Aju Press - Asia News Hub

Journalist

Joonha Yoo유준하

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."

Latest by Joonha Yoo

Korea tourism archive to help build Nexon Games' 'Woochi' SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - About 71,000 photos and videos from the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) will help build the landscapes and cultural settings of Nexon Games' upcoming fantasy adventure "Woochi the Wayfarer." The game is set in the Joseon era and draws inspiration from the classic Korean novel "The Tale of Jeon Woo-chi," which follows a mischievous wizard who uses supernatural powers to fight evil forces. Nexon Games and KTO signed an agreement Friday to use the tourism agency's visual archive from the early stages of game development. The materials will help developers recreate Korean scenery, nature and cultural heritage more realistically in the game's virtual world. KTO's nationwide tourism database contains professionally shot and reviewed images and videos. The archive was selected for the government's AI and High-Value Data Top 100 project. The tourism agency said verified materials can help reduce distortion and factual errors when Korean landscapes and cultural assets are reproduced digitally. The cooperation will also extend to tourism marketing tied to the game. Nexon Games and KTO plan to explore ways to introduce overseas players to real Korean destinations that inspired locations in the game when it is officially launched. Kim Young-mi, head of KTO's tourism AI innovation division, said the project shows how the agency's data can be used beyond AI training in industries such as gaming. AJP Takeaways - KTO will provide about 71,000 Korean tourism photos and videos to Nexon Games. - The data will be used for the upcoming game "Woochi the Wayfarer." - The game is inspired by the classic Korean novel "The Tale of Jeon Woo-chi." 2026-09-14 14:19:52
K-pop boy band NCT WISH to drop new album next month SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - K-pop boy group NCT WISH will return with their fourth mini album next month, about six months after releasing their first full-length album, SM Entertainment said on Monday. The six-track EP, titled "I SPY," will be released through major music platforms on Oct. 12, led by a title track of the same name. A physical version will also be released the same day, with preorders opening on Monday through major online and offline music retailers. The new album follows NCT WISH's first studio album, "Ode to Love," released in April. According to SM Entertainment, the album marked the group's third consecutive million-selling release and set career highs in both album sales and digital performance. Ahead of the release, NCT WISH teased a trailer titled "Confused Boy" on their YouTube channel. The trailer introduces a new digital world called "WISH LAND," where the members encounter a mysterious presence called "energy." The group also released the Japanese single "YO-I-DON! / BOY MEETS GIRL" in July. The single has surpassed 500,000 cumulative shipments and earned double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan. AJP Takeaways - NCT WISH will release their fourth mini album, "I SPY," on Oct. 12. - The six-track album includes a title track of the same name. - The release comes about six months after the group's first full-length album, "Ode to Love." 2026-09-14 11:14:53
RIIZE celebrate 3rd anniversary of debut with plans for new albums SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - K-pop boy group RIIZE unveiled plans for a new single next month and a second full-length album next spring during a sold-out fan event in Incheon over the weekend, SM Entertainment said on Monday. They held their third-anniversary event, dubbed "Ch. RIIZE: ON AIR," on Saturday and Sunday at Inspire Arena in Incheon, with the venue opened in a 360-degree configuration for the event, drawing about 23,000 people over the two days. RIIZE performed their hit songs including "Do Your Dance," "Fly Up" and "Get A Guitar," along with covers of EXO's "The Eve" and T-ara's "Bo Peep Bo Peep." Individual stages were also presented under a trainee-evaluation concept with Shotaro performing "Text Me," Eunseok "Love Like Oxygen," Sungchan "BOSS," Wonbin "Moon of Seoul," Sohee "And July" and Anton "Lost Stars." At the end of the event, they unveiled their plans to release a single on Oct. 26 before their second full-length album next spring. Built around the concept of a fictional broadcast channel, the event featured segments styled after news programs, commercials, dramas, variety shows and educational content. The event also included games, dance challenges and runway-style stages between performances. Responding to an encore chant from the crowd, RIIZE returned to perform "SOAR," "In a Loop" and "One Kiss." At Sunday's show, members and fans marked Sungchan's birthday with a surprise cake and a group singalong. RIIZE said the event brought back memories of their debut showcase and thanked fans for celebrating the anniversary together. The group closed the event with their slogan, "RIIZE, BRIIZE, rise." AJP Takeaways - RIIZE held their third-anniversary fan event in Incheon on Sept. 12 and 13. - The sold-out event drew about 23,000 people over two days. - RIIZE announced the upcoming release of their single on Oct. 26. 2026-09-14 11:03:43
