Aju Press - Aasia 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

Nam Joo-hyuk set to return with Netflix series after completing military service SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - Actor Nam Joo-hyuk was still serving in the military when the script for The East Palace landed in his hands. Reading it inside the barracks, he found himself drawn to an unusual idea: a swordsman who hunts ghosts by crossing between the worlds of the living and the dead. That script has now become his first project since completing military service. Set for release on July 17, Netflix's eight-episode series "The East Palace" blends palace intrigue, supernatural horror and Korean folklore into a mystery set inside the Joseon court. The story begins with a string of unexplained deaths among the royal heirs. Rumors spread that a ghost haunting the palace pond is wiping out the king's bloodline, but the king dismisses the stories as superstition. Only after his last surviving son falls gravely ill does he secretly summon Goo-cheon (played by Nam), a drifter capable of entering the spirit world to destroy ghosts, while assigning palace maid Saeng-gang (played by Roh Yoon-seo), who can hear spirits, to watch his every move. While the premise centers on ghosts, much of Tuesday's production presentation focused on something else: making two versions of the same palace feel like entirely different worlds. Rather than relying primarily on visual effects, director Choi Jung-kyu said the production physically built separate versions of many sets. The crew altered lighting, textures and even seasons, sometimes filming the same location twice, so viewers could instinctively distinguish the living world from the spirit realm. "We wanted it to feel as though gravity itself worked differently," Choi said, adding that changes in editing rhythm, sound design and color grading were all used to separate the two realities. The supernatural creatures also draw heavily from Korean folklore instead of being entirely original creations. Choi said the production simplified their visual designs without losing the traits found in traditional legends, making them immediately recognizable even to viewers unfamiliar with Korean mythology. That approach extended beyond the creatures themselves. Palace architecture, costumes and props were rooted in historical references, while the pacing was designed with international audiences in mind. "We focused more on rhythm than explanation," Choi said. "Even if the language and cultural background are different, we wanted viewers everywhere to simply enjoy the story." For Nam, the hardest part of filming had little to do with sword fighting. Although he trained extensively at an action school before and throughout production, he said many scenes required him to fight creatures that would only exist after post-production visual effects were added. "You constantly have to imagine what's in front of you," he said. The physically demanding shoot also meant spending long hours in the water during both summer heat and winter cold, something co-star Jo Seung-woo jokingly described as being "500 times harder" than anything his own character endured. Jo, making his first Netflix original series, plays a king who refuses to believe in ghosts until tragedy forces him to reconsider everything he knows. Rather than portraying him simply as a monarch, Jo said he approached the role as that of an isolated leader carrying the weight of protecting both his family and the throne. "It's a lonely position," he said. "He keeps questioning everything while trying to protect what's left." Roh Yoon-seo faces several firsts with the series — her first historical drama, first fantasy project and first leading role in a long-form series. She said adapting to the physical discipline of acting took time, particularly maintaining the posture and restraint expected in a period drama while expressing emotion through subtle changes in voice and facial expression. More important, she said, was the evolving relationship between Saeng-gang and Goo-cheon. The two begin as reluctant partners who distrust one another but gradually become indispensable as they unravel the palace's curse from opposite sides of the supernatural divide. The series also marks another milestone for Nam. Earlier this year, he was the only Korean actor featured in Netflix's global slate announcement alongside stars including Cillian Murphy and Lily Collins. Looking back, Nam said the experience was both exciting and daunting. "I went there by myself," he said. "I felt a huge sense of responsibility and just wanted to do my best." Whether Korean palace ghosts resonate with international audiences as strongly as Netflix hopes remains to be seen. But rather than explaining away Korean folklore, The East Palace leans into it — betting that a compelling mystery, memorable characters and confident storytelling will cross borders on their own. 2026-07-08 15:35:02
