Journalist
Lee Hugh
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National Theater Company to Restage ‘Sammaegyeong’ After Six Months The play “Sammaegyeong” is returning to the stage. The National Theater Company of Korea, led by CEO and artistic director Park Jeong Hui, said Tuesday that “Sammaegyeong,” based on an original work by Ham Se Deok and adapted and directed by Lee Cheol Hui, will open March 12 at Myeongdong Theater. The company, South Korea’s largest theater producer, premiered “Sammaegyeong” last year as part of its mission to develop “Korean classics.” The production reimagines a work long regarded as a landmark in Korean theater history with a contemporary sensibility. Actor Ji Chun Seong, who rose to prominence with the earlier original “Dongseung” (1991, directed by Park Won Geun), leads the cast; the premiere drew sold-out houses and strong reviews from audiences and critics, the company said. The company said it is bringing “Sammaegyeong” back as a model of South Korean original theater that keeps modern and contemporary Korean drama alive onstage. It also called the revival its first step in 2026, which it has designated as a starting year for discovering new repertory works and testing them with audiences. Audience events are also planned. On Feb. 19 and 20, the director and cast will meet theatergoers for a script-reading session. From March 28-30, the production will offer accessibility performances with Korean Sign Language interpretation, Korean subtitles, audio description, a stage-model touch tour and mobility support. Post-show talks are scheduled after the March 15 and 29 performances, with Lee and Ji among those set to attend. The run continues through April 5. The company will offer a 50% discount, titled “See it three times, fall into ‘Sammaegyeong,’” to patrons holding two paid tickets for the production. It will also offer a 30% discount, titled “This year, too, a performance ‘Sammaegyeong,’” to holders of paid tickets to any performances in 2025-2026, including musicals, dance and concerts; the discount applies even if the ticket is not for a National Theater Company production. Tickets are available through the National Theater Company and NOL Ticket websites. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 13:30:33 -
South Korea’s National Museum to Open Earlier, Add Pondside ‘Water-Gazing’ Steps "To fully implement a K-museum that leads the world, we will innovate the future viewing environment and visitor experience." Yu Hong-jun, director of the National Museum of Korea, said at a New Year news briefing on Feb. 3 that the museum has entered an era of 6.5 million visitors a year. He said the key was not treating it as a place that simply displays old artifacts, but as a complex cultural space where culture is shared. Under this year’s vision of “a museum for everyone,” the museum said it will redesign how people visit and how it operates, aiming to become a participatory cultural complex open to all. Starting March 16, it will move opening time up from 10 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Yu said visitors line up by 8:30 a.m., adding that he felt it was unreasonable for people to stand for an hour and a half. In August, the museum will expand outdoor amenities to reposition itself as a place where people want to stay. It plans to build “water-gazing steps,” a set of steps where visitors can rest while looking out over the pond, similar to rest areas found at major museums worldwide. Yu said the museum is “absolutely short” on cafes and restaurants, and that a glasshouse-style cafe will be added above the restaurant by the Mirror Pond. He said the museum also aims to revive the visitor route from the main entrance to the Mirror Pond. The museum said it will build a customer relationship management system by December to improve the visitor environment and operations and ease congestion. It also plans to develop online reservations and ticketing, on-site ticketing, contactless electronic ticket checks and mobile QR tickets, in preparation for paid admission. By 2029, it plans to expand and rebuild the children’s museum to about twice its current size. Yu said one of the museum’s biggest points of pride is that many young people visit. “Directors of foreign museums ask me to tell them the secret to attracting young people,” he said. “I think it’s because it’s fun, you can learn, and you can enjoy the museum even without going into the galleries.” The museum also outlined major exhibitions planned for 2026, combining public appeal and academic value. They include “Our Table” (July 1-Oct. 25), which looks at the origins and evolution of Korean food culture amid global interest in K-food; “Thai Art” (June 16-Sept. 6), the first Thailand art exhibition of its kind in South Korea; “War, Art and Life” (Nov. 27-’27.3.21.); and “Marie Antoinette Style” (Dec. 18-’27.3.31.). It also plans to upgrade how it runs permanent exhibitions. The “Daedongyeojido” display on the “Path of History” (2.12.) will be created as a symbolic space where the visitor route itself becomes a historical experience. Other plans include reopening the Korean Empire gallery in April and a special public showing of Dunhuang Buddhist sutras in October.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 13:30:00 -
