Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Volvo Korea Cuts EX30, EX30 Cross Country Prices by Up to 7.61 Million Won
    Volvo Korea Cuts EX30, EX30 Cross Country Prices by Up to 7.61 Million Won Volvo Car Korea said Feb. 20 it will cut the list prices of its premium all-electric SUVs, the EX30 and the EX30 Cross Country (EX30CC), effective March 1. The company said the decision followed close talks with its headquarters and is aimed at broadening the EV market and giving more customers access to Volvo’s sustainable mobility. With the change, the entry-level EX30 Core will be priced in the 30 million won range, lowering the barrier to the premium imported EV segment, the company said. The EX30 Core will drop by 7.61 million won, from 47.52 million won to 39.91 million won. The EX30 Ultra and EX30CC Ultra will each be cut by 7 million won, to 44.79 million won and 48.12 million won, respectively. Government EV subsidies can further reduce purchase prices. Using Seoul’s subsidy as an example, the EX30 Core and Ultra would each receive 3.21 million won, bringing their prices to 36.70 million won and 41.58 million won. The EX30CC Ultra would receive 2.88 million won, for an effective price of 45.24 million won. Volvo Car Korea said the move is not a temporary discount tied to option changes, but a reduction in official list prices while keeping the highest-level options intact. Lee Yoon-mo, CEO of Volvo Car Korea, said the company decided on the cuts after “intense discussions” with headquarters that reflected the importance of the Korean market. He said Volvo aims to lead the mainstreaming of premium EVs through the EX30 and EX30CC and help customers experience Volvo’s value “without 부담,” or undue burden. The EX30 and EX30CC are all-electric SUVs that Volvo says offer flagship-level safety technology and convenience features despite their compact size. The EX30 uses a 66kWh NCM battery and a rear-wheel-based single-motor extended powertrain, producing 272 horsepower and 35.0 kg.m of maximum torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 5.3 seconds and has a combined driving range of 351 km per charge. The EX30CC uses a 66kWh NCM battery and an all-wheel-drive twin-motor performance powertrain, producing 428 horsepower and 55.4 kg.m of maximum torque. It goes from 0 to 100 kph in 3.7 seconds and has a combined driving range of 329 km per charge. Volvo Car Korea said it will continue to offer what it called industry-leading coverage: a free warranty and consumables replacement service for five years or 100,000 km, and a high-voltage battery warranty for eight years or 160,000 km. It also includes 15 years of free over-the-air (OTA) updates and a free 5G digital package for five years. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 09:27:00
  • Report Revives Health Rumors About Actor Choi Bul-am After TV Exit
    Report Revives Health Rumors About Actor Choi Bul-am After TV Exit Actor Choi Bul-am has become the subject of renewed rumors about his health.  On the 19th, MBN’s current-affairs and documentary program “Special Scoop World” aired a look at actor Im Hyun-sik’s daily life. In the episode, Im met with actor Park Eun-su, who played Il-yong in the MBC drama “Country Diaries,” and the two talked.  Park expressed concern about Im’s condition, saying, “If you live alone, you at least have to be healthy.”  He added, “The few senior people we have left, it feels like they’re all about to pass away,” and said, “Right now, senior Choi Bul-am isn’t doing well, and the seniors’ health isn’t good.”  Park’s specific mention of Choi drew attention. Choi stepped down last year from KBS 1TV’s current-affairs and documentary program “Korean Table,” which he had hosted for 14 years. At the time, KBS said it was “not due to (Choi’s) health,” but Park’s remarks have brought the rumors back.  Choi was born in 1940 and is 85 this year.  2026-02-20 09:01:41
  • Korea flags alleged wasteful spending at music performers group, including contracts tied to executive’s relatives
    Korea flags alleged wasteful spending at music performers group, including contracts tied to executive’s relatives The Korea Music Performers Association, known as KOSCAP, is facing scrutiny after allegations that it spent its budget loosely, including signing private contracts centered on companies run by relatives of an executive. South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on the 20th that a 2025 inspection of KOSCAP and the Korea Society of Copyrights for Literary Works and Art found numerous shortcomings in compensation distribution and organizational operations. The ministry said it selected three organizations through a public call to serve as copyright compensation recipients: the literary and arts copyright society, KOSCAP and the Korea Music Content Association. After reviewing their operations, it found multiple issues requiring correction, imposed corrective conditions and ordered the groups to undergo another review through a new call for applications in two years. At KOSCAP, the ministry said it found many cases of improper spending and weak governance. Executive A, it said, recommended a company led by a sixth-degree relative for 2025 holiday gift purchases, and KOSCAP then signed a 22.77 