Stray Kids preview new EP after chart-topping single, Billboard record SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - K-pop boy group Stray Kids are moving toward their first album release of 2026 with a new EP, "THIS & THAT," after a strong run on global charts and festival stages, the group's agency, JYP Entertainment, said Wednesday. The group's June 24 single "RUN IT" topped iTunes songs charts in 43 regions, including the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Spain and Britain, according to agency JYP Entertainment. The song's music video also reached No. 1 on YouTube's global trending chart. The single will be included on "THIS & THAT," which is scheduled for release on Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. KST. The new EP follows a record-setting chart run for Stray Kids. In 2025, the group became the first act to debut eight consecutive albums at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, according to JYP. Stray Kids are also continuing a busy live schedule. The group performed at New York's Governors Ball Music Festival in June, drawing about 45,000 spectators, and is scheduled to appear at Rock in Rio in Brazil in September. The group will also take part in "STRAYCITY," a new festival centered on Stray Kids, across three Latin American cities. Its new world tour, "Stray Kids World Tour ," will open with five concerts at KSPO Dome in Seoul. Against that backdrop, Stray Kids released a trailer Wednesday introducing the concept for "THIS & THAT." The clip follows an unidentified person who receives an LP from member Seungmin and enters a mysterious truck, only to be drawn into a world filled with versions of Stray Kids. The members appear as a barista, chef, photographer, auctioneer, dancer and bakery worker, while the dialogue is limited to the words "this" and "that." The setup also refers to the group's long-running slogan, "Stray Kids Everywhere All Around The World." The truck links the trailer to an earlier teaser, "TEST," released Monday. That video borrowed the format of comedian Yoo Byung-jae's YouTube series "I Hate Scary Things," showing the group exploring an abandoned house through a first-person camcorder view before ending with the same "THIS & THAT" truck. 2026-07-08 10:56:14
Korean titles crowd Netflix charts as 'Agent Kim Reactivated' joins SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - Korean titles filled several top spots on Netflix's global charts last week, led by action drama "Mr. Kim," which climbed to No. 1 on the platform's non-English TV chart in its second week of release. "Agent Kim Reactivated" logged 10.5 million views for the week of June 29 to July 5, according to Netflix's official Top 10 data. Netflix calculates views by dividing total viewing hours by a title's running time. The series, which premiered June 26, debuted at No. 3 before moving to the top spot the following week. It ranked No. 1 in 11 countries, including South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Peru, and reached the Top 10 in 79 countries. Starring So Ji-sub and based on a webtoon of the same name, "Agent Kim Reactivated (Manajer Kim)" follows a former special agent who has spent years hiding his past, only to reveal his skills after his daughter disappears. The show airs first on SBS before streaming on Netflix. Its domestic ratings have climbed as well, reaching 21.6 percent by its fourth episode. That is the highest rating for any Korean drama aired this year and the third-highest rating for an SBS Friday-Saturday drama, after "The Penthouse 2" and "The Fiery Priest." "Agent Kim Reactivated" rise pushed "Teach You a Lesson," the previous four-week No. 1 title on the non-English TV chart, down to No. 2. The Kim Moo-yul-led series still drew 4.7 million views and entered the Top 10 in 54 countries. Two other titles also placed high on the same chart. "Notes from the Last Row," starring Choi Min-sik and Choi Hyun-wook, climbed from No. 8 to No. 5 with 2.6 million views. The series entered the Top 10 in 21 countries. Adapted from a Spanish play, the drama follows a failed writer turned literature professor who becomes fixated on a student's writing talent after discovering it in the back row of his classroom. "Human Vapor," a Japanese Netflix original written and executive-produced by "Train to Busan" director Yeon Sang-ho, ranked No. 7 with 2 million views. The series expands Ishiro Honda's 1960 tokusatsu film "The Human Vapor" into a story about a man who can turn his body into gas to commit crimes and the people chasing him. Korean films also had a strong week. "Husbands in Action," starring Gong Myoung and Jin Sun-kyu, ranked No. 2 on the non-English film chart with 1.7 million views and reached the Top 10 in 10 countries. Meanwhile, "K-Pop Demon Hunters" remained in the Top 10 on the English-language film chart for a 55th week, ranking No. 6 with 3.5 million views. 2026-07-08 10:31:16
