Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Arts-Tech Fusion Camp APE CAMP Seeks Participants From South Korea and Abroad APE CAMP open call web poster. (Arko photo) The Arts Council Korea, known as Arko, said Tuesday it is recruiting participants from South Korea and abroad for the fifth APE CAMP, to be held June 13-16 at COEX Magok Square Ballroom A. The program has been expanded from two nights and three days to three nights and four days. Arko also added a new opening program, the first Arko Arts-Technology Convergence Youth Forum, designed as an exchange-focused session where young creators, researchers and company workers share early-stage ideas and questions. Arko will select 80 participants from South Korea and separately choose 40 from overseas for a “global camp.” In the arts track, artists and planners age 39 and under working in fields such as literature, theater and musicals, traditional arts and multidisciplinary arts may apply. In the technology track, applicants may include professionals in performance technology such as stage lighting, sound and video, as well as advanced fields including AI, immersive audio, robotics, VR, AR, XR, the metaverse, motion capture and big data. Workers in basic science-based technologies, including life science, physics, chemistry and geology, are also eligible. To reduce language barriers, the camp will introduce an AI-based interpretation system. This year’s mission combines advanced-technology keywords such as “agentic AI” and “robotics” with themes in contemporary arts-technology discourse, including “nonhuman,” “symbiosis,” “entanglement” and “co-evolution.” Participants will form teams to develop ideas based on the keywords and build them into creative projects. Arko said it will run follow-up support programs after the camp. “APE Global Connect (research trip)” will run Aug. 22 to Sept. 14 at overseas partner institutions to help participants network with experts worldwide. “APE Lab” will support turning camp ideas into works: In the first stage, about 10 teams will receive 2 million to 3 million won per team for experimental activities; in the second stage, about three teams from the first stage will be selected for up to 10 million won per team in additional support. Application details are available on Arko’s official website.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:48:00 -
Shin Dong Yeob’s Daughter Says Goodbye to 6-Year School as She Heads to Seoul National University Comedian Shin Dong Yeob’s daughter, Shin Ji Hyo, has drawn attention after posting about her graduation. On Feb. 9, Shin wrote on social media that she graduated on Feb. 6 and said it was not easy to say goodbye to Sunhwa Arts Middle and High School, which she attended for six years. “2026.2.6 Graduation. Sunhwa (Arts Middle and High School), which became my precious friend for six years. It isn’t easy to say goodbye to a school I’ve grown so attached to,” she wrote. “I hope I can start my 20s by gratefully walking the new path Sunhwa opened for me, holding on to our memories of laughter and tears and the valuable connections I made here.” Earlier, Shin Dong Yeob told MyDaily in an interview on Feb. 5 that his daughter was accepted to two schools and decided to enroll at Seoul National University. “It’s thanks to how well my child did. Thankfully, she had the joy of being accepted to two schools at the same time,” he said. “She decided to enter Seoul National University. She likes ballet, but she also liked studying.” Shin Ji Hyo will also become an alumna of Seoul National University like her mother, producer Sun Hye Yoon, who graduated from the university’s German language education department. Shin Dong Yeob said he left his daughter’s studies up to her and that she did well in school, adding that her results on the college entrance exam were good. Shin Dong Yeob married Sun Hye Yoon in May 2006. They have a daughter, born in 2007, and a son, born in 2010.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:42:30 -
Figure skater Cha Jun-hwan finishes 6th in short program, eyes Olympic medal SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Figure skater Cha Jun-hwan finished sixth after a flawless performance in the men's short program on Tuesday at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Cha scored 92.72 points with 50.08 technical elements and 42.64 in program components, below his personal best of 101.33 but above his previous season best of 91.60 set at last November's NHK Trophy in Osaka, Japan. With his sixth-place finish among 29 skaters, he advanced to the free skate, where the top 24 will compete for medals on Friday. Cha, competing in his third consecutive Olympics after Pyeongchang in 2018 and Beijing in 2022, is the second South Korean figure skater to make three straight Olympic appearances, following Jeong Seong-il, who competed at the Games in Calgary in 1988, Albertville in 1992 and Lillehammer in 1994. Cha finished 15th at Pyeongchang and then placed fifth at Beijing, the best results ever achieved by a South Korean skater in the men's figure skating. After winning gold at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin last year, Cha is aiming to become the first South Korean man to win an Olympic figure skating medal. "I'm happy I was able to do what I prepared for," Cha said in an interview after finishing his short program. "I'll do my best until the end." Meanwhile, Kim Hyun-gyeom finished his Olympic debut with a score of 69.30 points, placing 26th and failing to reach the free skate. 2026-02-11 09:42:15 -