million won private contract with that firm. The amount exceeded KOSCAP’s internal limit for private contracts by 770,000 won. KOSCAP also signed an 11.3 million won contract with a travel agency where the same relative of Executive A worked while planning a 2025 staff workshop, the ministry said. The ministry said KOSCAP spent 329 million won on vacation pay in 2025, averaging about 10 million won per person. KOSCAP’s vacation-pay rate has steadily increased, rising from 120% of base salary in 2013 to 210% in 2024. It also created four new allowances in 2025 without reporting them to the general assembly or board, including children’s tuition (2 million to 3 million won a year), meal allowance (100,000 won a month), communications allowance (50,000 won a month) and a youth housing stability allowance (100,000 won a month). About 96.25 million won was paid to executives and staff under those categories over the past year. The ministry also said that while rules limit individual corporate cards to executives, KOSCAP appointed non-standing adviser B in October and signed a contract providing a monthly adviser fee of 5.7 million won, a corporate card with a 1 million won monthly cap for business expenses, and coverage under the four major social insurance programs. B charged 1,041,400 won in October alone, exceeding the limit, and the ministry cited cases of split transactions at the same location late at night. Other findings included an unauthorized expansion of a prefabricated panel space on a KOSCAP-owned building and a renovation contract signed for about 25 million won more than the publicly announced amount, the ministry said. At the literary and arts copyright society, the ministry said it found cases of overcollection involving works whose protection period had expired (five cases, including authors Sim Hun and Kim Yeongrang, totaling 630,000 won) and cases in which authors were misclassified and did not receive compensation for 10 years despite being members (two cases, totaling 240,000 won). The ministry said it issued corrective orders to KOSCAP and the literary and arts copyright society, including demands for disciplinary action against responsible officials, corrections to improper spending and steps to prevent recurrence. As conditions for designation as compensation recipient organizations, it also required measures to curb wasteful management, establish conflict-of-interest prevention plans, lower management fee rates and reduce undistributed compensation funds. 2026-02-20 08:57:23
  • Trot Singer Yoon Tae-hwa Reveals Divorce on TV Chosun’s “Miss Trot 4”
    Trot Singer Yoon Tae-hwa Reveals Divorce on TV Chosun’s “Miss Trot 4” Trot singer Yoon Tae-hwa has revealed that she divorced. Yoon appeared on the Feb. 19 afternoon broadcast of TV Chosun’s trot survival show “Miss Trot 4,” competing in the second round of the “Legend Mission” solo stage. She chose Choi Jin-hee’s “Repentance,” a song about deep regret after a breakup. Asked by Choi why she picked the song, Yoon said, “After finishing ‘Miss Trot 2,’ I got married, but after living together for a year, I came back.” She previously married a non-celebrity man eight years older than her on March 8, 2022. Yoon added that when “Miss Trot 2” began, her mother collapsed and it was a difficult time. She said that even after marrying her then-boyfriend, she remained the family breadwinner. “I had to take care of my mother, so I couldn’t fully play the role of a wife, and after talking things through, we decided to live our own lives,” she said. She added that the song resonated with her, leading her to choose it. After the performance, Yoon made the “Miss Trot 4” top 10.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 08:42:06
  • KB Kookmin Bank Union Faces Impeachment Bid Against Chair After Labor Deal
    KB Kookmin Bank Union Faces Impeachment Bid Against Chair After Labor Deal KB Kookmin Bank’s labor union has finalized its 2025 wage and collective bargaining agreement, but an unprecedented move to impeach the union chair is now being raised. The push comes after a majority of members voted against the tentative deal, yet the chair moved ahead with it under his authority. The union says it is prepared to take the dispute to court over issues including bonuses that have already been paid, signaling the conflict could drag on. According to the financial industry on Thursday, the union has formed an emergency committee and will begin voting Feb. 23 on whether to file an impeachment motion against union chair Kim Jeong. If at least one-third of members agree, the motion can be formally submitted. After a motion is filed, the chair must convene the impeachment decision-making body within two weeks. If at least two-thirds of members vote in favor, the chair must step down. Members’ anger centers on Kim’s decision to implement compensation based on the tentative agreement despite its rejection. In a second vote held Feb. 11, 5,443 of 9,369 members voted against the deal, defeating it. The tentative agreement included a 3.1% wage increase (3.3% for contract workers), a profit-sharing bonus (P/S) of 300%, a special incentive payment of 7 million won, elimination of the P/S cap and a plan to rebuild the profit-sharing system within three