TVXQ's Yunho to release new solo single later this month SEOUL, July 7 (AJP) - K-pop boy band TVXQ's Yunho will release a new single later this month, his management agency SM Entertainment said on Tuesday. "Time's Tickin'" will be available on major music streaming platforms at 6 p.m. on July 20, with a physical version also set for release on the same day. Preorders are already open at retailers. The upcoming single marks his first solo work since he released his full-length album "I-KNOW" last November. It showcases an upbeat contemporary pop-dance sound built around a clock-ticking motif, blending rhythmic verses written by Yunho that convey his ambition that does not fade with time, a theme reflected in the energetic singer's solo catalog, through which he has explored his musical journey album after album. The song's choreography also carries the same clock-inspired concept, featuring movements synchronized with the repeated line "Time's Tickin.'" Since debuting with TVXQ in 2003, Yunho has expanded his solo career alongside his group activities, moving from his 2019 debut EP "True Colors" through concept-driven releases like "NOIR" and "Reality Show" before releasing his first full-length album last year. 2026-07-07 17:46:21
Hearts2Hearts to make Japan debut SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - Hearts2Hearts will make its official Japan debut in August with the single "ICONIC HEART," SM Entertainment said Tuesday. The launch comes less than 18 months after the group's Korean debut in February 2025, marking a quick move into one of K-pop's most important overseas markets. The single's three tracks will be released on global streaming platforms on Aug. 10, followed by a physical release in Japan on Aug. 12. Hearts2Hearts has already built a track record in Japan. The group topped Oricon's daily album chart with its first EP, "FOCUS," and reached No. 1 on Billboard Japan's Heatseekers Songs chart with the single "STYLE." Its latest EP, "Lemon Tang," released in June, reached No. 2 on Oricon's daily album chart. The group has also released a Japanese-language version of "RUDE!" and recorded the opening theme for the Japanese broadcast of the animated series "Catch! Teenieping." Ahead of the Japan single, Hearts2Hearts will perform "Lemon Tang" in Japan for the first time on TV Asahi's "Music Station" on July 10. The long-running program is one of Japan's best-known music shows. In South Korea, the group has continued promotions for "Lemon Tang" since releasing the EP on June 22, with performances scheduled on MBC M's "Show Champion," Mnet's "M Countdown," MBC's "Show! Music Core" and SBS' "Inkigayo." 2026-07-07 17:28:31
Super Junior's Leeteuk, Heechul to release first EP as 83z unit SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - Super Junior members Leeteuk and Heechul will release their first EP as the unit Super Junior-83z on July 13, SM Entertainment said Tuesday. The unit's name refers to both members being born in 1983. The six-track EP, "Promise," will be released on major platforms at 6 p.m, (0900 GMT) including Melon, Flo, Genie, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify and more. A physical version will also come out the same day. The title track, also called "Promise," is a dance song built on a 2000s-style band sound, paired with Korean lyrics that SM described as a heartfelt confession delivered in the duo's own style. The EP also includes "ONSAEMIRO," a rock ballad previously introduced through a stage video. The track, written by Heechul, features live session instrumentation, with lyrics centered on staying by someone's side no matter how much time passes. SM Entertainment has been rolling out teaser images for the EP at 8:03 p.m. everyday. One released Sunday showed Leeteuk and Heechul in a retro-toned setting. 2026-07-07 17:27:50
Kia to retire 14-year-old K9 amid sagging demand for sedans SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) -Kia will retire its flagship K9 luxury sedan by the end of this year, industry officials and union sources said Monday, ending a 14-year production run as the automaker shifts investment toward electric vehicles, purpose-built vehicles and software-defined cars amid dwindling demand for large gasoline-powered sedans. The company has ruled out a facelift, a full redesign or even an annual model-year update, according to the sources, signaling that no successor is planned. Production is expected to end at Kia's Autoland Gwangmyeong plant. The move will also bring an end to Kia's rear-wheel-drive flagship sedan lineage. The front-wheel-drive K8 is expected to become the brand's flagship passenger car, marking Kia's clearest step yet away from traditional luxury sedans. Introduced in 2012 as the successor to the Opirus, the K9 was intended to showcase Kia's premium