Journalist
Lee Hugh
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BLACKPINK tops 100 million YouTube subscribers, thanks fans Girl group BLACKPINK has shared its reaction after becoming the first artist worldwide to surpass 100 million YouTube subscribers. On the afternoon of the 20th, BLACKPINK crossed the 100 million mark and received YouTube’s “Red Diamond Button” to certify the milestone. The members thanked fans in a video posted that afternoon. Jennie said, “I want to once again thank everyone who always takes interest in our music and loves us,” adding, “I’m especially happy we could make this record together with BLINK,” the group’s fandom. Rosé said the achievement “means even more,” adding that she had heard BLACKPINK was the first official artist channel to reach 100 million subscribers on YouTube. Lisa thanked YouTube “for creating a space where we can always communicate with fans around the world,” and added, “Most of all, thank you so much to BLINK for being with us every moment, watching and listening to our music, and growing with us. We couldn’t have come this far without you.” BLACKPINK is also set to release its third mini album, “DEADLINE,” on the 27th. The release will be the group’s first album in three years and five months since its second full-length album in September 2022. Jisoo said, “We worked hard for a long time and put a lot of care into preparing our third mini album, ‘DEADLINE,’ so please give it lots of love.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 20:42:15 -
IOC Apologizes After Incorrect South Korean Flags Used at Short Track Medal Ceremonies The Korean Olympic Committee said it secured an official apology and immediate corrective action from the International Olympic Committee and the organizing committee after an incorrect South Korean flag was repeatedly displayed at Olympic short track medal ceremonies. On Feb. 20 (Korea time), the KOC said it lodged a formal protest with the IOC and organizers and demanded prompt fixes over the inaccurate flag used during ceremonies at the short track venue. The misprinted flag showed the taegeuk symbol in the center tilted counterclockwise. It was used four times: the men’s 1,000 meters medal ceremony on Feb. 13, where Lim Jong-eon won bronze; the men’s 1,500 meters on Feb. 15, where Hwang Dae-heon won silver; the women’s 1,000 meters on Feb. 16, where Kim Gil-li won bronze; and the women’s 3,000-meter relay on Feb. 19, where South Korea won gold. The KOC said it visited IOC and organizing committee offices in the athletes’ village with the officially approved flag specifications and showed that the design used at ceremonies did not match the approved version, pressing for changes. The IOC and organizers acknowledged an error in the local printing process and apologized, the KOC said. They reprinted the correct flag and completed the necessary steps before competition, and began using the corrected flag starting with the women’s 1,500 meters and men’s 5,000-meter relay medal ceremonies. The KOC said it sent an official letter urging measures to prevent a repeat and calling for a full recheck of flag specifications across all venues at the Milan Winter Olympics.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 20:00:00 -
Actor Koo Sung-hwan mourns death of pet dog Flowerbun, featured on 'I Live Alone' Actor Koo Sung-hwan's dog Flowerbun, who drew attention after appearing on MBC's "I Live Alone," has died. Koo wrote on social media on the 21st that he had rewritten and deleted the post many times, saying he still did not want to accept it. He said Flowerbun, whom he called his "daughter," "younger sister" and "partner," died on the 14th. "Flowerbun received so much love, and I wanted to say thank you for all the love she was given in this life," he wrote, adding that he regretted not feeding her more good food or taking her on more walks. "Flowerbun, you were so kind and affectionate. Thank you, I'm sorry, and I love you so, so much," he wrote. "Let's meet again someday. Over there, eat lots of tasty food, run around with your friends and be happy." He also thanked people for loving Flowerbun and said he would pull himself together and return in good health. After the news, Koo's close friend Lee Joo-seung wrote, "My little friend, rest easy," and Code Kunst posted, "I love you, Flowerbun." Flowerbun appeared on "I Live Alone" in May 2024 and became popular.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 19:33:14 -
Olympic snowboard bronze medalist Yoo Seung-eun says it still feels like a dream Yoo Seung-eun of Seongbok High School, the first South Korean woman to win an Olympic medal in skiing or snowboarding, returned home wearing her bronze medal from the Milano-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Games. After arriving through Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 2 on the afternoon of the 21st, Yoo told reporters it was an honor just to ride “with the Taegeuk mark” at the Olympics, adding, “It’s an even greater honor that I was able to win a medal.” Yoo placed third with 171 points in the women’s big air final held Feb. 10 (Korea time) at the Livigno Snow Park in Italy. Big air features riders accelerating down a slope of more than 30 meters before launching off a large jump, with scores based on jumps, spins, landings and distance. Big air became an official Olympic event at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Yoo was the first South Korean woman to compete in the event, and she won a medal in her first Olympic final. She also became the first South Korean to win an Olympic medal in a judged freestyle snowboarding discipline. “I learned a lot through the Olympics, and my confidence went up,” Yoo said. “It was a stage where I could feel and learn a lot about what I do well and what I still lack.” She added, “Honestly, it still feels like I’m dreaming. Even though the Olympics are over, it all feels like a dream.” Born in 2008, Yoo dealt with injuries at a young age. In 2024, she fractured her right ankle and spent more than a year in rehabilitation. After returning, she suffered a wrist fracture as well. She said her condition is now strong, emphasizing, “I’m very healthy. The injuries are almost recovered now.” Asked what she wanted to tell herself after the Olympics, Yoo said, “Good job, and let’s keep working hard.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 18:45:00 -
