Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Comedian Kim Ji-min Says She Injured Her Face in a Fall
    Comedian Kim Ji-min Says She Injured Her Face in a Fall Comedian Kim Ji-min said she was injured in a fall. Kim wrote on social media on Tuesday that she fell and hit her face while getting out after taking a half-body bath 10 days earlier, posting photos along with the message. “The bruising has gone down, but maybe my cheek muscle is knotted — a strange spot sinks in like a dimple,” she wrote, asking if anyone knew how it should be treated. Online commenters responded with messages such as “Hope you get well soon” and “Go to the hospital quickly.” Kim married comedian Kim Jun-ho in July last year. The couple has been reported to be preparing to have a child.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 09:39:00
  • Kim Yo-jong strikes conciliatory tone again over Seouls regret on drone incursions
    Kim Yo-jong strikes conciliatory tone again over Seoul's regret on drone incursions SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, once again struck a positive note toward South Korea. In a statement carried on Thursday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim said she "highly appreciates" South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's expression of regret the previous day over drones allegedly sent by civilians to the North, as well as his pledge to prevent a recurrence. It was Kim's another reply to Chung, who made similar remarks last week. In a briefing on Wednesday, Chung again stressed that the South would take steps to prevent such incidents. He also pledged to pursue the restoration of the 2018 inter-Korean military pact, scrapped in 2024 under the previous administration's hardline stance toward the North, as part of efforts that had aimed to ease military tensions between the two Koreas. But Kim warned that any future violation, regardless of who is responsible, would result in "terrible consequences," calling her words not a threat but a "clear warning." Pundits believe Kim's statement was also intended to justify tougher measures along the border. 2026-02-19 09:27:40
  • HYBE America’s Big Machine Label Group Rebrands as Blue Highway Records, Names Jake Basden CEO
    HYBE America’s Big Machine Label Group Rebrands as Blue Highway Records, Names Jake Basden CEO HYBE America said Tuesday that its label Big Machine Label Group, or BMLG, has rebranded as Blue Highway Records and appointed music and marketing veteran Jake Basden as CEO. The company said Blue Highway Records will keep BMLG’s existing assets, distribution deals and roster. Its artists and songwriters include Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, Justin Moore, Carly Pearce and Preston Cooper. Through Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, it handles distribution for Riley Green, The Band Perry and Greylan James. Valory Music is set to be folded into Blue Highway Records, while publishing company Big Machine Music will remain under HYBE America. Basden most recently served as president of Nashville-based Sandbox Management, overseeing artist management and business development. HYBE America said he has worked with artists including Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile, Kate Hudson and Kelsea Ballerini. Basden previously served at BMLG as senior vice president of publicity, working closely with Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw and Steven Tyler, the company said. It also credited him with leading music campaigns for NBC’s “The Voice” and Fox’s “American Idol,” and noted that a song from the documentary “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me” earned an Academy Award nomination for best original song. Isaac Lee, HYBE America’s chairman and CEO, said the company prioritized choosing “someone who puts artists first” and called Basden a strong fit with deep ties to Nashville’s music community. Lee said Basden’s experience and “modern sensibility” for the digital era will help Blue Highway Records grow and expand HYBE’s influence in North America. Basden said Blue Highway Records is well positioned to help define the future sound of country and American roots music. He said combining HYBE’s capabilities with global synergy would remove limits on creativity, and that he plans to work with current and future artists on music and projects that resonate with audiences. Scott Borchetta, who led BMLG, recently left the company and reacquired the brand rights to “Big Machine Records” from HYBE America.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 09:09:00
  • Opera Singer Lim Hyung-joo Calls His Award Certificates His Wife, Girlfriend and Child
