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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KOSPI higher while other Asian markets on hold on expected rate hike in Japan SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) -South Korea's benchmark index maintained its upward momentum from the preliminary U.S.-Iran peace deal, bucking a broadly cautious mood across Asia as investors awaited an expected rate hike from the Bank of Japan. As of 10:30 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI stood at 8,610.00, up 0.8 percent from the previous session. The index moved between an intraday high of 8,747.48 and a low of 8,540.41. The KOSPI 200 rose 0.9 percent to 1,372.00, after moving between an intraday high of 1,396.59 and a low of 1,357.84. Foreign investors bought 52.5 billion won ($34.7 million) worth of shares on the main bourse, as institutions purchased 210.9 billion won. Retail investors sold 266.3 billion won. Defense and aerospace shares led gains in Seoul, with the sector rising 9 percent. Firstec jumped 23 percent to 9,880 won, while LIG Defense & Aerospace surged 20.8 percent to 1,021,000 won. Hanwha Systems also advanced 7.8 percent to 107,300 won. Construction shares also rallied on expectations that reconstruction projects in the Middle East could gain momentum after the conflict. The construction sector rose 7.5 percent, led by Ilsung Construction, which climbed 30 percent to 1,677 won, and Sangji Construction, which gained 27.1 percent to 9,500 won. Among major construction names, Daewoo Engineering & Construction rose 17.5 percent to 26,850 won, while DL E&C gained 11.5 percent to 88,100 won. Trading companies and distributors also advanced, with the sector up 4.5 percent. POSCO International rose 6 percent to 63,700 won, while Hyundai Corp. gained 1.2 percent to 25,750 won. Large-cap technology shares were mixed. SK hynix rose 1.8 percent to 2,328,000 won, while Samsung Electronics slipped 0.2 percent to 336,500 won. LG Innotek gained 4.9 percent to 1,268,000 won. Other major names were weaker. Hyundai Motor fell 2.6 percent to 630,500 won, while HLB dropped 5.6 percent to 42,950 won. The TIGER U.S. Space Tech ETF declined 5.9 percent to 12,060 won. The secondary KOSDAQ fell 1.1 percent to 1,022.50, after moving between a high of 1,040.86 and a low of 1,016.39. Retail investors bought 333.5 billion won, while foreign investors and institutions sold 176.5 billion won and 145.2 billion won, respectively. The won strengthened 0.2 percent to 1,512.50 against the U.S. dollar, as the prospect of a peace deal lifted risk sentiment and eased concerns over oil supply disruptions. Oil prices edged higher Tuesday after tumbling nearly 5 percent in the previous session. West Texas Intermediate rose 0.5 percent to $81.10 a barrel, while Brent crude gained 0.4 percent to $83.50, as investors awaited further details on the agreement, which is expected to be signed in Switzerland on Friday. The preliminary deal is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore the free flow of crude oil from the Persian Gulf, though Washington and Tehran have yet to disclose the full terms of the memorandum. Shipping companies have remained cautious, delaying some vessels through the route until there is greater clarity. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.2 percent to 69,199.50, China's Shanghai Composite slipped 0.2 percent to 4,087.60, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 0.6 percent to 24,720.00. 2026-06-16 11:03:02 -
World Cup 26: Football migrates from TV to handheld screens SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - FIFA World Cup seasons once fueled sales of televisions and large screens as football watching became a collective event in living rooms, bars and public squares. That ritual is changing in South Korea. With most matches in the 2026 tournament being played across North America and kicking off during the early morning or daytime hours in Korea, football consumption is becoming a far more private experience, shifting to smartphones, chat rooms and creator-led communities. A World Cup match between Japan and the Netherlands drew 79,000 concurrent viewers on Chzzk, the streaming platform operated by internet giant Naver, early Monday despite a 5 a.m. kickoff and the absence of the Korean national team. The figure came three days after South Korea's opening 2-1 victory over Czechia generated a record 4.82 million peak concurrent viewers on Chzzk, more than six times the platform's previous high. Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the goals for South Korea. Together, the numbers highlight a broader shift in media consumption. For many South Koreans, the World Cup is no longer centered on the living-room television but on mobile streams, real-time chats and digital fan communities. Naver secured exclusive domestic new-media streaming rights to the FIFA World Cup from 2026 through 2032 through a deal with JoongAng Group, placing Chzzk at the center of online viewing for this year's tournament. The record audience for the Korea-Czechia match came despite its weekday morning kickoff, a schedule that initially raised concerns about lower ratings because of the time difference with North America. Instead, mobile-first viewing worked in Naver's favor, allowing people to watch while commuting, at work or away from home. The tournament has also become a monetization platform. Naver Plus Membership and Chzzk's ad-removal subscription provide full high-definition access to all 104 matches. In partnership with game publisher Nexon, viewers can participate in FC Online mini-games and earn in-game rewards, while a Coca-Cola-sponsored score prediction event offers prizes redeemable through Naver Pay. While Chzzk holds exclusive online streaming rights, SOOP, formerly AfreecaTV, has built its presence around creator-led "verbal relay" broadcasts that provide commentary without showing the match itself. Popular streamer Gamst attracted roughly 60,000 viewers during the Korea-Czechia match, underscoring how audiences increasingly follow personalities as much as the sport. The contrast reflects a structural divide in Korea's streaming market. According to mobile analytics firm Mobile Index, Chzzk led monthly active users in March with 3.06 million, ahead of SOOP's 2.37 million. But SOOP maintained a commanding lead in total viewing time, logging 42.5 million hours compared with Chzzk's 28.5 million, representing a 59.3 percent versus 33.4 percent market share. More users opened Chzzk, but viewers spent more time on SOOP. Kakao, meanwhile, has used the World Cup to deepen engagement within KakaoTalk's Open Chat service by creating cheering rooms, quizzes and fan tools designed to keep football conversations inside its messaging ecosystem. Kim Dong-heon, a 38-year-old office worker in Ilsan, said mobile streaming felt natural because it matched his existing media habits. "These days, I spend more time watching YouTube on my phone than watching television, so watching the match on my phone felt natural," Kim said. But he said streaming offered more than convenience. "Watching with streamers is a different kind of sports consumption," he said. "You are not just watching the match. You are talking with people, sharing opinions and reacting in real time." He said online viewing recreated much of the communal atmosphere of public gatherings without requiring fans to leave home. "Even if I went outside, I probably would not talk to that many strangers," Kim said. "Online, I can stay in my room and still feel like I am watching with a crowd." Traditional broadcasters JTBC and KBS remain the primary large-screen destination for households and older viewers. But the market has become increasingly fragmented. Audiences now move seamlessly between television, mobile streams and chat-based communities depending on the time of day, the device in their pocket and the kind of experience they want. For platforms, the competition is no longer simply about who shows the match. It is about who can keep viewers engaged after the final whistle. 2026-06-15 17:44:26 -
KOSPI and Nikkei up 5% as U.S.-Iran deal eases energy fears SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - South Korean and Japanese markets roared Monday, gaining 5 percent on a preliminary U.S.-Iran peace deal snapped fears of a prolonged energy shock and triggered a broad risk-on rally across the region. The KOSPI jumped 422.36 points to close at 8,545.98. The index rose as high as 8,603.48 during the session after opening sharply higher, while its intraday low was 8,450.24. Foreign and institutional investors led the rally. Foreigners bought a net 985.9 billion won ($651 million) worth of shares on the main bourse, while institutions purchased 539.2 billion won. Retail investors sold a net 1.49 trillion won, locking in gains after the index's steep rebound. A buy-side sidecar was triggered shortly after the opening bell after KOSPI 200 futures surged more than 5 percent, temporarily halting program buy orders for five minutes. The rally followed news that Washington and Tehran had reached a tentative agreement aimed at ending months of conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 5.9 percent to $79.9 per barrel, while Brent crude dropped 5.2 percent to $82.8. Oil-sensitive sectors were among the biggest beneficiaries. Airlines jumped 10.7 percent, while the broader airline and low-cost carrier theme surged 14.2 percent. Korean Air climbed 12.8 percent to 30,000 won, as investors bet that lower fuel costs would improve