Journalist
Joonha Yoo유준하
joonhayoo94@ajupress.com
ReporterCOEX Sejong Center for the Performing Arts & Music, Culture, Entertainment, Automotive
Joonha Yoo is a bilingual journalist at AJU Press (AJP), covering music, culture, entertainment and Korea’s automotive industry.
Raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, he often writes from the scene, bringing firsthand detail to stories ranging
from BTS comeback concerts to unique cultural events that catch the world's eye. "I write from the scene, not from the sidelines."
Raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, he often writes from the scene, bringing firsthand detail to stories ranging
from BTS comeback concerts to unique cultural events that catch the world's eye. "I write from the scene, not from the sidelines."
Latest by Joonha Yoo
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Court rejects bid to block wider distribution of box office hit 'The King's Warden' SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - A Seoul court has rejected a bid to block further distribution of The King's Warden, clearing a legal obstacle to the historical drama's release on streaming services, home video and other platforms. The Seoul Western District Court dismissed an injunction sought by the family of a screenwriter who alleged that the film had copied the script of the 2000s television drama Eom Heung-do. The application was filed against co-producers Onda Works and BA Entertainment, as well as distributor Showbox. Thursday's decision allows the companies to offer the film through over-the-top streaming platforms and DVDs, arrange screenings aboard aircraft and ships, and pursue further overseas distribution. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, The King's Warden has drawn about 16.88 million admissions since opening in February, making it the second-most-watched film in South Korean box office history. It trails only the 2014 historical epic Roaring Currents, which recorded about 17.61 million admissions. The court's 21st Civil Division, led by Presiding Judge Shin Myung-hee, found that the two works were not sufficiently similar despite drawing on the same historical figures and events. According to the ruling, the television screenplay is built around Confucian loyalty, depicting Eom Heung-do as unwaveringly devoted to the deposed King Danjong. The film instead focuses on how Danjong, Eom and the villagers change through their encounters, giving the two works different themes, narrative structures and characterizations. The court said similarities arising from their shared historical setting were insufficient to establish copying because the relationship between Danjong and Eom, the overall plots and the central themes differed. It also found no evidence that Jang, who revised the film's screenplay, had access to the plaintiffs' work. The allegations surfaced after the film's theatrical release, with the screenwriter's family claiming that the film had copied elements of the earlier drama. 2026-07-24 17:19:10 -
SM Entertainment to host running event for K-pop fans this fall SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - A running event bringing together K-pop singers and their fans will be held this autumn, talent mill SM Entertainment said on Friday. Dubbed "SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26," the event is scheduled to be held at Wangsan Marina in the western port city of Incheon on Oct. 3, featuring a 10-kilometer course followed by live performances by SM artists and singers. The event was inspired by the "SM London Run," a fan-coined name for an impromptu run last summer in which SHINee member Minho and fellow SM stars ran through central London while taking part in the annual SMTOWN LIVE tour in the city. Photos and videos from the outing went viral on social media, prompting the company to turn the idea into an official event. Those interested can sign up through sneaker resale platform KREAM from Aug. 6 to Aug. 13, with more information available on the event's official website and Instagram account. 2026-07-24 17:15:05 -
Jennie takes creative control of new single 'Less than a Lover' SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - BLACKPINK's Jennie released a new single, Less than a Lover, on Friday after taking part in both the songwriting and visual production of the project. The track arrived at 1 p.m. (0400 GMT), according to OA Entertainment. Jennie contributed to its lyrics and composition, drawing on the atmosphere of summer while developing the song. Less than a Lover centers on the anticipation and lingering uncertainty of a relationship suspended somewhere between friendship and romance, the agency said. Jennie also participated in directing the song's music video, extending her involvement beyond the recording process. She is set to headline Lollapalooza Chicago, which runs from July 30 to Aug. 2 at Grant Park, before performing at Summer Sonic 2026 in Tokyo on Aug. 14 and Osaka on Aug. 16. 2026-07-24 17:05:45 -
K-pop impresario Park Jin-young shows off biceps in photos for new single SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - K-pop singer and producer Park Jin-young on Friday shared several behind-the-scenes photos to promote his new single released the previous day. "WET" marks his first summer-themed single since "When We Disco," his 2020 collaboration with Sunmi, a former member of K-pop girl group Wonder Girls. The reggae-inspired track was also chosen as the main theme song for this year's "Waterbomb," one of South Korea's biggest summer music festivals. The photos show Park showcasing his choreography with dancers under red lighting during the single's music video shoot. His namesake agency, JYP Entertainment, said Park reduced his body fat percentage to below 10 percent for his return, showing off his biceps and toned physique. He wrote, composed and produced the single, describing it as "reggaeton with a Latin American sound that perfectly matches the heat of summer," and said it is about dancing until "your whole body is soaked in sweat." Park, who performed the song on Mnet's "M Countdown" the previous day, is set to appear at the Waterbomb festival in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Sunday. 2026-07-24 16:51:53 -