    Opera Singer Lim Hyung-joo Calls His Award Certificates His 'Wife, Girlfriend and Child' Opera singer Lim Hyung-joo said he thinks of the award certificates he has received as his wife, girlfriend and child. Lim appeared on TV Chosun’s “Dad and Me,” which aired on Feb. 18. On the show, he opened his “certificate room” and said, “I call certificates babies,” adding, “To me, certificates are a girlfriend, a wife and a child.” Host Jun Hyun-moo sighed and joked, “You’ll never get married.” When Lim said being in the room brings him mental calm, Jun teased, “You’ve got a lot of girlfriends.” Lim said he wants to collect 100 certificates but has 77 so far. He added that his mother does not like them much and has said she wants to get rid of the certificate room, which is why it is located next to the garage. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 08:39:00
  • OPINION: Japans Takaichi and the test of glass cliff
    OPINION: Japan's Takaichi and the test of glass cliff The soaring popularity and landslide election victory of Sanae Takaichi stand out in Asia, especially in a political culture where women have long been sidelined. Her rise has been hailed as a breakthrough moment for Japan — proof that even one of the world’s most male-dominated political systems can change. Yet her ascent also invites a quieter, more uneasy question: Is she standing on what Western scholars call a “glass cliff”? With the Liberal Democratic Party now holding its largest-ever majority, Takaichi wields rare political authority. Backed by more than two-thirds of the lower house, her government can push through legislation with little resistance. The Economist has described her as the most powerful woman in the world today. But power, in politics, does not always mean security. The idea of the “glass cliff” builds on the familiar notion of the “glass ceiling.” While the ceiling describes barriers that block women from rising, the cliff explains what often happens after they break through. Women are disproportionately elevated to leadership when institutions are already in deep trouble — when risks are highest and failure is most likely. The concept was developed in the mid-2000s by Australian scholars Michelle Ryan and Alex Haslam. Studying corporate leadership in Britain, they challenged the claim that women fail because they lack ability. Instead, they found that women are often chosen precisely when organizations are faltering — when male leaders step aside and a “new face” is needed to absorb political and social shock. Politics provides vivid examples. In Britain, Theresa May took office in 2016 after the Brexit referendum plunged the country into uncertainty. Her predecessor, David Cameron, resigned after losing the vote. The Conservatives turned to a woman to lead amid chaos. May resigned three years later, becoming Britain’s second female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher. Her successor, Liz Truss, followed a similar trajectory. She entered office after Boris Johnson fell amid scandals and crises. Britain was grappling with inflation, energy shocks and post-pandemic disruption. Truss lasted just 45 days — the shortest tenure in modern British history. In such cases, political failure is rarely treated as situational. Instead, it is often framed as proof that women “cannot lead.” The burden of collapse is placed on gender, not context. The glass cliff then reinforces the very stereotypes that once formed the glass ceiling. South Korea offers its own cautionary tale. The country became the first in Northeast Asia’s Confucian-influenced societies to elect a woman president with Park Geun-hye. Her impeachment and imprisonment marked one of the darkest chapters in modern Korean politics. Yet discussion of her downfall has frequently blended institutional failures with judgments about her gender. As a result, many now doubt whether South Korea will elect another woman president anytime soon. The pattern extends beyond the presidency. Under successive administrations, women have often been appointed to sensitive posts during turbulent periods — sometimes to signal reform, sometimes to soften political backlash. One recent example was former lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon, nominated by President Lee Jae Myung as the first head of the Ministry of Planning and Budget. Her appointment was meant to bridge political divides and project change. But amid polarization and investigations involving her family, she ultimately fell. Formally, her downfall rested on political conflict and allegations. Informally, it added to public skepticism toward women leaders. In the current administration, all three ministerial nominees who failed confirmation hearings were women — a coincidence that risks