Actress Jeon Won-ju Says Her Sons May Be Eyeing Her Assets Actress Jeon Won-ju said she feels her children may be coveting her property. A video titled “Jeon Won-ju visits a romance-focused fortune-telling shop as its first customer” was posted on the YouTube channel “Younggu TV” on the 20th. In the video, a shaman told Jeon that things would go well for her in 2026, adding that she had “made it through a major hurdle” and warning her to go to the hospital if she has headaches. The shaman also said Jeon should be especially careful about her health in 2027 and 2028, and advised her to sort out and organize her assets. Jeon said, “My children are after my property. I have two sons, and I don’t know why they keep asking me for my seal stamp,” adding that she has recently felt she should stop being someone who trembles and instead become someone who spends freely. Comedian Shim Hyung-rae responded that he was not telling her to spend unconditionally, but to use her money for herself. Jeon replied, “Now I’m going to spend a little,” emphasizing her point.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 18:09:15 -
China’s Lin Xiaojun Ends Milan Olympics Without a Medal, Says Past With Hwang Dae-heon Is Behind Him China short track skater Lin Xiaojun finished his first Olympics in eight years without a medal. Lin skated Saturday (Korea time) in the men’s 5,000-meter relay B final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, closing out his competition. He failed to reach the finals in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters and was left off the lineup for the mixed 2,000-meter relay, ending the Games without a medal. Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, Lin said it was his first Olympics since Pyeongchang 2018. “There were moments I wanted to give up, but short track was my whole life,” he said. “I’m disappointed I didn’t get the results I wanted, but the process of not giving up and pushing through matters. I did my best, so I have no regrets.” Lin also addressed his relationship with South Korea’s Hwang Dae-heon, with whom he was involved in a past incident. “I don’t have any particular feelings or thoughts about him. What happened is in the past,” Lin said. “I believe happier days are ahead, and I want to show that I’m doing my best as an athlete.” Lin, the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic champion in the men’s 1,500 meters, was suspended for one year by the Korea Skating Union after an incident during training at the national team camp in Jincheon in 2019, when he pulled down Hwang’s pants. He later chose to switch nationality to China in 2020. In May 2021, South Korea’s Supreme Court issued a final not-guilty ruling on the allegation. Lin still could not compete at the Beijing 2022 Olympics because of an International Olympic Committee rule requiring athletes to wait three years after changing nationality before competing. Hwang, whose potential head-to-head matchup with Lin drew attention in Milan, won silver in the men’s 1,000 meters and added another silver Saturday in the men’s 5,000-meter relay.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 17:48:00 -
South Korean presidential office to monitor US trade measures after court ruling SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - The South Korean presidential office said Saturday it will closely monitor follow-up trade actions by the United States and global trends after the US Supreme Court invalidated broad tariffs on South Korean goods. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac and Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, co-chaired a joint meeting of relevant ministries to discuss the fallout. The session followed a 6-3 US Supreme Court decision on Friday that ruled President Donald Trump lacked the authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing that the 15 percent reciprocal tariff currently applied to South Korean exports is now void under the ruling. However, she noted that the US administration has since announced a new 10 percent global tariff based on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Kang said the government plans to continue friendly consultations based on the special alliance between South Korea and the United States. She added that officials aim to ensure the balance of benefits and export conditions secured in previous agreements are not damaged by the increased uncertainty in the international trade environment. Regarding the recovery of tariffs already paid by South Korean companies, the presidential office decided to work closely with economic organizations and trade associations. This collaboration aims to provide businesses with timely and accurate information on potential refund processes. The meeting participants also reviewed the progress of the Special Act on Investment in the United States. They agreed to proceed with necessary legislative steps, including public hearings, to ensure the process remains on schedule. Attendees included Koo Yun-cheol, the deputy prime minister at the Ministry of Finance and Economy; Cho Hyun, the foreign minister; Kim Jeong-gwan, the minister at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; and Yeo Han-koo, the minister for trade. Ha Jun-kyung, the senior secretary for economic growth, and Oh Hyun-joo, the third deputy director of national security, also participated. Trump signed an executive order on Friday to formally end the duties imposed under IEEPA in response to the court decision. He immediately invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose a 10 percent surcharge on all imports to address international payment imbalances. 2026-02-21 17:37:26 -