Seoul Arts Center chief Chang reports over $1 million cello collection SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) -A prized cello, bow and Steinway piano worth nearly $1 million appeared among the assets disclosed by internationally acclaimed cellist Han-Na Chang after she joined South Korea's mandatory wealth disclosure system as president of the Seoul Arts Center. Han-Na Chang, president of the Seoul Arts Center and an internationally acclaimed cellist, reported assets totaling 7.82 billion won ($5.6 million), according to a public asset disclosure released Friday by the Government Public Ethics Committee. The disclosure showed that Chang owns an apartment in Seoul's Gangnam District valued at 1.28 billion won and a detached house in California worth 653.5 million won. She reported 2.78 billion won in deposits and 1.74 billion won in securities. Her declared assets also included musical instruments valued at about 1.5 billion won, including a cello and bow worth 1.37 billion won and a Steinway piano valued at 133.7 million won. Chang reported the largest asset holdings among the heads of organizations under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism included in the latest disclosure. Kim Kyung-bae, president of the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, reported assets of 2.24 billion won, followed by Jeon Woo-yong, chairman of the King Sejong Institute Foundation, with 1.94 billion won. Yoo Mi-jung, chief executive of the National Symphony Orchestra, reported assets of 1.46 billion won, while Kim Seung-soo, president of the Korea Publishing Industry Promotion Agency, reported 612.6 million won. Hwang Kyo-ik, president of the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, reported assets of 56.7 million won despite owning an apartment valued at 830.2 million won, with debts totaling 1.33 billion won. 2026-07-24 15:46:49 -
Korea spotlights heritage impact assessments versus developments SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - Korea will bring together international heritage experts to discuss how Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) can help safeguard UNESCO World Heritage sites from mounting pressure caused by development projects, tourism and climate change, the Korea National University of Heritage, which operates under the Korea Heritage Service, said Friday. The forum, titled Making Impact Assessment Work for World Heritage: From Capacity Building to Practice, will be held from 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 25 in Room 101 at BEXCO in Busan as an official side event of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The event is organized by the Centre for World Heritage and Sustainable Development at the Korea National University of Heritage in cooperation with the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and UNESCO's World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region, Shanghai. According to the university, Heritage Impact Assessments are becoming increasingly important as governments seek to evaluate how development projects, infrastructure expansion, tourism and climate change could affect the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties before projects move forward. The forum will explore ways to integrate the assessments into heritage conservation, site management and development planning. The program will open with presentations on international, regional and national efforts to strengthen impact assessment capacity. Speakers include Eugene Jo of the ICCROM-IUCN World Heritage Leadership Program, Li Hong of UNESCO WHITR-AP Shanghai, and Seolin Kim of the Korea National University of Heritage. The presentations will be followed by a roundtable discussion on the legal, institutional and practical challenges of implementing Heritage Impact Assessments. The discussion will examine Korea's legal and institutional framework before experts from Norway, Ireland and Japan share their national experiences in implementing the system. The Korea National University of Heritage said the forum aims to contribute to international discussions on Heritage Impact Assessments while strengthening Korea's capacity to conserve and manage World Heritage sites in line with international standards. The university also plans to expand cooperation with UNESCO WHITR-AP Shanghai on education and professional training in Heritage Impact Assessments. 2026-07-24 11:30:40 -