UAE push into digital finance signals shift to nation-level blockchain adoption SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - The United Arab Emirates is signaling a fundamental shift in the global cryptocurrency market as digital assets enter a "nation-level phase" of adoption, according to Xin Yan, the CEO of blockchain technology company Sign. Yan, whose firm has supported government blockchain initiatives in multiple countries including the UAE, said the transition is marked by a move from experimental pilot programs to systematic execution. This shift is expected to accelerate the use of stablecoins and central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs, while integrating real-world assets into the traditional financial system. "It is a strong signal that crypto has entered a nation-level phase," Yan said. "Systematic adoption by governments will accelerate stablecoin and CBDC payments." According to Yan, the UAE has adopted a strategy similar to Singapore, leveraging its status as a smaller territory with significant regional influence. By prioritizing digital infrastructure over restrictive regulation, the country aims to export its standards to the broader region. Yan noted that while many countries announce blockchain pilots, few successfully transition to real-world infrastructure. He attributed this gap to the challenge of balancing government oversight with user privacy. The executive argued that successful implementation requires systems where regulation is enforced through code, using encryption techniques like zero-knowledge proofs to protect data privacy. The CEO also highlighted a practical distinction between private stablecoins and government-backed currencies. He described private stablecoins on public blockchains as operating under "jungle rules" where asset recovery is often impossible. In contrast, he noted that CBDCs function as legal tender on permissioned networks, offering clear legal protections and eliminating the risk of de-pegging. Despite the momentum, Yan warned of significant execution risks for governments engaging with blockchain technology. He cited the lack of a mature user base in the industry's early years, which led to many systems being untested under real-world conditions. "Choosing the wrong partner can be fatal," Yan said. "I have seen projects run for three years, spend tens of millions of dollars, and still fail to launch." Looking forward, Yan suggested that the focus for national governments will shift from establishing sovereignty to ensuring connectivity. He predicts that once countries develop their own domestic digital infrastructures, they will move to link these local networks to global liquidity and cross-border payment systems. 2026-02-04 12:56:17 -
Korea Zinc teams up to commercialize composite copper foil for drone, robot batteries Korea Zinc is partnering with Taesung and Neo Battery Materials Korea to speed commercialization of composite copper foil, a next-generation anode current collector used in batteries. The company said Tuesday it signed a memorandum of understanding with the two firms on Jan. 28 at its Onsan smelter to develop high-performance battery technology using composite copper foil for drones and robots. Attendees included Korea Zinc Onsan smelter chief Kim Seung Hyun and R&D center chief Choi Heon Sik, Taesung CEO Kim Jong Hak, and Neo Battery Materials Korea Vice President Jeong Jun Sik. Compared with conventional copper foil made only of copper, composite copper foil uses less copper and has a polymer core, which the companies said improves price competitiveness. They also said it is lighter while maintaining high density and offers safety advantages. Korea Zinc said commercialization still requires stable yields and a mass-production system. Under the MOU, the three companies will work across the full process, from materials development and manufacturing to feasibility checks and demonstrations. Planned steps include optimizing and verifying material performance; evaluating and improving processes for battery cells and stacks using the foil; making small battery prototypes; and producing and testing prototypes of small mobility devices such as drones and robots. The companies aim to build capabilities to compete in the composite copper foil market. Wise Guy Reports forecasts the global market will grow about 1.5 times, to US$10.18 billion in 2032 from US$6.88 billion in 2023. A Korea Zinc official said that if the partners successfully demonstrate prototypes of small mobility devices such as drones using composite copper foil by the end of this year, it would be the first such case among South Korean companies. The official said the effort would help diversify the company’s battery materials portfolio and secure technology to respond to market changes.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 11:24:00 -
Korean markets enjoy solo record-setting run despite broad Asian retreat SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) – South Korean bourses on Wednesday remained unfazed by broad Asian retreat following overnight Wall Street fall on concerns over disruption in the software sector. The KOSPI pushed onto new territory of 5,300, up 0.8 percent at 5,331.98 as of 11:00 a.m. and the secondary KOSDAQ also up 0.8 percent at 1,153.36. Shares of Hyundai Motor and Kia rose in early trading as their U.S. units reported record sales results. Hyundai Motor’s U.S. subsidiary said it sold 55,624 vehicles in January, the highest January total on record. Kia’s U.S. unit likewise posted a monthly record, with sales of around 57,000 vehicles. Hyundai Motor was trading at 509,000 won, up 3.56 percent, from the previous session. Kia rose 1.43 percent, to 156,200 won in the early trade. Global markets turned cautious after U.S. stocks fell overnight, as concerns grew that advances in artificial intelligence could disrupt the traditional software industry. Tensions in the Middle East also added to investor unease after reports that the United States shot down an Iranian drone near a U.S. aircraft carrier. The Korean won added 0.90 to 1,450.1 versus the U.S. dollar. Individual and institutional investors purchased a net 180.2 billion won ($124 million) and 322.8 billion won, respectively, while foreign investors sold a net 555.2 billion won. Gains were spread across sectors, though technology and defense-related shares lagged. Among heavyweight stocks, Samsung Electronics fell 2.09 percent to 164,000 won. SK hynix down 2.32 percent to 886,000 won, while LG Energy Solution rose 2.05 percent to 399,000 won. Samsung Life Insurance gained 1.40 percent to 188,900 won, and Samsung Biologics advanced 0.23 percent to 1,753,000 won. Defense and aerospace shares traded lower, with Hanwha Aerospace down 0.08 percent at 1,298,000 won. Meanwhile, shipbuilders posted gains, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries gained 0.52 percent to 585,000 won, while Hanwha Ocean advanced 1.06 percent to 142,900 won. Elsewhere in Asia, Japanese shares were lower, with the Nikkei 225 Index falling 0.74 percent to 54,313.53. The China’s Shanghai Composite fell 1.90 percent to 4,065.84. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index was trading down 0.045 percent to 26,822,64. 2026-02-04 11:21:05 -
