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  FTISLAND’s Choi Min Hwan Says He Is Recovering After Fainting on Stage FTISLAND drummer Choi Min Hwan has updated fans on his health after collapsing on stage. On Monday, Choi wrote on a fan community platform that he had never fainted since his debut and said he was surprised by what happened. “You must have been really shocked. I was, too,” he said. He said he had not been feeling well but did not realize it was that serious. “I’m recovering well now, eating well and resting, so I don’t think you need to worry too much,” he added. Choi said he would retur February 4, 2026
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  South Korea’s Rising Winter Sports Stars to Watch at the Milan-Cortina Olympics The 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics are expected to be a key test of South Korea’s next generation in winter sports. The Games will show whether South Korea can broaden its medal hopes beyond ice events to snow sports, while a younger core takes on leading roles. ◆Short track: Lim Jong-eon, Kim Gil-li in focus Short track remains South Korea’s strongest Olympic sport, and Lim Jong-eon, 19, has emerged as a headline prospect. The International Olympic Committee said on its we February 4, 2026
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  Singer Kim Ho Joong Loses Lawsuit Against 180 Alleged Anti-Fans Singer Kim Ho Joong, who is serving a prison sentence over a drunk-driving hit-and-run case, has lost a damages lawsuit he filed against 180 alleged anti-fans seeking about 700 million won. The Seoul Central District Court ruled at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the case Kim brought against Kang, identified only by the surname, and 179 others. Kim filed the lawsuit in June 2021, seeking 764 million won in damages from the 180 people over negative posts about him online. They were reported to have rai February 4, 2026
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  KakaoBank Posts Record 480.3 Billion Won Net Profit, Eyes Payments and Capital M&A Internet-only lender KakaoBank said it posted another record year on the back of rising noninterest income such as fees, even as interest income fell. The company said it will focus this year on overseas business and mergers and acquisitions to secure longer-term growth drivers. KakaoBank said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that its net profit for last year totaled 480.3 billion won, up 9.1% from 440.1 billion won a year earlier, marking its highest annual result. Interest income decli February 4, 2026
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  South Korea’s MU:DS museum brand to debut in Europe at Milan Korea House South Korea’s national museum merchandise brand MU:DS is set to make its European debut.  The National Museum Foundation of Korea said Tuesday it will present MU:DS at Korea House in Italy from Feb. 5 to 22 during the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics.    Korea House, operated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, will be set up at Villa Necchi Campiglio, a historic building in central Milan. The foundation said it plans t February 4, 2026
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  Korea Automotive Technology Institute, AP위성 sign MOU on space-mobility technology The Korea Automotive Technology Institute said it is moving to strengthen global competitiveness in the space-mobility industry. The institute said it signed a memorandum of understanding with AP위성 on Tuesday at AP위성’s headquarters in Seoul’s Geumcheon district to cooperate on securing technological competitiveness in space mobility and building an innovation-driven industrial ecosystem. The institute said the agreement comes as major countries, including the United States with its February 4, 2026
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  Hanwha Ocean posts 2025 operating profit of 1.1091 trillion won, up 366% Hanwha Ocean said its 2025 operating profit nearly quadrupled as revenue from commercial ships and naval vessels rose sharply. In an earnings filing on Tuesday, the company said 2025 revenue rose 18% from a year earlier to 12.6884 trillion won, while operating profit jumped 366% to 1.1091 trillion won. Hanwha Ocean cited higher sales of liquefied natural gas carriers and special-purpose vessels. It said a larger share of high-margin LNG carrier revenue, supported by more stable production February 4, 2026
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  Hyundai Rotem Wins $320 Million Edmonton Light-Rail Contract Hyundai Rotem said it will supply rail cars for all light-rail transit lines operating in Edmonton, Canada. The company said it signed a 320 billion won contract on Monday (local time) with the city government of Edmonton, Alberta, to provide high-floor light-rail vehicles. Light rail generally refers to smaller rail vehicles used to ease urban congestion, and includes trams. The order covers 32 trainsets, each made up of three cars, with a top operating speed of 80 kph. They will be depl February 4, 2026
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  National Theater Company to Restage ‘Sammaegyeong’ After Six Months The play “Sammaegyeong” is returning to the stage. The National Theater Company of Korea, led by CEO and artistic director Park Jeong Hui, said Tuesday that “Sammaegyeong,” based on an original work by Ham Se Deok and adapted and directed by Lee Cheol Hui, will open March 12 at Myeongdong Theater. The company, South Korea’s largest theater producer, premiered “Sammaegyeong” last year as part of its mission to develop “Korean classics.” The production reimagines a work long regarded as a February 4, 2026
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  South Korea’s National Museum to Open Earlier, Add Pondside ‘Water-Gazing’ Steps "To fully implement a K-museum that leads the world, we will innovate the future viewing environment and visitor experience." Yu Hong-jun, director of the National Museum of Korea, said at a New Year news briefing on Feb. 3 that the museum has entered an era of 6.5 million visitors a year. He said the key was not treating it as a place that simply displays old artifacts, but as a complex cultural space where culture is shared. Under this year’s vision of “a museum for everyon February 4, 2026