quarters, and a 4.9-day workweek that includes leaving work one hour early on Fridays. Internal dissatisfaction remained over the raise and the compensation structure. Kim, who won reelection last month, had made “up to 600% in bonuses” a key campaign pledge, which the union said helped drive the majority “no” vote. Even so, Kim pushed the agreement through, citing the approaching Feb. 13 deadline for paying bonuses to employees taking voluntary retirement, despite the deal being rejected twice. The union said, “Even after an overwhelming majority opposition was confirmed twice in a membership vote, Kim trampled members’ will with a single statement and forced the agreement through,” calling it “a serious matter that undermines the foundation of democratic legitimacy.” In a statement issued Wednesday, Kim said, “As the payment deadline for our retired seniors drew closer, my heart burned, and I ultimately made a lonely and heavy decision with the resolve to bear all criticism alone.” He added, “As chair, I cannot wash away with any excuse that I did not fully follow members’ wishes, and I will not avoid responsibility but face it head-on.” The infighting could also spill into legal action. With the profit-sharing bonus already paid after Kim moved ahead, some observers say a court is less likely to grant an injunction to invalidate the agreement. The union, however, believes it could still prevail in a lawsuit on the merits. 2026-02-20 08:30:00
  • K-Pop Boosts Hanbok’s Global Profile, but Experts Say Daily Wear Is the Next Test
    K-Pop Boosts Hanbok’s Global Profile, but Experts Say Daily Wear Is the Next Test As K-pop artists including BTS raise the hanbok’s profile on the global stage, calls are growing to find ways to root the traditional Korean outfit in everyday life. Industry officials said Feb. 20 that with BTS’ full-group return nearing, attention is on whether K-pop’s global reach can translate into new momentum for the hanbok industry. BTS has frequently used hanbok-inspired looks onstage, helping recast the garment as a modern, trend-forward style. The group drew worldwide attention on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” performing with Gyeongbokgung Palace and Geunjeongjeon Hall as a backdrop while wearing stage outfits that reinterpreted hanbok elements. For “IDOL,” BTS wore costumes based on hanbok, updated with modern takes on traditional patterns and colors. Member Suga also sparked buzz by wearing a gonryongpo in the music video for his solo track “Daechwita.” BTS has also introduced hanbok as “Korean culture” in interviews with major overseas media outlets. Hanbok is also taking on a role as a symbol of K-culture in diplomacy. Ahead of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s visit to South Korea, first lady Rosangela da Silva posted photos on social media wearing a hanbok gifted by the local Korean community. “At this moment, ahead of an official visit to South Korea, I had the honor of receiving a hanbok as a gift,” she wrote, describing it as “a traditional Korean outfit mainly worn for festivals, weddings, holidays and cultural events.” Kim Hye-kyung, recently named an “honorary hanbok ambassador,” has worn hanbok while accompanying President Lee Jae-myung on overseas trips, officials said. At a recent hanbok New Year gathering, she said, “Hanbok is a precious cultural heritage that represents Korea and a core asset of K-culture,” adding, “I will devote myself even more to promoting the beauty of hanbok.” Experts say the next step is making hanbok part of daily life, moving beyond the idea that it is only formal wear. Many argue it should be used across a wider range of content, including K-pop, games and virtual reality. Kim So-hyun, a professor in the Department of Hanbok Culture Contents at Baewha Women’s University, said content is needed so people can experience hanbok in virtual spaces as well. She pointed to examples of companies such as Louis Vuitton offering brand experiences to younger users in virtual platforms like Zepeto and generating revenue through item sales. “Hanbok is changing into cultural content people enjoy as play by combining it with films, dramas, webtoons and games,” she said. “The space for hanbok in everyday life is expanding into virtual worlds such as the metaverse.” Kwon Hye-jin, CEO of hanbok studio Hyeon and an adjunct professor at Ewha Womans University, said idol stars bowing to fans around the world are helping spread awareness of hanbok. She called for strategies to increase hanbok exposure through K-content, including collaborations with Korean Wave stars. She also proposed hanbok festivals that friends, couples and families can enjoy together, similar to Brazil’s Carnival or Japan’s matsuri. 2026-02-20 08:03:00
  • Lee Hae-in Places Eighth in Olympic Debut, Finishes in Top 10 in Women’s Figure Skating