earnings conditions for carriers. Large-cap technology and chip-related shares powered the advance. Samsung Electronics rose 4.5 percent to 337,000 won, while SK hynix gained 6.4 percent to 2,288,000 won. Samsung Electro-Mechanics jumped 16.6 percent to 1,999,000 won, and LG Innotek surged 16.7 percent to 1,209,000 won. The rally also spread to electrical equipment and components. LS ELECTRIC advanced 15.7 percent to 257,500 won, while Foosung climbed 17.8 percent to 22,400 won. SK Eternix rose 13.6 percent to 48,850 won. By sector, electronic equipment and devices led the market with a 13.4 percent gain, followed by airlines at 10.7 percent and electrical equipment at 9.4 percent. Not all stocks joined the rally. Hyundai Engineering & Construction fell 7.9 percent to 145,000 won, and Leeno Industrial dropped 7.4 percent to 96,800 won. Mirae Asset Venture Investment plunged 20.8 percent to 30,750 won, pressured by fallout from Mirae Asset Securities' failure to secure client allocations in SpaceX's blockbuster initial public offering. Mirae Asset Securities ended 1.7 percent lower at 51,400 won, underperforming sharply despite the broader market surge. The smaller-cap KOSDAQ gained only 4.98 points, or 0.5 percent, to finish at 1,034.03. Individuals bought a net 616.4 billion won on the KOSDAQ, while foreigners sold 816.6 billion won. On the KOSDAQ, hair-loss treatment shares rallied after the government signaled it may review possible health insurance coverage for the sector. TS Trillion hit the daily upper limit, rising 30 percent to 1,206 won. Withus Pharmaceutical jumped 22.8 percent to 8,180 won, while Innogene rose 9.2 percent to 1,583 won. The won strengthened slightly against the dollar, quoted at 1,514.6 won per dollar, down 0.01 percent from the previous session. Japan's Nikkei 225 surged 5 percent to close at 69,317.5, helped by strong gains in technology and semiconductor-related shares. The Shanghai Composite rose 1.6 percent to 4,096.5, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.6 percent to 24,858.24. 2026-06-15 17:20:40 -
BTS marks 13th birthday in Busan as fans celebrate group's post-military homecoming SEOUL, June 14 (AJP) - BTS returned to Busan this weekend not as a group preparing to disappear into military service, but as a global act celebrating its 13th anniversary with 110,000 fans at the midpoint of what is already shaping up to be one of the biggest tours in K-pop history. The sold-out two-night run at Busan Asiad Main Stadium drew a combined audience of about 110,000 and served as both a homecoming and a milestone for the seven-member group, whose "ARIRANG" world tour marks their first full-group global trek in nearly four years. The symbolism was difficult to miss. The concerts were held in the same city where BTS staged its "Yet To Come in Busan" concert in October 2022, one of the group's final major appearances before members began entering mandatory military service. Nearly four years later, BTS returned on June 13 — the exact anniversary of its 2013 debut — with a very different message: the world's most influential K-pop act is fully back. "ARMY enjoying themselves is the greatest birthday gift for us," Jin told the crowd as tens of thousands of fans joined the group in celebrating its 13th anniversary. For members Jimin and Jung Kook, both Busan natives, the concerts carried additional meaning. "It makes me so happy to be able to sing and dance with you in my hometown on such a meaningful day," Jimin told fans, while Jung Kook greeted the audience in Busan dialect, drawing one of the loudest cheers of the night. Throughout the nearly three-hour performance, BTS blended songs from its latest album "ARIRANG" with career-defining hits including "FAKE LOVE," "MIC Drop," "Fire," "IDOL," "Butter" and "Dynamite." A Korean-language version of "NORMAL," performed live for the first time, drew a particularly enthusiastic response. The production reinforced the tour's Korean identity. Traditional pavilion-inspired stage designs, reinterpretations of Korean masks, dancers creating a giant taegeuk symbol and mass singalongs of the folk song "Arirang" transformed what could have been a conventional stadium show into a broader cultural showcase. By naming the album and tour after Korea's best-known folk song, BTS has deliberately linked its post-military return to a form of cultural heritage that predates modern Korea itself. The group's commercial influence was equally visible across Busan. HYBE expanded the concerts into a citywide festival through "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG BUSAN," featuring drone shows over Gwangan Bridge, media-art exhibitions, pop-up stores and fan events stretching across the city. Authorities estimated that around 50,000 overseas visitors entered South