Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Lee to meet DP, PPP leaders over luncheon
    Lee to meet DP, PPP leaders over luncheon SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is set to sit down for talks with the leaders of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) later this week. In a press briefing on Wednesday, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik told reporters that Lee is scheduled to hold a meeting with DP leader Jung Chung-rae and PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday to "seek bipartisan cooperation on state affairs and discuss ways to improve people's livelihoods." "They are expected to discuss various issues without limiting the agenda," Kang added. Possible topics could include the impasse over a broader tariff-related deal with Washington, after U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly threatened late last month to raise tariffs back to 25 percent, citing delays in implementing the deal, which includes Seoul's massive investment in the U.S. The luncheon meeting comes about five months after the previous one, held in September last year. 2026-02-11 16:08:47
  • Actor Park Jung Min Apologizes After Life of Pi Show Is Canceled Minutes Before Curtain
    Actor Park Jung Min Apologizes After 'Life of Pi' Show Is Canceled Minutes Before Curtain Actor Park Jung Min apologized after the play "Life of Pi" was abruptly canceled shortly before it was to begin in Seoul. Park posted a message Tuesday through his agency, Sam Company, saying he was "sincerely sorry" to everyone who came to the show the night before. He said he used the agency account because he does not have a personal social media account. "No reason can ease the shock you felt in that moment, and I believe this was our fault," Park wrote. "Thinking of how empty you must have felt turning back with the theater doors still closed, I have nothing I can say." He added that the time, energy and support audiences gave to see the show were "a debt" he cannot repay. Park said he suggested adding a special performance and that the production company agreed. "I know a re-performance cannot make up for everyone’s disappointment, but I hope it can offer at least a small comfort," he wrote. He added, "I’m sorry to have put you through an experience you did not want. The actors and all staff will work even harder for the remaining performances. If you can, I hope to see you on the day of the re-performance. On behalf of the team, I apologize again." Online commenters responded with messages such as, "It’s not the actor’s fault," and, "I’m worried about his condition." The show scheduled to open Feb. 10 at GS Arts Center in Seoul notified audiences of the cancellation at about 7:25 p.m., about five minutes before the 7:30 p.m. start time. The production company said a sudden technical problem occurred in some lighting equipment before the performance. It said it attempted repairs but decided it could not proceed and canceled the show. After controversy over the cancellation, the "Life of Pi" production said it will stage an additional performance at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 with the same cast. Audience members who had tickets for the canceled show can attend in the same seats and will receive a refund of 10% of the ticket price. Those who do not want to attend the additional performance will receive a refund of 110% of the ticket price. The following is Park Jung Min’s full statement. Hello. I’m Park Jung Min. First, I want to sincerely apologize to all the audience members who came to last night’s performance. It seems the production company decided to cancel because problems occurred with some lighting equipment and they judged it would cause major inconvenience. There also may have been safety concerns for the puppeteers who must move inside the puppets. However, I believe no reason can ease the shock you felt in that moment, and this was our fault. Thinking of how empty you must have felt turning back with the theater doors still closed, I have nothing I can say. I believe the precious time, energy and heartfelt support you gave to see this show are a debt that cannot be repaid. My apology comes late. Before apologizing, I felt I needed to work with the production company to prepare as much of an alternative as possible, even if it could not be enough. I also thought an apology without an alternative could be irresponsible. I suggested adding a special performance, and the production company willingly accepted. It seems time was needed to confirm details with the many people involved with the theater and the production, and with the audience members who came yesterday. I know a re-performance cannot make up for everyone’s disappointment, but I still hope it can offer at least a small comfort. Thanks to the many audience members who have come so far, the actors and staff go onstage each day with gratitude. It has been a while since I last performed onstage, so I am very nervous and afraid in every moment, but I feel your support gives me great strength. Even so, I’m sorry to have put you through an experience you did not want. For the remaining performances, the actors and all staff will work even harder. If you can, I hope to see you on the day of the re-performance. I will work very hard. And on behalf of the team, I once again offer my sincere apology. I’m sorry. Sincerely, Park Jung Min (I do not have a personal account, so I borrowed the company account to post this. Thank you for your understanding.) 2026-02-11 15:57:00