ambitions, with its top trim featuring a 5.0-liter V8 gasoline engine. The second-generation model, launched in 2018, gained popularity as a chauffeured vehicle for corporate executives, helping annual sales reach 6,585 units in 2022. Demand, however, deteriorated quickly. Sales fell to 3,898 units in 2023 before dropping to 1,870 in 2024. The K9 sold 1,581 units last year, down 15.4% from a year earlier, while first-half sales this year totaled only 734 units, putting the model on track for its weakest annual performance since launch. The K9 has been sold only in South Korea since 2021, after Kia withdrew it from North America and Russia. Genesis has firmly established itself as the dominant player in Korea's premium sedan segment. The G80 has consistently sold between 40,000 and 50,000 units annually since its third-generation launch in 2020, while the flagship G90 has maintained annual sales of around 10,000 units despite carrying a price tag of more than 100 million won. Competition also intensified from below. Hyundai Motor's Grandeur grew larger and more upscale with successive redesigns, narrowing the gap with the K9, while increasingly refined SUVs convinced many buyers they no longer needed a large sedan for premium comfort and cabin space. The K9's competitiveness was further weakened by the absence of a hybrid powertrain. While Kia introduced hybrid versions of the K5 and K8, its flagship remained gasoline-only throughout its life cycle as fuel efficiency and electrification became increasingly important to consumers. The K9 is not the first Korean large sedan to disappear from overseas markets. Kia discontinued the Cadenza, sold domestically as the K7, in North America in 2021, while Hyundai ended sales of the Azera there in 2017. Kia plans to redirect the production capacity and workforce freed by the K9's discontinuation toward next-generation vehicles. The automaker is expanding its EV lineup with the EV2 following last year's launches of the EV4 and EV5, while targeting a global lineup of 14 electric models by 2030. It is also expanding its purpose-built vehicle business following the launch of the PV5, with the PV7 scheduled for next year and the PV9 for 2029. Beyond electrification, Kia is preparing the XV1, a compact electric hatchback that will become Hyundai Motor Group's first software-defined vehicle. Scheduled to debut in Korea and Europe late next year, the model will serve as the platform for the group's planned rollout of Level 2++ autonomous driving technology by 2029. For now, the K9's exit leaves Kia without a large sedan above the K8, a gap the company shows no sign of planning to fill. 2026-07-07 17:27:21
Boy band NCT 127 to mark 10th anniversary with new album SEOUL, July 7 (AJP) - K-pop boy band NCT 127 will release their seventh full-length album next month, marking the 10th anniversary of their debut, their management agency SM Entertainment said on Tuesday. Slated for release on Aug. 24 through global music distributor Virgin Music Group, it will be their first full-length album in about two years since their sixth studio album "Walk" released in July 2024. To promote the album, NCT 127 will embark on their fifth world tour, kicking off with three concerts at KSPO Dome in Seoul from Sept. 18 to 20. The tour, dubbed "NEO CITY – THE REDLINE," will be held in Jakarta on Oct. 3, Hong Kong on Oct. 10 and 11, Singapore on Oct. 18, Bangkok on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, and Taipei on Jan. 2 next year with additional dates to be announced later. Having made their debut on July 7, 2016, the members of NCT 127 are part of broader NCT group's Seoul-based subunit, with the name derived from the longitude of the South Korean capital. They have released tracks including "2 Baddies," "Cherry Bomb," "Fact Check," "Kick It," "Sticker" and "Walk," with some of them making entries on the Billboard charts. Their upcoming world tour comes after they performed in Asia and North America from January to May last year for their world tour called "NEO CITY – THE MOMENTUM," with their show in Newark, New Jersey marking the 100th performance in the "NEO CITY" tour series. NCT 127, currently consisting of Doyoung, Haechan, Jaehyun, Johnny, Jungwoo, Taeyong and Yuta, will also headline this year's KCON, an annual music festival in Los Angeles in mid-August, just a week before the release of their new album. 2026-07-07 17:01:14
