finishing sixth at Milan Olympics South Korea’s Lee Chae-woon, who finished sixth at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics despite landing a world-first trick, shared a measured reaction in a social media post. Lee wrote on his SNS account on Feb. 17 that he had returned to South Korea after “the huge dream stage called the Olympics,” adding, “I thought about a lot of things.” “Even though I landed the world’s first frontside triple 1620, I still don’t know why I got 87.50 points and ended in sixth,” he wrote. “But I don’ February 17, 2026

NBC Ranks Choi Ga-on’s Comeback Halfpipe Gold Over Chloe Kim Among Top Milan Highlights Choi Ga-on’s comeback win in the women’s snowboard halfpipe at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics was named one of NBC’s top 10 moments from the first half of the Games. On Feb. 17 (local time), NBC, the U.S. Olympic rights holder, posted its “top 10 moments” list covering the first 10 days after the opening of the Olympics. Choi’s gold medal was ranked No. 8. In an article headlined, “Choi Ga-on beats Chloe Kim (USA) to win halfpipe gold,” NBC wrote that Kim “seemed certain” to February 17, 2026

Lee Ho-seon Quits Disney+ Variety Show 'Fate War 49' After One Episode Counseling expert and TV personality Lee Ho-seon said she left the Disney+ variety show “Fate War 49” after just one episode. In a post on social media on the 16th, Lee wrote, “No matter what anyone says, I am a Christian for life,” adding that she has done counseling “for a long time, though shorter than that.” She also shared a photo bearing the phrase “jagoejisim,” a term meaning self-reproach. Lee wrote that she is always mindful of “God’s gaze” and prays for the people she counse February 17, 2026