  • Life of Pi Adds Feb. 16 Show After Last-Minute Cancellation in Seoul
    'Life of Pi' Adds Feb. 16 Show After Last-Minute Cancellation in Seoul The stage production "Life of Pi," starring actor Park Jung Min, will add a performance on Feb. 16 after a show was canceled just five minutes before curtain, organizer Clip Service said Tuesday. The performance had been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday at the GS Arts Center in Seoul but was abruptly called off shortly before it was to begin. Clip Service said it found a lighting equipment error during a final inspection of the Feb. 10 performance and that "unexplained malfunctions" continued despite repair efforts. It said the technical problem involved lighting equipment that affected performers' movement, and it decided to cancel the show with safety as the top priority. The added 7:30 p.m. performance on Feb. 16 will be offered only to ticket holders for the canceled Feb. 10 show, with the same seats and the same cast. Seat changes will not be allowed. Those who do not want to attend the added performance will receive a refund of 110% of the ticket payment amount. Cancellations can be made without fees through the ticket seller's customer service center until 5 p.m. on Feb. 16.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 15:48:00
  • Korea Online Newspaper Association Names Winners of 3rd Digital Journalism Innovation Awards
    Korea Online Newspaper Association Names Winners of 3rd Digital Journalism Innovation Awards The Korea Online Newspaper Association, led by President Park Hak Yong, announced Wednesday that it has selected three winners for its third Digital Journalism Innovation Awards. The grand prize in the digital content category went to The Dong-A Ilbo’s “Omission: Is Your Apartment Safe?” The award recognizes 10 people: reporters Gu Teuk Gyo, Kim Su Hyeon, Lee Mun Su, Ju Hyeon U and Wi Eun Ji; developers Lim Sang A and Lim Hui Rae; creative director Jeong Si Eun; photographer Hong Jin Hwan; and PD Kim Ji Hui. In the digital service and business category, the grand prize was shared by Seoul Economic Daily’s “AI LINK” and Maeil Business Newspaper’s affiliate Maekyung AX’s “AI HUB.” The “AI LINK” team includes Woo Seung Ho, Kang Do Won, Mun Yeong Gwang and Seong Ye Hyeon of the Future Strategy Department. The “AI HUB” team includes Yoo Yeong Hun and Shin Hye Ji of the AI Data Department; Lee Dong U and Chu Gyo Yun of the Development Department; and Park Eun Ju, Lee Seong Yeon, Shin Myeong Hwa and Min Ji Hye of the DM Strategy Planning Department. Why the digital content winner was selected The judging committee said “Omission: Is Your Apartment Safe?” was a seven-month investigative project that sought to verify a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announcement by directly examining 21 apartment complexes nationwide and finding missing rebar at nine sites. The committee cited its use of digital tools to deepen understanding, including a 3D interactive presentation of rebar structures and a collapse simulation to scientifically assess risk, along with documentary video that showed the reporting process. Why the digital service·business winners were selected The committee said Seoul Economic Daily’s “AI LINK” converted the entire newsroom to an AI-based system and built a cycle spanning production, personalization, video and global expansion, demonstrating sustainability through revenue generation and overseas growth. It said Maekyung AX’s “AI HUB” — including AI explainers, “stock stories” embedded in articles and “My Morning Briefing” — was recognized for offering a new journalism experience while providing services meant to help readers in daily life. Overall comments from judges Judge Yoo Hong Sik, a professor at Chung-Ang University, said, “Each year, more entries are combining digital technology and journalism to expand the reader experience, raising expectations.” He added, “This year’s content entries showed the evolution of digital journalism, and the service and business entries pointed to the industry’s future direction through innovations such as platform building, revenue-model experiments and global expansion.” Each category’s grand prize includes a plaque and 5 million won in prize money. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 25 at the 19th-floor news conference room of the Korea Press Center in Taepyeong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 15:15:00
  • Bank deposits, bond prices ebb as money chases red-hot stocks in Korea