MINI Global EV Sales Top 100,000, Up 88% From a Year Earlier MINI said Tuesday it sold 105,535 battery-electric vehicles worldwide last year. The total was more than one-third of MINI’s overall sales of 288,290 vehicles for the year and marked an increase of about 88% from the previous year. In South Korea, MINI is also accelerating its shift to electrification. MINI Korea sold 1,889 BEVs last year, about 24% of its total sales of 7,990 vehicles. That means about one in four MINIs sold domestically was an electric vehicle. MINI Korea officially launched three models in the all-electric MINI family in March last year and introduced BEV versions across the brand’s lineup, including the MINI Cooper, Aceman and Countryman. MINI Korea said EV purchase subsidies increased sharply this year, helped by BMW Group Korea’s expansion of charging infrastructure. For national subsidies, the all-electric MINI Aceman was set at 4 million won for all trims, up 940,000 won from last year. With local government subsidies added, buyers can receive up to 9.5 million won (based on Haenam County, South Jeolla Province). The all-electric MINI Cooper SE was also finalized at 3.96 million won, up 930,000 won from last year. With local subsidies included, it can total up to 9.15 million won (based on Haenam County, South Jeolla Province). Separately, the all-electric MINI Cooper was named the “2025 safest city small car” based on results from tests conducted last year by Euro NCAP, Europe’s new-car safety assessment program, recognizing top-tier safety in its class. Euro NCAP said the all-electric MINI Cooper earned strong ratings across its four categories: adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, protection of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, and safety assist systems. MINI said the results showed top-level safety across all trims, from the SE to the JCW.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:39:28 -
Asiana Airlines to boost China flights 20 percent amid growing two-way tourism SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Asiana Airlines will increase capacity on its China routes by about 20 percent from late March as travel demand between South Korea and China continues to recover. The carrier said Tuesday it will add 28 weekly flights from the winter schedule starting March 29, bringing total operations to 161 flights a week across 18 China routes. Asiana will resume daily services on the Incheon–Chengdu and Incheon–Chongqing routes, both suspended during the winter season, beginning March 29. The airline will also expand frequencies on several major routes. Flights between Incheon and Beijing will increase to 20 per week from 17, while Incheon–Dalian services will operate daily morning flights and add three afternoon services, bringing the total to 10 per week. Incheon–Tianjin flights will rise to seven weekly from three, and Incheon–Nanjing will increase to seven from six. Further increases are scheduled for May, with Incheon–Changchun services rising to nine weekly flights from seven starting May 6, and Incheon–Yanji increasing to eight weekly from seven from May 8. Asiana said the expansion reflects China’s decision to extend visa-free entry for South Korean travelers through the end of this year and continued growth in travel demand. Following the introduction of mutual visa-free policies, about 3.16 million South Koreans visited China in 2025, up roughly 37 percent from a year earlier, while 5.79 million Chinese travelers visited South Korea, an 18.5 percent increase, according to the airline. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-11 09:30:35 -
KAI signs deals with Hanwha Aerospace, LIG Nex1 to develop and integrate aircraft weapons 한국항공우주산업(KAI)은 LIG넥스원, 한화에어로스페이스와 함께 K-방산의 기술 경쟁력을 높이고 수출시장 확대를 위한 전략적 협력을 강화한다. Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, said Tuesday it signed separate memorandums of understanding with LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Aerospace to develop and integrate domestically made aircraft weapons and to jointly market exports aimed at boosting the export competitiveness of the KF-21 and FA-50. The agreements were signed at the third World Defense Show underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, KAI said. Under the MOUs, the companies will expand cooperation on joint technical reviews and systems integration for air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons for the KF-21 and FA-50, diversify their weapons portfolios and strengthen joint marketing. KAI said the cooperation is expected to help ensure stable execution of systems development projects led by the Agency for Defense Development, including long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground guided missiles, and to build a weapons data link between the KF-21’s AESA radar and guided missiles to secure technology at a global top-tier level. KAI said close coordination between the country’s only aircraft systems integrator and leading domestic equipment and weapons makers will support package exports that combine South Korean aircraft platforms such as the KF-21 and FA-50 with South Korean-made weapons, while joint marketing is intended to further strengthen competitiveness and expand export markets. KAI noted that Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries prefer package proposals that integrate aircraft platforms with equipment and weapons, calling the partnership a step toward entering the regional market. “KF-21 and FA-50 are symbols of ‘Team Korea’ in K-defense, built through the efforts of many domestic partners in their respective specialties,” KAI CEO Cha Jae Byung said. “As trust in K-defense technology rises, overseas customers have recently been asking for Korean packages covering not only aircraft platforms but overall operating systems, so joint marketing with domestic defense companies will be effective in expanding K-defense exports.” Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae Il said he is confident the companies will meet their goals for aircraft weapons development through “synergy” between Hanwha’s experience in missile development tasks and KAI’s fighter systems integration capabilities. He said the effort will help win global customers’ trust and contribute to sustainable growth for K-defense exports. LIG Nex1 CEO Shin Ik Hyun said the company will work with KAI so the partnership leads to discovering new export projects and developing next-generation solutions, benefiting both companies and the broader South Korean defense industry.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:30:16 -
Abu Dhabi Launches Duty-Free Program for Imported Art to Attract Global Collectors The Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism announced on Tuesday the launch of a program exempting import duties on artworks. The program applies to artworks brought into Abu Dhabi for at least three years and includes a six-month grace period for re-export, giving collectors added flexibility. Additional operational services will be expanded in phases over the coming months. Participating works may also be considered for academic research and selected public engagement programs. Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, undersecretary at the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, said the program reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to creating an environment “based on strong governance, scientific expertise and responsible oversight.” He said it will help ensure important artworks are preserved with their authenticity intact and made accessible for research and cultural discussion. A specialist committee made up of global experts will review applications to determine whether they meet program standards and align with the department’s responsibility to protect outstanding cultural assets. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:27:00 -
Jin Air to Launch New Routes From Busan to Taichung and Miyakojima, Jeju to Hong Kong Jin Air said Tuesday it will launch three new international routes from Gimhae and Jeju airports, linking South Korea with Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong. Starting March 30, the airline will operate the Busan-Taichung route five times a week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Flights will depart Gimhae Airport at 1:35 p.m. and arrive at 3 p.m. local time, with a flight time of about 2 hours, 25 minutes. Taichung, whose name means “center of Taiwan,” is known for modern art and traditional food, including bubble tea and brown sugar milk tea. It is about an hour by train from Taipei, allowing multi-city trips when paired with the existing Busan-Taipei route. Starting April 2, Jin Air will open the Yeongnam region’s first direct service to Miyakojima, operating twice a week on Thursday and Sunday. Departing Busan at 2:45 p.m., the flight will take about 2 hours, 15 minutes, reducing the need for connections via Okinawa and other stops. Miyakojima lies about 300 kilometers southwest of Okinawa’s main island and is known among Japanese travelers as a sought-after resort destination. The island is also home to the Irabu Bridge, Japan’s longest toll-free bridge, at 3,540 meters. Also on April 2, Jin Air will begin daily service on the Jeju-Hong Kong route, operating seven times a week. Flights will depart Jeju at 9:30 p.m., and depart Hong Kong at 2 a.m. local time the next day. Flight time is about three hours. Tickets for the Busan-Taichung, Busan-Miyakojima and Jeju-Hong Kong routes are available on the Jin Air website. The airline said it will continue to provide its standard 15-kilogram free checked-baggage allowance. Jin Air said travelers will be able to choose among “Taiwan’s diverse arts, Japan’s exotic seas and Hong Kong’s glittering city,” adding that it hopes customers plan spring trips with “a relaxed schedule and reasonable fares.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:24:14 -