hardening invisible barriers. Against this backdrop, it is natural to feel both hope and unease about Takaichi. Her decisive election victory reflects genuine public support. Voters were drawn to her frank style, her economic agenda and her outsider image in a male-dominated system. Calling a risky snap election in the middle of winter, she secured a historic supermajority and emerged with an overwhelming mandate. Few Japanese leaders in recent decades have entered office with such momentum. Yet Japan’s political culture remains deeply patriarchal — in many respects more rigid than South Korea’s. Women remain underrepresented in parliament, corporate leadership and senior bureaucracy. In such an environment, symbolic elevation followed by disproportionate blame is always a risk. If Takaichi succeeds, she will expand the boundaries of what is possible for women in Japanese politics. If she fails, her fall may be framed not as a political setback, but as evidence that “this experiment” with female leadership did not work. That narrative would not stop at Japan’s borders. In a region where women leaders remain rare, her fate will be closely watched in Seoul and beyond. The glass cliff is not destiny. It is a structure created by institutions that seek renewal without accepting responsibility. Breaking it requires more than applauding women when they rise. It requires judging them by the same standards — and granting them the same margin for error — as men. Takaichi has earned her mandate. She deserves to be evaluated on policy, competence and results, not on her gender. For the sake of future leaders who hope to break Asia’s political ceilings, one hopes she will not be pushed toward a cliff — and that she will be allowed, finally, to walk on solid ground. *The author is a contributing columnist to the Aju Business Daily. About the author: ▷Former CNN Seoul bureau chief ▷Former ambassador for cultural cooperation at the Foreign Ministry ▷Former president of the Korea International Broadcasting Foundation (Arirang TV) ▷Former senior secretary for overseas publicity at the presidential office ▷Former president of the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club ▷Former New York Times reporter ▷Visiting professor at Ewha Womans University’s Graduate School of International Studies *This article originally published on the Aju Business Daily was edited into English by AJP. 2026-02-19 08:37:12
  • BTS’ J-Hope Donates 350 Million Won for Children’s Care and Animal Welfare on Birthday
    BTS’ J-Hope Donates 350 Million Won for Children’s Care and Animal Welfare on Birthday BTS member J-Hope donated a total of 350 million won on his birthday, Feb. 18, supporting children’s health care, student scholarships and animal welfare. He gave 200 million won to Asan Medical Center in Seoul. The hospital said the money will be used to improve facilities and the medical environment for pediatric and adolescent patients, support home-based care for critically ill children, and run psychological healing programs. Through the child welfare agency ChildFund Korea, he also donated 100 million won in scholarships for students at his alma mater. J-Hope also donated 50 million won to animal protection groups, adding his own money to proceeds from an earlier auction of collaboration items with Human Made titled “HUMAN HOPE: A JOOPITER Special.” The donation will support the work of “Animal Rescue 119” and “My Love Baduki With Companion Animals.” “I'm grateful to be able to share in a meaningful way on my birthday,” J-Hope said through his agency, BigHit Music. He said he wanted to help children receiving treatment, students pursuing their dreams and animals in need of protection, and thanked ARMY, BTS’ fan community, for its support. He added that he hopes 2026 will be “a hopeful and warm year for everyone.” J-Hope has donated a cumulative 500 million won to Asan Medical Center. He has also joined ChildFund Korea’s Green Noble Trinity Club, a group for donors who have given more than 1 billion won in total.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 08:18:00
  • Korea women salvage short track pride with relay gold amid short-track medal drought