aespa set to release single of concert tracks SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - K-pop girl group aespa will release four solo tracks performed during their Seoul concert in August, their agency SM Entertainment said on Monday. The songs are set to be released at 6 p.m. later in the day through major music streaming platforms under the title "SYNK : COMPLaeXITY - 2026 Special Digital Single." The tracks were first unveiled during aespa's concert at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul and feature solo songs by all four members. Karina took part in writing "16 Bit," an R&B dance track that uses the image of pixels to describe moments when one's sense of self becomes blurred. Winter's "Saddle Up" is another R&B dance track, carrying a bold and self-assured message through her vocals. Giselle took part in writing and composing "BYEB4HELLO," a track marked by bright energy and a shift in mood. Ningning's "I Love You But I Gotta Let You Go" is a ballad centered on her vocals and a sweeping string arrangement. The single comes as aespa members continue their fourth world tour. Following a stop in Taipei, the group's concerts in Santiago, Lima and Mexico City sold out, while their Brazil show drew about 21,000 people. AJP Takeaways - aespa will release four solo tracks at 6 p.m. Monday. - The songs were first performed at the group's Gocheok Sky Dome concert in August. - The release includes solo tracks by Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning. - Giselle and Ningning took part in writing and composing their tracks, while Karina joined the lyric writing for hers. 2026-09-14 10:41:33
'Prost!' Oktoberfest fills Seoul with beer, brass bands and crowds SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - A vast white festival tent rose across the main plaza of Seoul's Oil Tank Culture Park on Saturday, surrounded by rows of blue parasols, beer and food stalls and crowds spilling beyond its entrance. A long line stretched along the park's main walkway toward the festival grounds. In the outdoor Beer Garden, visitors moved between tables, food stands, merchandise booths and a stall renting Bavarian-style clothing. Some of the longest lines were for beer. Visitors queued at German beer counters before carrying heavy glass steins back to their tables, while trays of Schweinshaxe, sausages, schnitzel and pretzels came out from nearby food stalls. Dirndls and lederhosen mixed with T-shirts and jeans. Some visitors had arrived already dressed for the occasion. Others stopped to rent an outfit or picked up chicken-shaped hats sold around the grounds. At the center of it all was the Big Tent. Built for roughly 4,500 seats, the white structure took up much of the festival site. Inside, rows of tables stretched toward the stage beneath strips of blue, yellow and burgundy fabric hanging from the high ceiling, with beer mugs and plates crowding the tabletops. The room did not stay seated for long. When the German brass band began playing "Ein Prosit," steins went up around the tent. Visitors leaned across tables to shout "Prost," clink glasses and dance beside their chairs. Some linked arms while others held up phones toward the stage. At one point, the musicians left the stage and moved through the crowd, playing trumpets and clarinets between the tables. What had looked minutes earlier like a huge dining hall had turned into a standing party. "It felt like they had created a place for us to actually join in," said Lee Hyun-seok, a 38-year-old office worker from Suwon who regularly attends beer festivals. Lee said he has been to the Songdo Beer Festival, Cass festivals and several similar events in South Korea, but found the atmosphere here different. "At some beer festivals, it feels more like you are drinking while watching celebrities perform," he said. "Here, I was drinking while actually becoming part of the party." He recalled people doing the chicken dance, linking arms and singing along with others around them. "It felt like everyone became part of the same group," he said. The crowd also caught him off guard. Lee said the Big Tent felt packed once he entered and queues formed around both beer and food counters. At one point, he estimated that he waited about an hour to get a beer. "I didn't know people would be this serious about it," Lee said. "Koreans were coming dressed in German traditional clothes and wearing chicken