    Lee Hae-in Places Eighth in Olympic Debut, Finishes in Top 10 in Women’s Figure Skating Lee Hae-in of Korea University finished in the top 10 in women’s singles figure skating in her first Olympics. Competing at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, Lee scored 74.15 in technical elements and 66.34 in program components for 140.49 in the free skate. With her short program score of 70.07, she totaled 210.56 to place eighth. She became the sixth South Korean to place in the Olympic top 10 in women’s singles, following Kim Yuna (gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games and silver at the 2014 Sochi Games), Choi Da-bin (seventh at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games), You Young (fifth at the 2022 Beijing Games) and Kim Ye-lim (eighth at the 2022 Beijing Games). Lee set season bests in both the free skate and overall total. She surpassed the 132.06 free-skate score and 196.84 total she posted at the ISU Challenger Series Denis Ten Memorial Challenge in October. Her personal bests are 148.57 in the free skate and 225.47 overall, both set at the 2023 Team Trophy. After placing ninth in the short program with a season best, Lee skated 16th in the free. Performing to the opera “Carmen,” she landed a double Axel-triple toe loop combination and a triple Lutz-double toe loop-double loop combination cleanly, along with steady triple Salchow and triple loop jumps. Her flying camel spin earned Level 4, and her choreographic sequence was Level 1. In the second half, she completed a triple Lutz, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a triple flip. She closed with Level 4 marks on her flying change-foot combination spin, step sequence and change-foot combination spin. Shin Jia of Sewha High School, also making her Olympic debut, placed 11th with a free-skate score of 141.02 (75.05 TES, 65.97 PCS). Combined with her short program score of 65.66, she finished with 206.68. Shin bettered her previous official personal best in the free skate of 138.95 from the 2024 ISU World Junior Championships, but fell short of her official personal best total of 212.43. After finishing 14th in the short program on Feb. 18 following a jump error, Shin skated 11th of 24 in the free. Skating to “Liebestraum,” she opened with a clean double Axel, then landed a triple Lutz-triple loop combination and a triple Salchow. She wobbled on the landing of her triple loop and touched the boards but stayed on her feet. She received Level 3 on her change-foot combination spin, then stayed steady in the second half, which carries a 10% bonus. She completed a triple flip-double toe loop-double loop combination, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a final triple Lutz. Despite a Level 2 on her flying camel spin, she finished with a Level 4 step sequence, a choreographic sequence and a Level 4 flying change-foot combination spin. The women’s singles gold medal went to American Alysa Liu with 226.79. After placing third in the short program, she moved into first with a free-skate score of 150.20. Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto won silver with 224.90, and Japan’s Ami Nakai took bronze with 219.16.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 07:51:00
  • Seoul ready to push economic ties with New Delhi to new level - trade minister
    Seoul ready to push economic ties with New Delhi to new level - trade minister SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) -A deeper economic cooperation with India has become more important than ever for South Korea as the global trade environment undergoes rapid change, Seoul's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said Thursday. Speaking at the Korea-India Economic Cooperation Conference at Lotte Hotel Seoul, Yeo described India as “a central country” in South Korea’s New Southern Policy and “a leader of the Global South.” He said there is significant room for growth in bilateral trade, noting that South Korea’s annual trade with 11 ASEAN countries — whose combined gross domestic product is similar to India’s — totals about $200 billion, while Korea-India trade currently stands at around $25 billion. The event, held under the theme “The Future of Korea-India Economic Cooperation for Shared Prosperity,” focused on future directions for bilateral cooperation. India, the world’s most populous country, is drawing attention as a next-generation manufacturing base and supply-chain hub, backed by a large domestic market and annual economic growth of 6 to 7 percent. The congress drew around 200 figues, including Indian Ambassador to South Korea Gourangalal Das and Rajat Kumar Saini, CEO of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation, along with government officials and representatives from companies and institutions from the two countries. The Indian envoy in an interview with AJP last month said New Delhi was in talks with Seoul to arrange a state visit by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to elevate strategic partnership between the two countries to encompass new-growth area. In a presentation session, the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy said India is sustaining rapid growth based on its young and abundant population, financial stability and active industrial strategy. The institute called for stronger cooperation in advanced industries and supply chains to deepen bilateral ties. South Korean companies operating in India in areas such as advanced manufacturing, consumer goods and content shared their local experiences and business results. Indian government officials outlined the country’s investment environment, incentives and policies