Korea during the concert period, prompting special immigration measures at airports and ports nationwide. The second night's performance was also broadcast live to approximately 3,800 cinemas in more than 80 countries. Yet the weekend also exposed growing pains associated with mega-events of this scale. The first concert on June 12 began more than an hour late after crowd-management problems and delays in merchandise and fan-gift distribution. HYBE later apologized and pledged operational improvements before the second show. Accommodation issues also generated controversy in the weeks leading up to the concerts. Hundreds of complaints were filed after some lodging operators allegedly canceled reservations and attempted to resell rooms at higher prices, prompting investigations and consumer-protection warnings. The backlash eventually triggered an unusual civic response. Buddhist temples, churches, universities and local residents collectively opened hundreds of affordable or free accommodations to visiting fans, offering an alternative image of Busan's hospitality. For many attendees, however, those controversies ultimately became a footnote. What remained was the sight of 55,000 fans filling a World Cup stadium on BTS' anniversary, singing along to songs that have accompanied the group's rise from a hip-hop idol act in 2013 to a global cultural phenomenon. "Thirteen years have passed in a flash," RM reflected during the concert. "Wherever we are and whatever form we take, we'll continue trying to show you our honest selves. Please stay with us for a long time." For Busan, the concerts reinforced the city's ability to host one of the world's largest entertainment events. For BTS, they marked another milestone in a career that continues to expand even after military service. And for the tens of thousands of fans who traveled from around the world, the weekend served as a reminder that BTS remains one of South Korea's most powerful cultural exports — capable of filling stadiums, moving economies and turning an anniversary concert into an international event. 2026-06-14 11:49:29 -
BTS releases 'Come Over' as part of 2026 FESTA SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - K-pop supergroup BTS on Friday released "Come Over," a track previously available only on the deluxe vinyl edition of its fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," BigHit Music said. The release is part of 2026 BTS FESTA, the group's annual celebration held around its June 13 debut anniversary. "Come Over" was included only on the deluxe LP version of "ARIRANG," which came out on April 3. Suga produced the track, with RM and J-Hope also credited on the song. BigHit Music described it as a pop track with the scale of a stadium anthem, driven by layered synthesizers and expansive vocals. According to the label, the song is about finding one's way back to "you" even in moments of uncertainty. The label said the message is addressed to ARMY, the group's fanbase. BTS will also released a latest LP edition of "ARIRANG" on Friday. The "613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl" including 16 tracks, among them the original album songs and bonus tracks such as "Voice Message: Love Song" and the Korean-language version of "NORMAL." During this year's FESTA, the group has released a series of anniversary content, including a family photo, a performance video for "Hooligan" and a new episode of "Run BTS 2.0," its long-running variety web series. BTS will hold two concerts at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on Friday and Saturday as part of its "ARIRANG" world tour. Saturday marks the group's 13th debut anniversary. Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, is the hometown of members Jungkook and Jimin. The group is also set to release the music video for "Merry Go Round," another track from "ARIRANG," on Spotify on June 19. 2026-06-12 17:14:46 -
World Cup '26: Not your typical TGIF if Team Korea kicks off and wins SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Few Friday lunch breaks could have been better. A long midday pause filled with live music, sunshine, a cool breeze, stress relief, shouting, groaning, jumping, dancing and, for some, a can of beer. For 90 minutes, South Koreans traded spreadsheets, classrooms and office meetings for something less tangible but equally important — a shared dose of pride, hope and celebration. Some took the entire day off. Others used half-day leave. Many stretched their lunch hour well beyond its usual limits. Companies wheeled televisions into break rooms, while public squares became giant outdoor stadiums. Some preferred air-conditioned offices. Others sought the collective roar of the crowd. At 11 a.m. on a weekday, South Korea's World Cup did not belong