Hyundai takes Asia's humanoid race beyond the dance floor SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor reclaimed the 500,000-won threshold Monday, rising 2 percent even as the broader market retreated, after its growing robotics portfolio quietly stole attention from investors otherwise fixated on Samsung Electronics' earnings guidance due the following day. Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot, owned by Hyundai Motor Group, showcased a series of football-inspired celebrations during halftime of the Brazil-Norway World Cup round-of-16 match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday. Before nearly 80,000 spectators, Atlas recreated signature goal celebrations associated with global stars including Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Matheus Cunha and Son Heung-min before delivering the match ball to the referees. Hyundai said the performance demonstrated the same reinforcement-learning and whole-body control technologies it is developing for industrial applications. The appearance formed part of Hyundai's "Next Starts Now" campaign. Brand marketing chief Ji Seong-won said the roughly five-year project was intended to bring advanced robotics into public view rather than simply advertise the company. Unlike many Chinese humanoid demonstrations that have gone viral for choreographed dances and acrobatic performances, Hyundai emphasized practical mobility and industrial capability over spectacle, underscoring its strategy of building robots designed to work alongside humans rather than merely entertain them. The industrial focus extends beyond humanoids. Hyundai's 1.9-kilogram battery-free wearable exosuit was deployed by Genesis Magma Racing's pit crew during June's 24 Hours of Le Mans, helping reduce shoulder strain during rapid tire changes. The device has since been introduced to a young peach farmer in Eumseong through a NongHyup support program. A state-backed study found it reduced shoulder muscle activity by an average of 33 percent during fruit-harvesting work. The demonstrations come as Hyundai targets annual humanoid production capacity of 30,000 units by 2028. Atlas is expected to begin parts-sequencing work at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia that year before expanding into more complex assembly tasks by 2030. The robotics initiative forms part of Hyundai's broader 125.2 trillion won domestic investment plan through 2030, including a robotics and AI data-center cluster in Saemangeum. Investors appeared to welcome Hyundai's progress in what is increasingly described as "physical AI." While the KOSPI fell 0.46 percent, automobile stocks led the market, climbing 3.45 percent. Kia surged 5.72 percent, while Hyundai Motor rose 2.03 percent to 502,000 won. Hyundai Motor 2Woo B gained 4.44 percent and Hyundai Motor Woo advanced 3.97 percent. Auto-parts manufacturers were the market's third-best-performing sector, rising 3.27 percent. Kumho Tire soared 29.96 percent to hit the daily trading limit, although no company-specific announcement appeared to explain the move. Insurance shares also outperformed, led by Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, which climbed 5.64 percent. Brokerages are increasingly trying to identify the long-term winners in humanoid robotics. In a June report, CLSA analyst Brian Lee projected annual global humanoid production would exceed 1 million units by 2030, with the market reaching $320 billion by 2035. CLSA ranked Tesla and Boston Dynamics well ahead of rival developers, arguing both benefit from large-scale manufacturing expertise and captive demand from their automotive businesses. Figure AI ranked a distant third. The brokerage estimated Boston Dynamics' value at roughly 161 trillion won under its base-case scenario, well above the average 86 trillion won valuation assigned by other brokerages it surveyed. Whether Hyundai's early positioning ultimately translates into a durable competitive advantage remains uncertain. South Korea boasts the world's highest manufacturing robot density, with 1,220 robots for every 10,000 workers as of 2024, according to the International Federation of Robotics. Scale, however, belongs to China. The country operates by far the world's largest industrial robot fleet, with more than 2 million units, and its collective humanoid robot output is expected to surpass Hyundai's 2028 production target as early as next year, according to industry estimates. 2026-07-06 17:55:34
Red Velvet out to steal summer with EP 'Velvet Summer' SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) - Kpop girl group Red Velvet, known for its strig of summer hits, will release a new summer EP, "Velvet Summer," on Aug. 3, agency SM Entertainment said Monday. The release will be Red Velvet's first full-group album in just over two years, following "Cosmic" in June 2024. The five-track EP is led by the title song "Surfin' Boy" and will be available on streaming platforms at 6 p.m. as well as in physical format the same day. Preorders opened Monday through online and offline retailers. Red Velvet has released a string of summer singles over the past decade, including "Red Flavor," "Power Up," "Umpah Umpah" and "Queendom." Ahead of the album's release, Red Velvet will hold a two-day fan concert, "2026 Red Velvet FAN-CON ," at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul on Aug. 1 and 2. 2026-07-06 11:32:57