Korea brings galleries, auction houses under mandatory art-market registration SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - South Korea will require galleries, auction houses and other art businesses to register with local authorities beginning July 26, marking the country's first comprehensive effort to bring the commercial art market under a unified regulatory system, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday. The new system applies to six business categories: galleries, art auctions, art advisory services, art rental and sales, appraisal services, and exhibition operators. Businesses must register separately from their standard business registration. The registration requirement was newly established under Article 18 of the Fine Arts Promotion Act, which was enacted in 2023 and takes effect this year after a three-year preparation period. The requirement extends beyond major auction houses and established galleries. Online platforms that repeatedly broker art sales, individuals who continuously engage in art sales as a business — including artists selling their own work — foreign galleries operating in Korea, and regularly held art fairs may also be required to register, according to ministry guidance. One-off private sales and temporary exhibitions are generally exempt. The ministry said the system is intended to improve transparency in an industry where transaction records, auction disclosures and appraisal standards have not previously been subject to uniform rules. It also expects the registration framework to provide a clearer picture of Korea's commercial art market, supporting future policy development. Registered galleries, auction houses, advisers and art dealers will be required to keep records of the artworks they handle, including the type of artwork, transaction date, title, artist, sale price and seller. They must also provide information needed to administer artists' resale royalty payments. Auction houses must disclose winning bids and whether buyers have completed payment. They are also prohibited from participating in their own auctions or engaging in practices that undermine fair bidding. If an auction house offers a work owned or managed by the operator or a relative, that relationship must be disclosed to bidders before the auction. Separate rules apply to appraisal businesses. Appraisers must remain independent from clients and other market participants and issue appraisal reports using a government-designated format. They are prohibited from issuing false appraisal reports, conducting sole appraisals of works owned or circulated by themselves or close relatives where conflicts of interest may arise, and accepting compensation beyond appraisal fees and related expenses. They are also barred from offering money or other benefits in exchange for appraisal work. Businesses that fail to register or violate their obligations may face administrative fines or suspension of operations. However, the ministry will operate a one-year grace period through July 25, 2027, postponing penalties while local governments and related agencies help businesses adapt to the new requirements. Once the registration system is fully in place, the ministry said it plans to use the data collected to develop policies and support programs tailored to different sectors of the art market. "The art service business registration system will help build consumer confidence in the art market and support its continued growth," Jeong Hyang-mi, head of the ministry's Culture and Arts Policy Office, said. 2026-07-24 11:28:17 -
China-based K-pop boy group CIIU to release album next month SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - China-based K-pop boy group CIIU will release their first extended play (EP) next month since making their debut last year, their agency JYP Entertainment said on Friday. CIIU debuted in August 2025 under JYP Entertainment's "Globalization by Localization" strategy, which develops artists tailored to individual overseas markets. The strategy first produced Boy Story in China before expanding to Japan-based girl group NiziU and U.S.-based girl group VCHA. Following their debut, CIIU's first single entered the top 10 of QQ Music's daily popularity and trending charts. With the EP, "Closer To 'You'" slated for release on Aug. 4, its title track "Closer" centers on themes of youth and emotional growth, portraying the journey of growing closer to someone. The release is built around the group's signature "C-Tro Pop" style, which blends Chinese retro influences with contemporary pop. The promotional rollout began earlier this month with the release of a teaser poster and concept film. On July 14, CIIU pre-released the B-side track "Step By Step" along with its accompanying music video. The song combines the sound of a traditional Chinese wind instrument with hip-hop elements. Another B-side, "Next To You," is scheduled for release on Aug. 19. Beyond music, the boys have expanded their presence in China through collaborations with local brands and promotional events. They were recently selected as an advertising model for Chinese electric bicycle brand Xinri and are partnering with theme park operator Fantawild for promotional events. They are also scheduled to perform at the 2026 TMELive International Music Awards on Aug. 22 before meeting fans in Shanghai on Aug. 29 to mark the first anniversary of their debut. 2026-07-24 11:14:55 -
K-pop quartet aespa release new album in Japan SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - K-pop girl group aespa released their first Japanese mini album on Friday as they seek to expand their presence in Japan. "KISS N TELL" features six songs including the title track of the same name, a dance-pop song with upbeat piano melodies, rhythmic beats and layered harmonies, with lyrics exploring deepening friendships through shared personal concerns and emotions, according to their agency SM Entertainment. Released alongside the album, the music video for the title track is set in an amusement park and showcases the quartet's choreography against bright, summery visuals. The album also includes "ATTITUDE," a theme song for the Japanese television anime "Kill Blue"; "In Halo," featured in the drama "First Bite"; and three new songs, "Orbit Pop," "Fangirl" and "Done with Rules." The latest release comes about two years after aespa debuted in Japan with their single "Hot Mess" in 2024. Meanwhile, aespa will perform at this year's Lollapalooza Chicago in Grant Park, a music festival in Illinois, in August. 2026-07-24 11:04:48 -