hats. You could tell people really came here to enjoy themselves." Outside the tent, the festival was more spread out. Rows of blue parasols covered the Beer Garden, where visitors sat with drinks or moved between food stalls, photo zones and sponsor booths. Some sat on nearby grass while others stopped along the park's walkways before heading back toward the tent. FC Bayern Munich was operating a pop-up booth on the grounds. Bavarian-style outfits were available for rent, and other stalls sold festival goods and food. Ten German beer brands are being served during the festival, including Paulaner, Krombacher and Schneider, alongside South Korean craft brewer Original Beer Company. The venue itself gives the festival an unusual backdrop. Oil Tank Culture Park was once the Mapo Oil Depot, a petroleum storage complex built in the 1970s after the first oil crisis. It was closed ahead of the 2002 World Cup and later converted into a cultural space, reopening to the public in 2017. The old cylindrical tanks still rise around the park, looking down over the festival grounds. For Kate Schmidt, a 29-year-old German living in Gwangmyeong, parts of the Seoul festival felt familiar. She pointed to the brass band, the colorful fabric hanging from the Big Tent ceiling, heart-shaped gingerbread necklaces and the outdoor Beer Garden. "You could see how much effort went into giving the Big Tent a German feel," Schmidt said. "The indoor atmosphere was lively and the energy felt very real. People were dancing everywhere." She said Munich's Oktoberfest is much larger, with more than 10 major beer tents offering different food, drinks and atmospheres. Seoul has one main Big Tent. "But it still brought back a lot of memories," she said. Schmidt also noticed children around the festival grounds. "Oktoberfest in Germany is also a festival where a lot of families come," she said. "So I really liked seeing children here too." Oktoberfest Seoul 2026 opened Saturday for a 10-day run through Sept. 21. Organizers say it is the first event in South Korea officially authorized by Munich to use the Oktoberfest name. The original Oktoberfest dates to 1810, when celebrations were held in Munich for the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig, later King Ludwig I, and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The festivities included a horse race on the grounds now known as Theresienwiese, which remains the home of Oktoberfest. The large beer halls now associated with the festival developed later in the 19th century. Seoul's opening ceremony also drew on traditions from Munich. Before the first keg was tapped, Jörn Beißert, deputy head of mission at the German Embassy in Seoul, welcomed the crowd and said Oktoberfest was about more than beer, food and music. Germany and South Korea already cooperate closely in areas including business, science, politics and research, he said, but formal ties were only part of the relationship. "What matters most is when people come together, talk, laugh and meet new friends, like today," Beißert said. "I think that is when ties become even stronger." He said organizers wanted the festival to provide that kind of meeting place, bringing German tradition together with Seoul's atmosphere and hospitality. After his remarks, attention turned to a wooden beer keg on the stage. Getting it open took more than a few swings of the mallet. Schmidt found that particularly amusing. "In Germany, people joke about how many hits it takes someone to open the keg," she said, laughing. "Today, it took quite a lot." The joke has a history of its own. Munich's official keg-tapping tradition began in 1950, when then-Mayor Thomas Wimmer needed 17 strikes to open the first barrel. The best recorded performance since then is two. Once the keg was tapped, the Bavarian call "O'zapft is!" — "It is tapped" — marked the opening of the festival. Communal toasts followed before the brass band took over. Among those who had gone to some effort to dress for the occasion was Shin Ji-su, a 22-year-old university student from Seoul. She came with four friends. All five had bought Bavarian-style outfits online before the festival. "We like going to festivals together, and as soon as we found out about this one, we decided to come," Shin said. For her, the appeal went beyond beer. "There are limits to learning about another country from a history book or in class," she said. "When you actually experience the culture somewhere, there is an atmosphere and liveliness that writing, pictures or videos can't give you." Her group had already spotted its next purchase near the entrance: chicken hats. Schmidt said seeing Korean visitors embrace the clothing, music and other festival traditions was one of the things she enjoyed most. "It made me really happy that an event like this was happening in Korea," she said. "Seeing Korean people and people from different countries all enjoying themselves together made me proud to be German." She said she hoped more events like it would give people opportunities to experience German culture outside formal settings. A German Culture Showroom at Oil Tank 6 is also running during the festival's two weekends, with books, short films, children's activities and information on studying and living in Germany. By late afternoon, the band was still playing inside the Big Tent. Another song started. People got back on their feet, and the beer glasses went up again. 2026-09-13 19:28:41