    Bank deposits, bond prices ebb as money chases red-hot stocks in Korea SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Bank deposits and bond prices fell sharply in January as funds rotated rapidly into equities and money market funds (MMFs), signaling heightened risk appetite amid a blistering stock market rally, central bank data showed Wednesday. According to the Bank of Korea’s January financial market report, bank deposits shrank by 50.8 trillion won ($35 billion) last month, reversing a 7.7 trillion won increase in December. Demand deposits alone dropped 49.7 trillion won, compared with a 39.3 trillion won gain a month earlier. In contrast, asset management firms recorded a strong inflow of 91.9 trillion won, swinging from a 3.9 trillion won outflow in December. MMFs, which allow fast withdrawals, attracted 33.0 trillion won, reversing a 19.7 trillion won outflow the previous month. Stock-type funds saw inflows surge to 37.0 trillion won from 10.0 trillion won in December, while bond-type funds returned to net inflows with a 4.2 trillion won increase after a 6.8 trillion won outflow. Market participants said MMFs are increasingly being used as temporary “parking lots” for stock-bound cash, as investors wait for favorable entry points in a fast-moving market. The shift away from deposits and bonds coincided with a sharp rise in market yields, reflecting falling bond prices. The three-year government bond yield climbed from 2.95 percent at end-December to 3.22 percent as of Feb. 10, up 27 basis points, while the 10-year yield rose 29 basis points from 3.39 percent to 3.68 percent. The stock market has been on a near nonstop record-setting rally since yearend. The benchmark KOSPI has gained 27 percent from end-December, while the KOSDAQ is up 21 percent. Investor funds held at securities firms rose by 18.2 trillion won in January, following a 9.9 trillion won increase in December, reinforcing signs of expanding retail participation in the rally. The central bank said government bond yields rose sharply amid shifting monetary policy expectations and concerns over fiscal expansion, compounded by the migration of funds into equities. Meanwhile, bank household loans fell by 1 trillion won in January, following a 2 trillion won decline in December. 2026-02-11 15:13:51
  • ‘Life of Pi’ Adds Feb. 16 Show After Last-Minute Cancellation Over Lighting Issue
    ‘Life of Pi’ Adds Feb. 16 Show After Last-Minute Cancellation Over Lighting Issue The producers of the play “Life of Pi,” which was canceled five minutes before curtain due to a lighting technical problem, said they will stage an additional performance on Feb. 16. According to the theater industry on Tuesday, the show scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday at the GS Arts Center in Seoul was called off shortly before it was to begin. Park Jung Min, Hwang Man Ik, Joo A and Jin Sang Hyun were set to appear. Some audience members reportedly protested after the late notice. The production company said a sudden technical issue affected some lighting equipment. It said it attempted repairs but concluded the performance could not proceed. “The lighting equipment did not operate, and we decided to cancel with safety in mind,” it said. The company said inspections through Tuesday morning resolved the issue and future performances will go ahead as planned. It said an added show will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 with the same cast for ticket holders who missed Monday’s performance. It said those ticket holders can attend in the same seats and will receive a refund equal to 10% of the ticket price. The planned event will also proceed, allowing photo and video recording during the curtain call. Those who do not want to attend the added performance can receive a refund equal to 110% of the ticket price, the company said, apologizing for the disappointment and inconvenience. It said it will more closely review production operations and work to deliver a higher-quality performance.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 15:12:00
  • South Korea, Netherlands hold inaugural 2+2 ministerial meeting in Seoul
    South Korea, Netherlands hold inaugural 2+2 ministerial meeting in Seoul SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea and the Netherlands held a meeting attended by high-ranking foreign and trade officials from both countries in Seoul on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with their Dutch counterparts David van Weel and Aukje de Vries for the inaugural 2+2 ministerial dialogue. Pointing to a shift in the geopolitical environment with the spread of protectionism, they discussed ways to deepen cooperation across a wide range of areas, including emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and supply chains for semiconductors and critical minerals. They also adopted a joint statement pledging to strengthen strategic cooperation. The next meeting will be held in two years in The Hague. 2026-02-11 15:02:51
  • Busy hands racing the holiday clock
    Busy hands racing the holiday clock SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) -Busy hands race against time as South Korea’s delivery network shifts into peak mode ahead of the Lunar New Year. As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches (Feb. 14–18, including the weekend), sorting centers across the country grow increasingly crowded. The season is one of the busiest of the year, as Koreans exchange gifts and packages as tokens of good wishes. The Korea Postal Service has entered an emergency response system for the holiday period, designating the days through Feb. 20 as a special “Seollal mail communication period.” During this time, it expects to handle about 12.32 million parcels nationwide, reflecting a sharp surge in shipping demand. 2026-02-11 14:18:22
  • Seoul offers cautious compromise on medical student expansion, satisfies no one