Autonomous A2Z Releases Free Brand Typeface ‘A2Z Font’ Autonomous A2Z said Tuesday it has developed a proprietary typeface, “A2Z Font,” reflecting its brand philosophy and will distribute it for free. The company said it created the font as part of a project under its slogan, “From start to finish, writing every moment,” aimed at extending its brand experience beyond technology into everyday life. Autonomous A2Z said it views the typeface not as a simple design element but as a “visual language spoken by the brand,” and refined it for natural use across different content environments. A2Z Font is a gothic-style typeface marked by an asymmetrical balance created by curves and diagonals. The soft curves are meant to convey the flexibility of an autonomous driving experience moving smoothly through city streets, while the restrained diagonals are intended to express the company’s pride in steadily advancing, precise technology and a clear direction toward the future. The company said it also treated letter spacing and margins as part of the design to improve readability. By avoiding excessive density and leaving space, it said, the structure reflects values of possibility that can accommodate change and expansion, while conveying visual stability and trust and a brand stance of technology blending naturally into daily life. A2Z Font was produced in nine weights for use in both headlines and body text: seven for body copy and two for titles. It supports 2,780 basic Korean characters and 94 English letters and numerals. The font is released under the Open Font License, allowing both individuals and companies to use it commercially. Autonomous A2Z said the approach aligns with its view that autonomous driving technology should be easy for more people to experience in everyday life. The font is available for download on the company’s website and the font platform Noonnu, and the company said it plans to expand distribution channels. CEO Han Ji Hyeong said, “A2Z Font refines into a visual language Autonomous A2Z’s thinking and attitude of seeking balance between people and the environment, rather than putting technology at the center.” He added, “We will continue to expand the brand experience in various ways.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 09:21:00 -
South Korea Denied Advance After Crash in Olympic Mixed Relay; ISU Protest Fee Draws Criticism South Korea’s bid for a medal in the short track mixed 5,000-meter relay ended in disappointment, and online criticism has focused on the International Skating Union’s protest rules. South Korea finished third in its semifinal on Monday (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, sending the team to the B final and a sixth-place overall finish. The team said it was undone by bad luck. Midrace, American Corinne Stoddard, who was leading, slipped, and Kim Gil Ri, who was chasing, collided with her and fell. In some cases, skaters can be advanced when they are unable to compete normally due to unavoidable contact. But South Korea did not receive an advance because it was running third at the moment of the collision. A team official said ISU rules require a team to be in first or second place at the time of the incident to qualify for an advance. “We were third at the time, so the rule was clear, and we had no choice but to accept the ISU decision,” the official said. Coach Kim Min Jung drew attention by running to officials with $100 to lodge a protest. Under ISU rules, a written protest generally must be submitted with 100 Swiss francs or an equivalent amount in foreign currency to deter frivolous complaints. The fee is returned if the protest is upheld; if not, the ISU keeps it. In this case, South Korea did not even get to submit the $100 because officials did not accept the advance request. Kim said she believed Kim Gil Ri was “level with” the second-place team when she fell and appealed because she thought there were grounds for an advance. “The officials judged we were in third, and if we protested further we could have been disciplined, so we had to accept it,” she added. Some online commenters also questioned South Korea’s late-surging race strategy, saying it can leave teams without recourse when incidents occur before they move into the top two. Others criticized the pay-to-protest system, posting reactions such as, “Isn’t the ISU openly taking money?” and “Do you have to pay even when it feels unfair?” 2026-02-11 09:15:00