Korean shamanism finds new life in pop culture SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Drums pound, bells shake and chants rise as a mudang, or Korean shaman, appears to slip between worlds, communicating with spirits through an electrifying ritual of music, dance and trance. For millions of moviegoers, the spectacle became familiar through a famous gut scene in director Jang Jae-hyun's 2024 occult blockbuster "Exhuma." Gut, an ancient Korean shamanic ritual performed to communicate with spirits, comfort the dead, seek blessings or ward off misfortune, has traditionally taken place largely away from public view. Now it is moving onto the stage. The Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre's "Gut: Whispering Steps," running at the Sejong Center in Seoul through Sunday, takes its central motif from mugamseogi, a practice found in Seoul gut in which the person for whom the ritual is held puts on a shaman's robes and dances spontaneously near its climax. Onstage, the ritual is dismantled and rebuilt in a contemporary language. The shaman's fan and bells become theatrical objects, while obangsaek, the traditional five-direction colors, runs through the costumes and choreography. Contemporary music and cinematic imagery push the ritual into a new artistic form. The production arrives as Korean shamanism is appearing far beyond ritual space. It has driven a box-office blockbuster, supplied the premise for a dating show and helped shape the spiritual world behind the most-watched original title in Netflix history. The convergence raises a question: After K-pop opened one of the world's biggest gateways into Korean culture, could the country's much older spiritual traditions become another? For artistic director Yoon Hye-jung, the attraction of mugamseogi was not primarily supernatural. Yoon said she encountered the practice while researching shamanic dances from five regions of Korea. What caught her attention was the shift in agency. A person may commission a gut in hopes of comfort or good fortune, but in mugamseogi, that person ultimately puts on the shaman's clothes and moves. "If our ancestors had a process of finding themselves through mugamseogi, I thought we also need that process today," Yoon said at a press call Thursday. In popular culture, Korean shamanism is increasingly moving beyond its long association with fortune-telling and superstition. Director Jang Jae-hyun's "Exhuma," centered on two young shamans, a feng shui expert and a mortician, sold 11.91 million tickets in South Korea and became the country's most-watched film of 2024. Its appeal did not stop at Korea's borders. By the end of March 2024, the film had drawn more than 2.23 million moviegoers in Vietnam and 2.3 million in Indonesia, setting records for a Korean film in both markets at the time. The numbers suggested that rituals, spirits and beliefs deeply rooted in Korean culture were not necessarily barriers for audiences elsewhere. Television took another route. SBS reality show "Possessed Love" placed young fortune tellers and spiritual practitioners inside a dating program, mixing romance with saju readings, tarot cards, shamanic practices and questions of fate. Its second season was sold to 62 countries. Then the imagery went fully global through "KPop Demon Hunters." The Netflix animation combines K-pop with Korean folklore and supernatural imagery in the story of three pop stars who fight demons. Since its June 20, 2025 debut, it has amassed more than 600 million views, becoming Netflix's most popular original title ever and the first to remain in its Global Top 10 for 52 consecutive weeks. It entered the Top 10 in all 93 countries where Netflix publishes rankings and reached No. 1 in 76. Those numbers do not mean hundreds of millions of viewers suddenly became interested in Korean shamanism. But they do mean imagery drawing partly on Korea's older spiritual traditions has reached a global audience on an extraordinary scale. Angie Heo, an associate professor of the anthropology and sociology of religion at the University of Chicago, has linked the spectacle of K-pop in the film with the performative character of Korean shamanism. "Shamanism is also a performance. It's dancing, it's a lot of music," Heo said in an interview published by the University of Chicago. She cautioned, however, against