    Korea women salvage short track pride with relay gold amid short-track medal drought SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) -South Korea staged a dramatic late comeback to reclaim the women’s 3,000-meter short track relay title at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Wednesday, restoring pride in one of the nation’s signature events. Anchored by Kim Gil-li, the Korean quartet surged past Italy in the final two laps to win gold in 4 minutes, 4.014 seconds at the Milan Ice Skating Arena. The team, also featuring Choi Min-jeong, Shim Suk-hee and Noh Do-hee, edged host Italy by just 0.093 seconds, with Canada finishing third in 4:04.314. Defending champions the Netherlands were eliminated from contention after a crash with 16 laps remaining, setting up a three-way battle among Korea, Italy and Canada. Italy, led by veteran star Arianna Fontana, controlled much of the closing phase and entered the final two laps in front. Kim, however, accelerated down the inside lane and lunged across the line to seal victory, triggering emotional celebrations among the Korean skaters. “This was a team effort,” Choi said in a broadcast interview. “We trusted each other, and that made the difference.” First short track gold in Milan The relay triumph marked South Korea’s first gold medal in short track at these Games and its second gold overall. It also reaffirmed the country’s dominance in the event, where it has now won seven of the 10 Olympic titles since its debut at the 1992 Albertville Games. For Choi, the victory carried special significance. The gold was her sixth Olympic medal, making her the most decorated Korean woman in Winter Games history. The win also capped a renewed partnership between Choi and Shim, whose relationship had been strained following incidents after the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. Ahead of Milan-Cortina, Choi, now team captain, reached out first, helping rebuild trust and improve cohesion within the squad. Their roles were adjusted for the relay, with Choi leading off and Shim skating fourth, maximizing speed and pushing power during exchanges. Curlers keep semifinal hopes alive Elsewhere, South Korea’s women’s curling team boosted its semifinal chances with an emphatic 8–3 win over Sweden at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Skip Gim Eun-ji led Korea to an 8–0 lead through four ends, highlighted by a promotion takeout in the opener. Sweden, skipped by Anna Hasselborg, conceded after seven ends. The victory improved Korea’s round-robin record to 5–3. The team will face Canada on Thursday with a place in the semifinals at stake. Despite the relay breakthrough, South Korea has yet to win an individual short track gold in Milan-Cortina. Only two events remain: the men’s 500 meters on Thursday and the women’s 1,500 meters on Feb. 21. No Korean skater advanced to the men’s 500-meter final, leaving the women’s 1,500 meters—led by Choi and Kim—as the nation’s final opportunity for individual gold. So far, Korea has collected one silver and two bronze medals in individual short track events. Failure to secure a gold would mark its first individual shutout since short track became an Olympic sport in 1992. 2026-02-19 07:59:47
  • Shim Suk-hee Wins Third Olympic Relay Gold as South Korea Takes 3,000-Meter Title in Milan
    Shim Suk-hee Wins Third Olympic Relay Gold as South Korea Takes 3,000-Meter Title in Milan Shim Suk-hee of Seoul City Hall, back on the Olympic stage after eight years, helped South Korea win gold in the women’s 3,000-meter relay for her third career Olympic gold medal in the event. On Feb. 19 (Korea time), Shim and South Korea won the short track women’s 3,000-meter relay at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. It was her third Olympic relay gold, after 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang. Shim missed the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics because of a suspension. Her role in Milan differed from earlier Games. After placing third at the national team trials last April, she joined the relay squad and focused on the team event rather than serving as the centerpiece. Her main job was using her 175-centimeter frame and powerful drive to push her younger teammates. In key late-race moments, she was tasked with giving a strong push to lead skater Choi Min-jeong of Seongnam City Hall to change the race’s momentum. That played out in the semifinals. With 10 laps left, Choi received Shim’s push, cut to the inside and passed Canada to take the lead. South Korea was later overtaken by China, but another push helped the team regain control and secure a spot in the final. The decisive moment in the final on Feb. 19 was similar. With four laps remaining, Shim pushed Choi at full effort, and Choi accelerated past Canada. Anchor Kim Gil-li then held off Italy’s Arianna Fontana to seal the gold. After the medal was secured, Shim covered her face with both hands and cried. In the mixed zone, she said, “There were many difficult moments, both during the Olympic preparation process and in today’s final,” adding, “It was overwhelming because I think all of us endured and overcame that tough process together.” Asked about winning her third relay gold, Shim said, “I was able to get good results thanks to meeting the right teammates each time,” and added, “I’ll live each day working hard.” 2026-02-19 07:45:00