    Seoul offers cautious compromise on medical student expansion, satisfies no one SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea has proposed adding 668 medical students between 2027 and 2031, limiting the increase to 32 medical schools outside the capital region in a bid to ease doctor shortages without triggering backlash like the 2020 walkout. The cautious approach, however, has drawn criticism from across the spectrum, with both doctors and civic groups arguing that it avoids addressing structural problems in the healthcare system. According to an outline released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, all additional seats will be allocated to regional universities and placed under a “regional physician” track. Students admitted through the program will receive government support in exchange for a mandatory 10-year service commitment at public medical institutions in provincial areas. Under the phased plan, medical schools will admit 490 more students in 2027 compared with pre-conflict levels of 3,058 in 2024. The increase will rise to 613 additional students in both 2028 and 2029, and then to 813 from 2030, when two new public and regional medical schools are scheduled to open. By 2030, Korea’s annual medical school quota will reach 3,871, up 813 from before the dispute. The ministry estimates the plan will produce 3,342 additional doctors between 2027 and 2031, and another 3,542 between 2033 and 2037. This would cover about 75 percent of the previously projected shortfall of 4,724 doctors by 2037. Health and Welfare Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong said the pace was designed to avoid overwhelming medical schools already coping with overlapping freshman classes from 2024 and 2025. “Considering the current strain on educational capacity, particularly due to the doubled student cohorts, a 75 percent increase is an appropriate step,” Jeong said. “This plan prioritizes the quality of medical education and sustainable physician training.” To prevent excessive concentration at major institutions, the government will impose differentiated caps on enrollment growth. National universities with fewer than 50 students will be allowed to double their quotas, while larger national schools will face a 30 percent ceiling. Private medical schools will be capped at 30 percent for smaller institutions and 20 percent for larger ones. The Ministry of Education will form an allocation review committee to assess each university’s expansion and training plans, releasing a preliminary distribution in March and final quotas in April. The government will also provide funding to upgrade facilities and equipment, and support current students preparing for licensing exams and residency placements. Officials say the expansion aims to address regional healthcare shortages by deploying more doctors to provincial areas, particularly in essential and public medical services. Funding will come from a newly created special accounting system for regional essential healthcare, which will also strengthen safety nets for patients and medical workers. Renewed backlash Despite the compromise, the announcement immediately reignited tensions with the medical community. During Tuesday’s Health and Medical Policy Committee meeting, Korean Medical Association President Kim Taek-woo walked out in protest, accusing the government of prioritizing numbers over reform. “The government’s announcement focuses only on figures, not on real normalization of healthcare,” Kim said at an emergency briefing. “We hold the government fully responsible for any confusion that follows in the medical field.” Civic and patient groups, meanwhile, criticized the government for not going far enough. Nam Eun-kyung of the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice said the modest increase left much of the shortage unresolved. “The government cited educational capacity, but this decision falls short of what’s needed to protect public health,” she said. The Korea Patient Federation also expressed regret, warning that reduced expansion could prolong shortages in essential and regional services. As the government moves forward with its phased plan, South Korea’s long-running dispute over medical workforce policy appears set to intensify once again—leaving the central challenge of balancing access, quality, and sustainability unresolved. 2026-02-11 14:10:13
  • Injury-stricken Hwang Hee-chan adds to South Koreas woes ahead of World Cup
    Injury-stricken Hwang Hee-chan adds to South Korea's woes ahead of World Cup SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Striker Hwang Hee-chan has been sidelined for several weeks due to a calf injury, according to his club Wolverhampton Wanderers. "Channy is out and it'll be a few weeks. It's his calf. We'll rescan again a couple of weeks and see where he's at," manager Rob Edwards told reporters on Tuesday, days ahead of their away match against Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League. Hwang started the club's home match against Chelsea last weekend but was replaced in the 43rd minute due to pain in his calf. His injury is bad news for the Wanderers and also raises concerns for the national team ahead of this year's World Cup in North America, which kicks off in June. Hwang suffered a similar calf injury last October that kept him out for several weeks. 2026-02-11 14:06:25