equating the film's demon hunters with actual Korean shamans, whose role traditionally involves dealing with restless spirits rather than hunting demons. For some Korean viewers, the film's success has nevertheless changed the scale at which they imagine such stories can travel. Jeong Je-hyeon, a 36-year-old office worker in northern Gyeonggi Province, said Korean occult films including "The Priests," "The Wailing," "Svaha: The Sixth Finger" and "Exhuma" gradually drew him into the genre. "It no longer feels like movies such as 'Exhuma' are the ones introducing Korean shamanism or occult culture to the world," Jeong told AJP. "After 'KPop Demon Hunters' became such a big hit, it almost feels like it is now leading the way in introducing Korean occult stories overseas." "I don't think Korean shamanism is any less compelling than zombies or jiangshi," he added. "The stories themselves are strong and they have a clear narrative arc. I think they could go much further." Still, a string of successful productions does not establish the arrival of a new genre called "K-shamanism." K-pop is an identifiable commercial industry backed by entertainment companies, training systems, distribution networks and global fandoms. Korean shamanism, by contrast, is a living religious and folk tradition with regional variations that cannot be reduced to demons, colorful costumes or supernatural spectacle. What appears to be happening instead is that shamanism is becoming a cultural vocabulary translated into different forms — an occult mystery in "Exhuma," a reality-TV premise in "Possessed Love," a pop fantasy in "KPop Demon Hunters" and now contemporary dance in "Gut: Whispering Steps." Yoon said the dance company deliberately avoided reproducing an actual gut. Instead, it selected recognizable elements including obangsaek, the shaman's fan and bells, and amplified them for the stage. The point, she said, was not to celebrate shamanism as a belief system. It was to recognize gut as part of the lives of earlier generations and use fragments of that tradition to tell a story for audiences today. That tension between tradition and reinvention may help explain why gut has become fertile material for contemporary creators. The ritual already contains music, dance, costumes, storytelling and collective performance. Its themes of grief, fortune, death, healing and release can travel even when audiences know little about the tradition behind them. But the further shamanic imagery moves from the ritual itself, the greater the risk that a complex living tradition is flattened into bright robes, demons and spectacle. For decades, K-pop gave audiences abroad a distinctly modern entry point into South Korea. Now Korean creators are increasingly looking in the opposite direction — toward rituals, spirits and worldviews that existed long before K-pop. Whether that eventually becomes something recognizable as "K-shamanism" remains an open question. What is already visible is the translation: a door widened by K-pop is now leading some audiences deeper into Korea's cultural past. AJP Takeaways - Korean shamanism is moving beyond ritual spaces into mainstream culture, appearing in films, reality TV, animation and contemporary dance. - "Exhuma" drew 11.91 million admissions in South Korea, while "Possessed Love" was sold to 62 countries, showing that shamanic themes can travel across formats and markets. - Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" pushed Korean supernatural imagery onto a far larger global stage, surpassing 600 million views and reaching the Top 10 in all 93 markets tracked by Netflix. 2026-09-11 16:28:53
Japan looks to introduce Korea's AI-backed copyright system SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Japan has secured budget funding to introduce a system modeled on South Korea's AI-backed response to online copyright infringement, Seoul's culture ministry said Friday. Japanese officials saw a demonstration of the Korea Copyright Protection Agency's integrated response system at a bilateral seminar in 2024 and later secured funding to consider a similar system in Japan, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The disclosure came as the ministry and Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology held the 2026 Korea-Japan government copyright meeting and seminar in Seoul from Wednesday to Thursday. The countries have held the meeting annually, alternating locations, since signing a copyright cooperation agreement in 2011. At Wednesday's session, the two sides discussed how to balance copyright protection with wider use of creative works as AI technology advances rapidly. South Korea briefed Japan on its funding plans, including tripling next year's budget for opening public-sector copyrighted materials as AI training data and setting aside 3.1 billion won ($2.2 million) for research into AI copyright trust governance