  • I Am Solo Season 30s Youngja Says She Lost a Years Salary in Stocks
    'I Am Solo' Season 30's Youngja Says She Lost a Year's Salary in Stocks 'I Am Solo' Season 30 cast member Youngja has drawn attention. In the Feb. 18 broadcast of ENA and SBS Plus' 'I Am Solo,' Youngja chose Youngsik for a date. Youngja said she believes even being scammed in a jeonse deposit scheme would be her fate, adding that she also lost a year's salary in stocks. She said people around her told her it must be painful, but she did not mind because it was money she would not have had anyway if she had started her job a year later. Youngja also said she usually carries only an eco bag, adding that she sees a bag as something for storage, not for show. She said she often carries shopping bags and plastic bags as long as they are sturdy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 07:15:00
  • South Korea wins women’s 3,000-meter short track relay gold at Milan Olympics
    South Korea wins women’s 3,000-meter short track relay gold at Milan Olympics South Korea’s women reclaimed the Olympic title in the 3,000-meter short track relay, pulling together as a unified team and delivering a late comeback to reassert their dominance. South Korea, made up of Choi Min-jeong, Kim Gil-li (both Seongnam City Hall), Noh Do-hee (Hwaseong City Hall) and Shim Suk-hee (Seoul City Hall), won the final at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy in 4 minutes, 4.014 seconds, finishing first. It was the short track team’s first gold medal of these Games. South Korea had earlier won bronze in the men’s 1,000 meters by Lim Jong-eon (Goyang City Hall), silver in the men’s 1,500 by Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Office), and bronze in the women’s 1,000 by Kim. The country’s other gold came on Feb. 13 in women’s snowboard halfpipe by Choi Ga-on (Sehwa High School). South Korea’s overall medal total rose to seven (two gold, two silver, three bronze). The win also highlighted renewed teamwork between Choi and Shim, whose relationship had been strained after a series of incidents that surfaced following the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. The two had once been placed to avoid each other during relay exchanges, but the mood shifted ahead of these Olympics after captain Choi reached out and Shim responded. They trained together consistently, and Choi even joined Shim’s birthday party as the team worked to rebuild trust. Their cooperation led to a tactical change: Shim, known for strong pushing power, skated fourth, while the faster Choi led off. The plan was for Shim to drive Choi forward to maximize acceleration. The final swung dramatically. Choi, skating first, opened in front, but South Korea ran into trouble midrace. With 20 laps remaining, Kim was pushed back by the Netherlands and dropped to third. The biggest scare came with 16 laps left, when a Dutch skater fell; Choi checked up to avoid contact and South Korea lost ground. Choi regained balance and speed, and Kim, Noh and Shim worked to close the gap. With five laps left, the team’s strategy paid off. Shim powered Choi forward, and South Korea passed Canada to move into second. Choi held position and handed off to anchor Kim. With two laps remaining, Kim surged on the inside to pass Italy and held on to win. Afterward, Choi said, “My teammates did so well. I think we got a good result because we could trust each other. I’m happy.” Shim said, “There were many difficult situations while preparing for the Olympics. Still, we endured and stayed united. I could feel that we were preparing while trusting each other. I want to say thank you to my teammates for being here with me.” The victory again underscored the women’s 3,000 relay as one of South Korea’s most successful Winter Olympic events. Since it became an official Olympic event at the 1992 Albertville Games, South Korea has won seven gold medals in 10 Olympics. The team also erased the disappointment of silver at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Choi added another milestone. The gold gave her six career Olympic medals (four gold, two silver), tying the South Korean record for most Olympic gold medals (four) held by Kim Soo-nyung (archery), Jin Jong-oh (shooting) and Jeon Yi-kyung (short track). She also moved into sole possession of the South Korean short track record for most Olympic medals, surpassing Jeon and Park Seung-hi (five each), and tied the overall South Korean record for most Olympic medals across Summer and Winter Games with six. Host Italy took silver in 4:04.107, and Canada won bronze in 4:04.314. 2026-02-19 06:39:00