Hyundai flags Europe drag as sales target comes under pressure SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) -Shares of Hyundai Motor have nearly halved from their June peak entering the second half, and the automaker on Thursday signaled its annual sales target could come under pressure as weak European demand offsets resilient profitability. South Korea's largest automaker reported an operating profit of 2.851 trillion won ($1.94 billion) for the April-June period, down 20.8 percent from a year earlier, even as revenue rose 1.9 percent to a record 49.215 trillion won. Operating margin narrowed to 5.8 percent from 7.5 percent a year earlier. The results came in slightly below analysts' consensus forecasts of about 2.90 trillion won in operating profit and a 6.0 percent operating margin. During the earnings conference call, Hyundai said annual wholesale sales could fall short of its original target amid persistent market uncertainty, while maintaining its full-year operating margin guidance of 6.3 percent to 7.3 percent on expectations of a richer product mix and growing hybrid demand. "Based on current forecasts and various indicators, we may fall short" of the annual wholesale sales target, Chief Financial Officer Lee Seung-joo told analysts, while stopping short of a formal downgrade. Lee noted Hyundai has missed its annual sales target in each of the past three years while still meeting its revenue and profitability goals. Updated sales assumptions will be presented at the company's Investor Day in late August after gaining greater visibility into second-half market conditions. Europe has emerged as Hyundai's biggest challenge for the remainder of the year. Wholesale shipments in the region fell 10.9 percent from a year earlier to 144,000 vehicles as aging core models, including the Tucson and Kona, lost momentum while Chinese electric vehicle makers intensified price competition. Lee said Europe has grown into a larger industry market than the United States, making the slowdown particularly significant for Hyundai. The company expects the launch of the Ioniq 3, positioned as a competitively priced compact EV, and a redesigned Tucson later this year to strengthen its lineup. Hyundai aims to sell more than 20,000 Ioniq 3 vehicles in the second half, although the redesigned Tucson will not reach Europe until the fourth quarter. "Hitting our original European target this year will be difficult," Lee said, adding that a more meaningful recovery is likely next year after both new models have been on sale for a full year. The Ioniq 3 is intended to expand Hyundai's presence in Europe's mass-market EV segment rather than maximize near-term profitability as the company seeks to counter rapidly expanding Chinese rivals. Much of the second-quarter volume decline stemmed from a fire at an engine-valve supplier that disrupted production at Hyundai's largest domestic plant, halting Genesis and Palisade output for several weeks. Replacement parts were qualified by May, allowing production to normalize. A separate fire at a Hyundai Mobis supplier also temporarily disrupted production at Hyundai's Indian plant. Global wholesale shipments consequently fell 6.9 percent from a year earlier to 992,000 vehicles. Despite softer vehicle demand, Hyundai expects profitability to remain resilient thanks to a stronger sales mix. Hybrid vehicles accounted for a record 18.9 percent of global wholesale shipments during the quarter. In the United States, hybrids represented a record 26.2 percent of sales, helping lift Hyundai's market share to 6.3 percent, up 0.2 percentage point from a year earlier and marking its fifth consecutive quarter above the 6 percent threshold. The company attributed the decline in operating profit primarily to weaker sales volume, which reduced earnings by 542 billion won, and a less favorable product and incentive mix, which cut another 570 billion won. Lee said the weaker mix reflected roughly 200 billion won in lost Genesis and Palisade production following the supplier fire, along with about 400 billion won in higher incentives following the repeal of U.S. EV tax credits, intensifying Chinese EV competition in Europe and inventory clearance ahead of new model launches. Those headwinds were partly offset by roughly 400 billion won from a richer hybrid mix. Favorable exchange rates added 238 billion won, while the financial services division contributed 106 billion won. Higher raw material costs, driven by Middle East geopolitical tensions and inflation, increased expenses by roughly 400 billion won during the quarter. About half of the increase was offset through cost-cutting measures, with further relief expected in the second half as raw material prices stabilize. Executives also said U.S. tariff-related costs should become more manageable in the second half because of a more favorable comparison base, although they cautioned that policy uncertainty remains. Tariff-related costs totaled about 900 billion won in both the first and second quarters, compared with 1.8 trillion won in the third quarter of last year and 1.5 trillion won in the fourth. Shares of Hyundai Motor closed 3.35 percent higher at 432,000 won on Thursday despite the weaker earnings, though the stock remains about 45 percent below its June 1 peak of 783,000 won. 2026-07-23 17:22:38