technologies. Japanese officials also asked about a Korean working group set up to shape AI copyright policy, including its discussions and policy guidelines. The two governments agreed to continue talks on AI-related copyright issues at next year's meeting. They also discussed copyright enforcement, royalty collection and distribution, and revisions to each country's copyright law. On Thursday, the Japanese delegation visited the Korea Music Copyright Association to discuss royalty collection and distribution. Japanese officials stressed the need for transparency in how royalties are collected and distributed, and showed interest in the association's standards and procedures for collecting performance royalties. Choi Young-jin, director general of the ministry's Copyright Bureau, said the talks helped the two countries share policy experience on AI-related copyright issues and online infringement response. AJP Takeaways - Japan has secured budget funding to consider a system modeled on Korea's online copyright infringement response system. - The issue was discussed during the 2026 Korea-Japan government copyright meeting and seminar in Seoul. - Korea briefed Japan on AI-era copyright policies, including AI training data and trust governance R&D. 2026-09-11 14:03:31
aespa to release 4 solo tracks as digital single SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - K-pop girl group aespa will release four solo tracks first performed at its Seoul concert last month as a special digital single, the group's agency SM Entertainment said Friday. The tracks will be released at 6 p.m. on Sept. 14 through major music streaming platforms under the title "SYNK : COMPLaeXITY - 2026 Special Digital Single." All four songs were performed as solo stages during aespa's fourth solo concert at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul in August. Karina's "16 Bit" is an R&B dance track built around a heavy groove and layered synth sounds. She took part in writing the lyrics, which compare moments of blurred self-perception to pixels breaking apart and coming back together. Winter's "Saddle Up" is also an R&B dance track, with a groovy arrangement and rhythmic topline. The song carries a confident message about asking someone to prove sincerity through action rather than words. Giselle took part in composing and writing "BYEB4HELLO," a track that pairs bright energy with a shift in mood. The lyrics center on longing for someone despite knowing the relationship cannot continue. Ningning took part in writing and composing her solo ballad "I Love You But I Gotta Let You Go." The song features a sweeping string section and deals with the pain of letting go of someone she loves. The release comes as aespa continues its fourth world tour across 25 regions, including stops in North America, South America and Europe. AJP Takeaways - aespa will release four solo tracks on Sept. 14. - The songs were first performed at the group's Seoul concert at Gocheok Sky Dome in August. - Karina, Giselle and Ningning took part in writing or composing their solo tracks. 2026-09-11 14:03:10
NiziU's receives platinum certificate in Japan SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - K-pop girl group NiziU's second Japanese EP has earned platinum certification in Japan, JYP Entertainment said Friday. "GOOD GIRL BUT NOT FOR YOU," released in Japan on April 1, received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan. The industry body awards platinum status to albums that reach cumulative shipments of 250,000 copies. The EP is led by "Too Bad," a title track built around the theme of moving forward on one's own terms. The certification comes as NiziU prepares to release its first Korean mini album, "Sour Grapes," on Sept. 28. JYP Entertainment has been rolling out promotional material for the album, including a prologue film, mood posters, a promotion scheduler and a digital cover image. "Sour Grapes" will mark NiziU's first Korean release in about a year and a half since its second Korean single, "LOVE LINE," in March 2025. The group made its Korean debut in October 2023 with the single "Press Play." NiziU will release "Sour Grapes" at 6 p.m. on Sept. 28. AJP Takeaways - NiziU's Japanese EP "GOOD GIRL BUT NOT FOR YOU" received platinum certification in Japan. - Platinum status is given to albums with cumulative shipments of 250,000 copies. - The certification comes ahead of NiziU's Korean comeback on Sept. 28. 2026-09-11 13:53:33