only to stadiums, sports bars or packed streets. It spilled into office lounges, classrooms, company cafeterias and the lunch-hour crowds gathered at Gwanghwamun Square. For workers stealing a few minutes between meetings, teachers watching between classes and fans unable to leave their desks for long, South Korea's opening match against Czechia became a World Cup squeezed into the middle of an ordinary workday. At Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, the answer was loud and public. The scene was uniquely Seoul: beneath the statue of King Sejong and framed by some of the country's largest digital displays, thousands gathered in a sea of red. The combination of history, technology and football created an atmosphere that felt both futuristic and unmistakably Korean. Before kickoff, CORTIS — a K-pop group under Big Hit Music, the label behind BTS — performed alongside rock band Transfixion in a joint set that included "For Victory," a song long associated with Korean football cheering. By kickoff, the broad plaza beneath King Sejong's statue had become a temporary stadium surrounded by office towers. Red jerseys filled the space between giant screens and food stalls. Drums echoed across the square as workers on lunch breaks stood shoulder to shoulder with students, tourists and longtime football fans. Among them were six employees from CJ Logistics who had hurried through lunch before joining the crowd. Their company had not organized a viewing event, but after hearing about the public cheering event nearby, they made their way to Gwanghwamun together — coffee cups in hand and office attire still on, knowing work would be waiting after the final whistle. "It would have been great to watch the match over chicken and beer, but just being able to spend the second half with this crowd was exciting," one employee said. "When Korea scored, I felt a real thrill. Today brought back a lot of memories from the 2002 World Cup." For others, the day was quieter but no less meaningful. There were no drums or sea of red shirts, only a cluster of employees gathered around the screen during their lunch break. When Czechia scored, the room fell silent. When South Korea equalized, someone let out a cheer before quickly remembering where they were. "We could not be at Gwanghwamun, but we still watched together with one heart," one employee said. "After Korea came back to win, everyone returned to their desks and got back to work." The same balancing act played out in schools. In a classroom in Seongnam, sixth-grade teacher Lee Hye-won sat alone at her desk while students ate lunch in the cafeteria. Student drawings lined the walls. The desks were empty and quiet. On her screen, South Korea was fighting for its first World Cup victory. "I wanted to be out at Gwanghwamun with the Red Devils, but I had to support the team in my own way," Lee said. "I ended up cheering in a very calm way, with a cup of coffee." At Gachon University, the academic affairs office looked much as it did on any other workday — computers on, files open and phones ringing. Choi Yoon-sung followed the match between tasks, with the game playing in one corner of the office while work continued around it. "Everyone still had their own responsibilities, so we had to find a balance between work and cheering," Choi said. "It felt like lunchtime was over in an instant." South Korea ended the day with a 2-1 comeback victory after Hwang In-beom equalized in the 67th minute and Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winner in the 80th. The passion that once filled late-night streets during World Cups was still there on Friday. It had simply been compressed into lunch breaks, office lounges, coffee cups and small pockets of time carved out of an otherwise ordinary workday. For a couple of hours, work could wait. 2026-06-12 16:39:09 -
World Cup 26: Red floods Seoul as Taeguk Warriors begin World Cup journey SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) — South Korea's 2026 FIFA World Cup journey began not in Mexico but in the heart of Seoul on Friday, where office workers in red jerseys streamed into Gwanghwamun Square carrying coffee cups, national flags and hopes of a winning start against Czechia. Hours before kickoff at Guadalajara Stadium, the broad plaza beneath the statue of King Sejong was already buzzing with chants, K-pop music and the rhythmic beat of drums as supporters gathered for one of the most unusual World Cup watch parties in recent memory. Unlike previous tournaments, when fans packed streets through the night or braved dawn kickoffs, all three of South Korea's group-stage matches are being played during weekday working hours. The result was a distinctly Korean World Cup scene: employees taking annual leave, workers sneaking out on half-days