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  Actor Lee Tae-ri to Marry Non-Celebrity Partner in May Actor Lee Tae-ri will marry in May, his agency said Tuesday. Y One Entertainment said his fiancee is not a public figure and that the couple decided to spend their lives together based on “deep trust and affection.” The agency said the wedding will be held “quietly and meaningfully” with only family members and close acquaintances in attendance. It asked for understanding that details including the date, time and location will not be disclosed to protect the privacy of the fiancee an April 1, 2026
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  Italy Misses World Cup Again, Loses to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Penalties Italy, a four-time FIFA World Cup champion, failed once more to reach the tournament finals. Italy drew Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 after regulation and extra time, then lost 4-1 on penalties in the UEFA playoff Group A final for the 2026 North America World Cup on April 1 (Korean time) at Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The defeat means Italy has missed the World Cup finals for a third straight time. Italy won the World Cup in 1934 in Italy, 1938 in France, 1982 i April 1, 2026
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  South Korea to Open World Cup Group Play vs. Czech Republic After Playoff Win South Korea’s first opponent in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America will be the Czech Republic. The Czechs secured their place by beating Denmark 3-1 on penalties after the teams were tied 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time in the UEFA playoff Group D final at Epet Arena in Prague on April 1 (Korea time). It sends the Czech Republic to the World Cup finals for the first time in 20 years, since the 2006 tournament in Germany. With the Czech qualification April 1, 2026
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  Park Min-young Showcases OBZEE’s 26 Spring Collection in Dazed Pictorial Actor Park Min-young, who has returned to tvN’s drama “Siren,” is featured in a fashion pictorial for Dazed magazine’s April issue. Shot in Phuket, Thailand, the spread pairs Park’s polished, city-chic image with the resort backdrop. In the released images, Park models OBZEE’s 26 Spring collection with a sleek, modern look. One outfit combines a fluid blouse with a subtle sheen and draped lines with a glitter-fringe skirt, highlighting contrast in materials. Another look uses a dee April 1, 2026
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  BTS’ ‘SWIM’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 as ‘ARIRANG’ Tops Billboard 200 BTS swept Billboard’s charts again, led by its fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” and the title track “SWIM.” The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while “SWIM” rose to the top of the Hot 100 and other tracks from the album posted strong global results. According to Billboard’s latest rankings released March 31, “SWIM” hit No. 1 on the April 4-dated Hot 100. It became BTS’ seventh career Hot 100 No. 1, following “Dynamite,” “Savage Love,” “Life Goes On,” “Butter,” “Permission April 1, 2026
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  South Korea falls 1-0 to Austria as Son Heung-min held scoreless Hong Myung-bo’s South Korea squad lost to Austria in its final warmup before the last call-up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. South Korea fell 1-0 to Austria on April 1 (Korea time) at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. The defeat followed a 4-0 rout by Ivory Coast on March 28 in Milton Keynes, England, leaving South Korea winless in its two-match A match set with the World Cup call-up about three months away. It was South Korea’s first back-to-back A match lo April 1, 2026
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  Jeonju International Film Festival Unveils Lineup, Names Opening and Closing Films The Jeonju International Film Festival, a major showcase for independent and art-house cinema, has launched its 27th edition with a theme of pushing beyond traditional boundaries. Organizers named Kent Jones’ “My Private Artist” as the opening film, signaling what they described as a distinctly Jeonju-style program. A news conference announcing the lineup was held Monday afternoon at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul. Attendees included acting organizing committee chair Yoon Do March 31, 2026
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  Review: 'Project Hail Mary' Weighs Sacrifice vs. Survival Without Judgment * This article contains major spoilers for the film. The film ‘Project Hail Mary’ includes a scene in which three crew members — a pilot, an engineer and a scientist — talk before boarding a spacecraft meant to save Earth as the sun dies. Grace, the scientist, suddenly realizes he is the only scientist assigned and protests: “I get motion sickness even in an elevator.” Yao, the pilot, replies, “That’s good. There are no elevators on the ship.&rd March 31, 2026
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  Kim Hyo-joo rises to No. 3 in women’s world golf rankings after back-to-back LPGA wins Kim Hyo-joo, who has won the past two LPGA Tour events, climbed to No. 3 in the women’s world golf rankings. In the rankings released March 31 (Korean time), Kim had 6.71 points, up one spot from No. 4 last week. It is the best ranking of her career. Her previous high was No. 4, reached in March 2015 and again last week. Kim successfully defended her title at the Ford Championship, which ended March 30 at Whirlwind Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona. Following her victory at the previous e March 31, 2026
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  South Korea Passes Law to Promote Hanbok Culture and Industry A new legal framework has been put in place to systematically promote hanbok, a signature cultural asset tied to Korean history and identity. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on the 31st that the National Assembly passed a bill to enact the Hanbok Culture Industry Promotion Act. The measure marks the culmination of efforts that began with its first proposal in the 19th National Assembly in 2013, after repeated introductions and expirations. The ministry said it establishe March 31, 2026