Norway Sets Winter Olympics Record With 17 Gold Medals at Milan-Cortina 2026 Norway, a winter sports powerhouse, has set a new record for the most gold medals won by a single nation at one Winter Olympics at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. Johannes Dale-Skjevdal of Norway won the men’s 15-kilometer biathlon mass start on Feb. 20 (Korea time) at the Antholz biathlon arena in Italy, finishing in 39:17.1. The victory delivered Norway’s 17th gold medal of the Games, breaking the previous single-Winter Olympics record of 16 golds the country set at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Norway’s gold medals so far have come in cross-country skiing (six), biathlon (three), Nordic combined (three), freestyle skiing (two), ski jumping (two) and speedskating (one). Norway also leads the overall medal standings with 17 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze medals, for 37 total. The United States is second with nine gold, 12 silver and six bronze medals, also totaling 37. With events remaining, Norway is also chasing the single-Games record for total medals. That mark is also held by Norway, set at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics with 39 medals (14 gold, 14 silver, 11 bronze). * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 17:30:00 -
Choi Min-jeong Says Milan Olympics Were Her Last, Fights Back Tears After Silver Short track star Choi Min-jeong of Seongnam City Hall said she is retiring from the Olympics. Choi won silver in the women’s 1,500 meters short track final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics on Friday (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, finishing second behind Kim Gil-li. The medal was Choi’s seventh individual Olympic medal (four gold, three silver). It set a new record for most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete, surpassing Jin Jong-oh (shooting), Kim Soo-nyung (archery) and Lee Seung-hoon (speedskating), who each had six. Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, Choi said she felt relief after a race with no regrets, but became emotional because it felt like the end. “I feel so relieved, but I’m crying because a lot of emotions are crossing,” she said. “I think I’m crying because it feels like my last Olympics.” Choi said the 1,500 was her Olympic “last dance.” “This is my last Olympics,” she said. “While preparing this season, my knee and ankle weren’t good, and mentally it was really tough.” She added that the thought stayed with her throughout the race and afterward: “I don’t think you’ll see me at the Olympics anymore.” She said she has not decided whether to retire from competition altogether. “Retiring from my career isn’t something I can decide alone,” Choi said, adding that it would require coordination with her team. “I’ve only been thinking about the Olympics. It’s something I need to think about while resting for a while.” Asked why she chose to make this her final Olympics, Choi said the decision came naturally as injuries piled up and it became difficult to regain her best condition. She said she set many records on the Olympic stage and felt she had done everything she could. Looking back on her three Olympics, Choi said the best moment was “right now,” saying she wanted to focus on the good and finish on a positive note. She called Friday’s 1,500 silver her most meaningful medal among the seven. Choi said she hopes fans remember her as an athlete who kept showing how strong South Korean skaters are. She added that with Kim poised to follow in her footsteps, she feels more at ease about taking a break. 2026-02-21 16:45:00 -
South Korean prime minister signals cautious review of trade deal after US court ruling SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Saturday that South Korea will "wisely" monitor the situation following a US Supreme Court decision that invalidated a key tariff program, suggesting possible adjustments to a previous bilateral trade agreement. The remarks, made during a public briefing in the city of Pohang on Saturday afternoon, address the potential fallout from a 6-3 ruling by the US Supreme Court on Friday. The court found that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority by using an emergency law to impose broad "reciprocal" tariffs. Under that system, South Korea had negotiated a 15 percent duty rate in exchange for a pledge to invest 350 billion dollars in the United States. Kim raised the possibility that the shift in the US legal landscape could change the terms of the existing deal. He questioned whether the previous negotiations could be reset or if certain conditions could be changed, given that the legal foundation for the tariffs has been shaken. "We will monitor the situation very wisely as we move forward," Kim said. He noted that while the government intends to honor the agreements reached between the two nations, the invalidation of the US legal basis for the tariffs represents a significant change in circumstances. The prime minister characterized the trade deal as a political and economic negotiation based on the trade interests of both sides, rather than a purely legal matter. He added that while formal government-level discussions on a specific policy pivot have not yet begun, the administration will look at the situation comprehensively. The ruling in Washington has created a complex situation for major US trading partners. Immediately after the court decision, Trump signed a new proclamation to impose a 10 percent global surcharge under a different law, Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. His administration also announced new investigations under Section 301, which could lead to additional duties on countries like South Korea that maintain a large trade surplus with the United States. South Korean officials have expressed concern that the new US strategy aims to maintain the same level of tariff revenue through different legal means. Trump stated in a press conference that he expects the new measures to ultimately collect more money than the previous system. The South Korean presidential office held a joint meeting of relevant ministries at 2 p.m. Saturday to analyze the court ruling. Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac led the session to discuss how to protect national interests while managing the alliance with the United States. 2026-02-21 16:36:23