and groups of colleagues arriving in shirts and ties before settling in front of giant screens. By 10 a.m., police estimated about 1.000 to 2,000 people had gathered at Gwanghwamun. Organizers — the Korea Football Association, KT and supporters' group Red Devils — expect as many as 6,000 supporters by kickoff. The square was divided into six viewing zones stretching from the KT headquarters building to the statue of King Sejong. Giant screens towered over the crowd while event booths offered giveaways and photo opportunities. Volunteers handed out bottled water as temperatures climbed toward 30 degrees Celsius. Kim Eui-hyun, 20-something resident from Pyeongtaek, exclaimed: "I'm excited because I finally get to experience the kind of World Cup street cheering I was too young to enjoy during the 2002 World Cup. "I'm also very happy to be part of what could be Son Heung-min's last World Cup. I came here today with three friends. The weather is really hot, and I thought it might be tough, but I'm glad I made the trip," she said, adding "I think Korea will beat Czechia 2-1." Kim Dong-eon, 37, salary worker in Seoul, said he has taken a day off. "I don't regret it at all. It's been a long time since I've joined a mass street cheering event like this. I don't think I've experienced anything quite like it since the 2002 World Cup." Adding to the festival atmosphere, CORTIS, a fast-rising K-pop boy band under Hybe label touted by fans as a potential successor to BTS, performed on the main stage before kickoff. Hundreds roared as the group energized the crowd at the very square where BTS staged a high-profile comeback event earlier this year. Some fans admitted they had come primarily for the performance. "I came to see CORTIS, but I'll stay for the whole match," shouted a 19-year-old university student who had secured a spot near the front of the stage. "I arrived early, but there were already so many people." Across the Han River in Seoul's financial district of Yeouido, Korea Investment & Securities transformed a plaza into a temporary football arena. Organizers estimated 300 to 400 people had gathered by mid-morning, with attendance expected to reach 1,200 as lunch hour approached. Open-air viewing stages were also set up in cities nationwide, turning a weekday morning into a de facto national sporting holiday. On the field, South Korea unveiled the star-studded lineup many supporters had hoped to see. The starting eleven released about an hour before kickoff featured captain Son Heung-min of LAFC leading the attack, flanked by Lee Jae-sung of Mainz and Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Lee Kang-in. A goal would carry added significance for Son. The 33-year-old is playing in his fourth World Cup and can become South Korea's outright leading scorer in tournament history with his fourth World Cup goal, surpassing Park Ji-sung and Ahn Jung-hwan. Behind the attacking trio, Hwang In-beom of Feyenoord and Paik Seung-ho of Birmingham City were expected to control midfield. Head coach Hong Myung-bo also stayed faithful to the three-man defensive system he has spent the past year refining. Lee Tae-seok of First Vienna FC and Seol Young-woo of Red Star Belgrade started as wing-backs, while Lee Ki-hyeok of Gangwon FC, Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae and FC Midtjylland's Lee Han-beom formed the back line in front of goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu of FC Tokyo. The Czechia arrived with a formidable lineup of its own. Manager Miroslav Koubek handed Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick the responsibility of leading the attack, supported by Pavel Šulc and Lukáš Provod. Captain Tomáš Souček anchored midfield, while West Ham United defender Vladimír Coufal lined up at wing-back. As kickoff approached, chants of "Dae-Han-Min-Guk" echoed through Gwanghwamun and Yeouido, rising above traffic noise and office towers. For a few hours on a Thursday morning, South Korea's business districts were transformed into football stadiums — and an entire nation paused work to watch whether Hong's generation could take its first step toward another World Cup run. 2026-06-12 10:37:22 -