KOSPI defends 7,000 despite foreign selloff SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) -- South Korean stocks recovered from steep early losses on Thursday, with the KOSPI holding above 7,000 despite heavy foreign selling and elevated oil prices, while the KOSDAQ turned higher on institutional buying and semiconductor gains. The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.25 percent or 17.72 points to close at 7,033.92. The index dropped as low as 6,898.45 in morning trading, briefly losing the 6,900 level, before recovering more than 130 points from its intraday low. It reached a session high of 7,072.79. Foreign investors sold 2.48 trillion won (US$1.85 billion) worth of shares, while institutions bought 433.4 billion won and retail investors purchased 380.2 billion won. Risk appetite weakened early as international oil prices remained near their highest levels since May amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Brent crude held above $100 a barrel, raising concerns that prolonged disruptions to Middle East energy supplies could add to inflationary pressure. U.S. Treasury yields also remained elevated, with the benchmark 10-year yield near 4.8 percent after a Treasury bond buyback plan fell short of market expectations. The combination of higher oil prices and bond yields pressured Asian equities broadly. Samsung Electronics slipped 0.19 percent to 269,000 won and SK hynix edged down 0.16 percent to 1,853,000 won. Both had fallen more than 2 percent during the session before recovering most of their losses. Foreign selling was concentrated in the two chip heavyweights, while institutional and corporate buying absorbed part of the pressure. Sentiment improved during the session after TSMC reported record August sales, reinforcing expectations that demand linked to artificial intelligence infrastructure remains strong. SK hynix also remained in focus after JPMorgan maintained an overweight view on the chipmaker, citing the emergence of agentic AI and expectations that rising memory requirements could extend the semiconductor upcycle. Insurance and energy-related stocks outperformed the broader market. Hanwha Life gained 4.73 percent and Samsung Life rose 1.98 percent, helping life insurance shares advance 2.2 percent as a group. Gas utility shares also climbed as renewed Middle East tensions kept energy supply risks in focus. GSE rose 5.9 percent and Daesung Energy gained 4.45 percent. Aerospace and defense shares advanced 1.47 percent amid the renewed geopolitical uncertainty. Sempio hit the daily upper limit of 30 percent after announcing plans to cancel treasury shares equivalent to nearly 30 percent of its outstanding stock. The company plans to cancel 860,332 shares, or 29.92 percent of shares issued, boosting expectations for improved shareholder value. Elsewhere, Hyundai Motor edged up 0.26 percent to 389,000 won, while Doosan Enerbility fell 1.96 percent to 89,900 won. Hanwha Ocean declined 2.95 percent and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries dropped 2.2 percent. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ reversed early losses to close 0.79 percent higher at 836.92. The index opened lower and fell as far as 813.66 before turning higher in afternoon trading. It reached an intraday high of 839.05. Institutions drove the rebound, buying 1.35 trillion won worth of shares. Foreign investors sold 1.07 trillion won, while retail investors offloaded 269.9 billion won. Semiconductor-related stocks were strongest performers as buying spread from large memory makers to equipment and supply-chain companies. Jusung Engineering surged 7.02 percent to 221,000 won, while SFA Semicon climbed 7.24 percent to 7,110 won as investors continued to position for strong AI and memory-related investment. Oil-related stocks also rallied sharply as crude prices remained elevated. Heungkuk Petroleum jumped 20.02 percent to 14,510 won, while Joong Ang Enervis gained 9.9 percent as investors bet that prolonged Middle East disruptions would keep energy prices high. Other active KOSDAQ stocks included Mercury, which surged 14.12 percent to 4,970 won, and TerraView, which climbed 17.87 percent to 3,660 won. JW Shinyak fell 6.34 percent to 3,620 won. Brent crude traded at around $100.88 a barrel, down 0.34 percent, while West Texas Intermediate stood at around $95.81, down 0.27 percent. Despite the modest pullback, crude remained elevated as attacks linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict continued to threaten regional supply and shipping routes. The Korean won traded at 1,340.9 won against the U.S. dollar. Throughout Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.2 percent to 65,270.95, while China's Shanghai Composite fell 0.43 percent to 3,934.40. AJP Takeaways - KOSPI fell 0.25 percent to 7,033.92 but recovered more than 130 points from its intraday low as institutional and retail buying cushioned heavy foreign selling. Foreign investors sold a net 2.48 trillion won on the KOSPI, while institutions and retail investors bought 433.4 billion won and 380.2 billion won, respectively. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix finished only slightly lower after recovering from steeper intraday losses, as strong TSMC sales and continued AI-memory demand supported chip sentiment. 2026-09-10 17:13:46