to promote shipbuilding and marine industries, pointing to new opportunities for cooperation. A panel discussion involving participants from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology and the POSCO Research Institute also explored ways to maximize synergies through strategic cooperation among government, industry and research. Panelists said South Korea and India should work together in areas where their strengths are complementary, including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and space and aviation. Yeo said Seoul will expand partnerships with India in AI, digital technology, supply chains, green energy and manufacturing to meet the demands of a new trade era. He added that South Korea will work closely with New Delhi to swiftly conclude key pending issues, including negotiations to upgrade the Korea-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, to create the best possible environment for cooperation. 2026-02-20 07:48:32
  • South Korea’s Shin Jia sets personal-best free skate at Milan-Cortina Olympics; Lee Hae-in posts season best
    South Korea’s Shin Jia sets personal-best free skate at Milan-Cortina Olympics; Lee Hae-in posts season best South Korea’s women’s singles figure skaters Shin Jia (Sehwa Girls’ High School) and Lee Hae-in (Korea University) delivered strong performances in their first Olympics. Shin scored 141.02 points in the free skate on Feb. 20 (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, earning 75.05 in technical elements (TES) and 65.97 in program components (PCS). With her short program score of 65.66, she finished with 206.68 overall. Her free-skate score topped her previous official personal best of 138.95 set at the 2024 International Skating Union (ISU) World Junior Championships. She fell just short of her official personal-best total of 212.43. After placing 14th in the short program on Feb. 18 following a jump error, Shin skated 11th among 24 competitors in the free. Performing to “Liebestraum,” she opened with a clean double Axel, then landed a triple Lutz-triple loop combination and a triple Salchow. She wobbled on the landing of a triple loop and touched the boards but stayed on her feet. She completed a change-foot combination spin at Level 3 to close the first half, then remained steady in the bonus second half. Shin landed a triple flip-double toe loop-double loop combination, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a final triple Lutz. She received Level 2 on the flying camel spin but finished with a Level 4 step sequence, a choreo sequence and a Level 4 flying change-foot combination spin. Lee also turned in a composed free skate, scoring 140.49 with 74.15 TES and 66.34 PCS. Combined with her short program score of 70.07, she posted 210.56 overall. The results marked season bests for Lee in both the free skate and total score, surpassing the 132.06 free-skate score and 196.84 total she recorded at the ISU Challenger Series Denis Ten Memorial Challenge last October. Lee’s official personal best in the free skate is 148.57, set at the 2023 Team Trophy, and her personal-best total is 225.47. Lee, who was ninth after the short program with a season-best score, skated 16th in the free. Performing to the opera “Carmen,” she opened with a steady double Axel-triple toe loop combination and followed with a clean triple Lutz-double toe loop-double loop combination. She also landed a triple Salchow and triple loop, then earned Level 4 on the flying camel spin and Level 1 on the choreo sequence. In the second half, Lee completed a triple Lutz, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a triple flip. She closed with Level 4 marks on the flying change-foot combination spin, step sequence and change-foot combination spin.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 07:06:00
  • U.S. wins Olympic women’s hockey gold, beats Canada 2-1 in overtime at Milan 2026
    U.S. wins Olympic women’s hockey gold, beats Canada 2-1 in overtime at Milan 2026 The United States beat rival Canada to win Olympic gold in women’s ice hockey. The Americans defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime in the final of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Feb. 20 (Korean time) at the Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy. The victory gave the United States its first Olympic title since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, and its third overall. Canada, which had reached eight straight Olympic finals since the 1998 Nagano Games and won five of them, took silver this time. The United States entered the final 6-0 with 31 goals scored and one allowed, but conceded first. Canada struck 54 seconds into the second period on a short-handed counterattack, when Kristin O’Neill finished a pass from Laura Stacey for the opening goal. The Americans struggled to break through Canada’s defense until they pulled their goalie with 2:04 left in the third period. Captain and veteran Hilary Knight then deflected a teammate’s long-range shot to tie it. The game was decided in overtime. At 4:07, Megan Keller beat a defender and scored the winner, sealing the U.S. title in women’s ice hockey at the Milan Winter Games.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 07:03:00