Prosecutors drop Min Hee-jin's complaints against HYBE executives SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Prosecutors have dropped all complaints filed by former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin against HYBE executives, declining to indict any of the accused on charges including business interference and defamation, according to legal sources Wednesday. The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office dismissed complaints against six HYBE executives, including former HYBE CEO Park Ji-won, and four executives from Belift Lab, a HYBE subsidiary. Min, who previously served as chief producer of K-pop girl group NewJeans, had accused HYBE officials of damaging both ADOR's business and her personal reputation through allegedly false public statements during a high-profile dispute between the two sides in 2024. ADOR is the HYBE label behind NewJeans. The conflict escalated in April 2024, when HYBE issued a statement claiming that Min had consulted a shaman, a traditional Korean spiritual advisor, over ADOR management matters, and that ADOR executives had explored ways to terminate NewJeans' contracts. Min later filed complaints, arguing the claims were false and amounted to business interference and defamation. Prosecutors concluded the statement was not false, citing evidence that Min had discussed ADOR management issues with a shaman. The office also cleared Belift Lab executives over a separate complaint tied to a YouTube video. The video denied allegations that ILLIT, a K-pop girl group under Belift Lab, had copied NewJeans' choreography and styling. Min claimed the video contained false information and defamed her, but prosecutors found no criminal charges were warranted. Prosecutors also dismissed Min's complaint that HYBE had illegally accessed ADOR emails and KakaoTalk messages, South Korea's dominant messaging platform. They determined HYBE had reviewed the communications under its lawful audit authority. The decision closes another chapter in one of K-pop's most public corporate disputes, though separate civil proceedings between Min and HYBE remain ongoing. 2026-06-12 09:47:20 -
KOSPI claws back early rout, but SpaceX liquidity fears keep Korea on fragile ground SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) — After another volatile day — swinging between losses and gains more than 50 times — South Korean shares managed to end higher on Thursday. But with the market's fear gauge touching a record high intraday, the rebound underscored the panic behind foreign capital outflows and aggressive retail bargain hunting. The KOSPI rose 33.13 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 7,763.95. The index opened 2.86 percent lower at 7,509.62 and briefly fell as low as 7,394.46, down more than 4 percent, before recovering to touch an intraday high of 7,800.62. The late recovery kept the benchmark above the 7,700 mark, but the rebound rested on a fragile foundation. Foreign investors remained firmly on the sell side, dumping 1.46 trillion won worth of KOSPI shares, while institutions sold 756.7 billion won. Retail investors absorbed much of the pressure, buying 2.08 trillion won. The pattern reinforced the market's central tension: the index can still bounce, but the foreign money that powered much of the earlier rally is still heading for the exit. The pressure was concentrated in large-cap names. Samsung Electronics fell 1.2 percent to 299,000 won after paring steeper early losses, while SK hynix reversed course to finish 2.6 percent higher at 2,101,000 won. LG Electronics added 0.9 percent to 226,000 won, but NAVER slipped 1.3 percent to 224,000 won and Doosan Enerbility lost 2.7 percent to 88,600 won. Hanwha Ocean, one of the recent beneficiaries of geopolitical tensions and defense-related buying, fell 5.2 percent to 104,500 won. The day's move was not simply about Middle East risk. It was also about cash. With SpaceX's long-awaited Nasdaq debut approaching, traders increasingly see the listing as a liquidity vacuum that could pull money away from existing equity positions, particularly Korean AI and semiconductor stocks that have been among Asia's most crowded trades this year. The SpaceX factor did not single-handedly trigger the selling, but it gave global investors another reason to take profits from Korean names that had already run hard. That theme was visible in individual stocks. Spear, viewed by investors as a SpaceX supply-chain play, hit the daily limit, surging 29.9 percent to 38,500 won. The rally reflected growing appetite for Korean companies with direct or indirect exposure to the U.S. space company's listing. Yet the same event that lifted aerospace-related names also raised concerns that broader market liquidity could be diverted elsewhere. The KOSDAQ told a very different story. The junior market jumped 45.30 points, or 4.76 percent, to close at 996.93, within sight of the 1,000-point threshold. The index opened lower at 937.17 but turned positive in morning trade and climbed as high as 997.11 during the session. Unlike the KOSPI, where retail investors carried the market against foreign and institutional selling, the KOSDAQ rally was led by institutions, which bought a net 695.5 billion won. Retail investors sold 352 billion won, while foreign investors sold 360.1 billion won. The strength was enough to trigger a buy-side sidecar at around 1:58 p.m., according to the Korea Exchange, marking the 10th such activation on the KOSDAQ this year and the first since Monday. The rally was concentrated in semiconductor equipment and materials stocks. Jusung Engineering surged 23.4 percent to 245,500 won, Wonik IPS jumped 20.8 percent to 141,000 won and Alteogen rose 10.2 percent to 347,000 won. Hyundai Movex also climbed 15.3 percent to 40,800 won. The split between the KOSPI and KOSDAQ suggested investors were not abandoning the semiconductor story altogether. Instead, money rotated away from crowded megacap positions and into smaller equipment and materials names. Healthcare providers, diversified telecom services and broadcasting and entertainment stocks also ranked among the day's strongest sectors, rising 7.7 percent, 7.3 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively. Oil prices eased slightly, offering some relief. WTI crude fell 0.5 percent to $89.56 a barrel, while Brent crude slipped 0.7 percent to $92.47 as investors weighed hopes that U.S. strikes on Iran could eventually give way to renewed negotiations. Global risk sentiment, however, remained fragile. The VIX rose 6.4 percent to 21.13 while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 3.6 percent to 12,206.5, maintaining pressure on Asian chip sentiment. The won traded around 1,529.9 against the U.S. dollar, remaining near global financial crisis-era levels as foreign investors continued to reduce exposure to Korean assets. The currency's failure to stage a meaningful recovery suggests that equity rebounds driven largely by domestic buying may remain vulnerable if overseas funds continue cutting positions. Across Asia, markets were mixed and far less volatile than Seoul. Japan's Nikkei 225 edged up 0.1 percent to 64,217.3, while China's Shanghai Composite slipped 0.2 percent to 3,987.02 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.7 percent to 24,228.3. Tokyo remained capped by profit-taking in AI and semiconductor shares, contrasting with Seoul's violent intraday swings and underscoring how much more exposed Korea remains to memory chips, foreign selling and leveraged retail trading. Thursday's session was not a clean recovery. The KOSPI survived an early rout, the KOSDAQ nearly reclaimed 1,000 and semiconductor-equipment stocks roared back, but foreign investors kept selling, the won stayed weak and SpaceX-linked liquidity fears continued to hang over Korea's most crowded trades. Whether the rebound in KOSDAQ chip-equipment names can broaden into a more durable recovery remains the central question for Seoul heading into the next session. 2026-06-11 17:41:31 -
From Ejae to BTS, K-pop in spotlight at World Cup SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - K-pop is set to steal some of the spotlight at this year's FIFA World Cup, with singer Ejae, who gained global fame through Netflix's hit animation, scheduled to perform at the opening ceremony, and BTS set to headline the halftime show at the final. According to organizers, Ejae, along with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, is scheduled to perform "DNA," the official anthem of this year's World Cup, at the opening ceremony in Mexico City on Thursday. The song also features David Guetta and Megan Thee Stallion. The opening ceremony is set to take place at Estadio Azteca shortly before the tournament's first match between co-host Mexico and South Africa, followed by separate ceremonies in Los Angeles and Toronto, as this year's quadrennial football tournament is hosted by three different countries. EJAE is a South Korean-American singer-songwriter known for her songs included in the soundtrack of Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." She is also credited with writing the Korean lyrics for "DNA." "It's especially meaningful because I was able to write Korean lyrics in the song, representing Korea on this stage is such an honor," EJAE told FIFA. She also recalled that watching football fans in Seoul take to the streets to cheer for the South Korean squad during the 2002 World Cup remains one of her most unforgettable childhood memories. Meanwhile, BTS will perform at the final halftime show along with American pop icon Madonna and Columbian pop star Shakira on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium, commonly known as MetLife Stadium. The show will be curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who also contributed to BTS's latest album "Arirang" released in March this year. The show will be orchestrated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, who also participated in the septet's latest album "Arirang" released in March this year. BTS member Jungkook previously performed at the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. 2026-06-11 17:05:44