OPINION: BTS and the king's way When BTS step onto the stage for their upcoming Arirang performance, they are expected to open the show not with pyrotechnics, but with a procession — along a path once reserved for kings. The route is deliberate: from Geunjeongmun to Heungnyemun, onward to Gwanghwamun, and finally to the Woldae. Plans reportedly include a pre-recorded or partially live sequence of the group walking this restored axis — known historically as the “king’s road.” This is not merely a comeback stage. It is a symbolic event. For when BTS walk that path, it is not power that returns to the royal axis, but meaning. And meaning, in Korea, is never improvised. It is accumulated through record. Few records are as unflinching — or as revealing — as the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. In Joseon, the line connecting Geunjeongmun, Heungnyemun, Gwanghwamun and the Woldae was not a matter of convenience. The annals repeatedly marked movement along this axis as an event. The reason was simple: the moment the king left the inner halls and descended toward spaces where the gaze of the people could meet his own, governance shifted — from proclamation to encounter. The Woldae makes this clear. In the 15th year of King Taejong’s reign, when a solar eclipse struck in May 1415, the king did not remain inside. The annals record that he appeared on the Woldae of Injeongjeon, dressed in plain mourning robes, to perform the prescribed rites. Faced with a cosmic disturbance, the king chose visibility over retreat. The Woldae was not a platform of elevation, but one of accountability. Later records from King Yeongjo’s reign soften the image further. In 1772, after completing rituals at Gyeongbongak, Yeongjo moved directly to the Woldae to lecture on The Lesser Learning. Ceremony flowed into scholarship, and scholarship faced outward. During a prolonged drought that same year, Yeongjo again returned to the eastern Woldae after rites, holding morning court and meeting his ministers there. In moments of strain, the Woldae functioned as connective tissue — between heaven and earth, ritual and governance, authority and people. Yeongjo even summoned soldiers to the Woldae to distribute food and drink, noting that he was following “the old custom of receiving people on the Woldae.” It was never a balcony for celebration. It was a place for eye contact. The king’s road, then, was not a path upward. It was a route of self-lowering. That route was severed in 1923, during tramline construction. With the Woldae gone, the memory of encounter faded. When the platform was restored in 2023 — a century later — it was not merely an architectural recovery, but a return of public meaning. Now, onto that restored path step seven men. This will be BTS’s first full-group performance since completing military service. The title is Arirang. The significance lies not in scale or spectacle, but in the grammar of the place. The Woldae has always been where a decision to be open becomes visible in the body. For a king, stepping onto it meant refusing concealment. Today, the “people” gathered there are no longer bounded by borders. Through platforms and live streams, millions around the world will stand, virtually, at the end of that path. Where kings once faced heaven and subjects together, K-heritage now meets the world’s collective gaze. The language of rule has disappeared. But the structure of encounter remains. This is why the performance is not an event. It is a rite — one in which tradition meets the present, and the present opens outward to the world, in a space long validated by record. The king’s road opens again. This time, it is not power that walks it — but song. And at the end of that song, K-heritage meets the world’s heart — quietly, unmistakably, and in full view. *The author is an AJP columnist. 2026-02-04 11:20:50 -
Rookie K‑pop girl group KATSEYE to appear in Super Bowl ad SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - Girl group KATSEYE will appear in a massively expensive commercial during this weekend's Super Bowl match. Insurance company State Farm's commercial, slated to air during the coveted Super Bowl slot on Sunday, will feature the Los Angeles–based six-member group, alongside American actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld, American actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key. A preview of KATSEYE performing to American rock band Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" was teased on YouTube earlier this week, raising anticipation for the commercial. Last year's Super Bowl drew 127.7 million viewers across television networks and streaming platforms, driving costs for 30-second ads to a record US$10 million this year, with slots reportedly snapped up immediately. Ahead of Super Bowl, the sextet, who made their debut in June last year through a global audition project by K-pop behemoth HYBE, will make their first appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Wednesday. 2026-02-04 11:19:30 -
Fantagio Says Cha Eun-woo’s Family Not Tied to Eel Restaurant Amid Tax Evasion Allegations ASTRO member Cha Eun-woo has been linked to allegations of 20 billion won in tax evasion, and attention has turned to an eel restaurant previously operated by his mother. Fantagio said Tuesday that the currently operating “Eojeoyeon Cheongdam” is “a completely separate corporation” from “Eojeoyeon Charcoal-Grilled Eel” on Ganghwa Island. The agency said Eojeoyeon Cheongdam is run by Fantagio M, a wholly owned Fantagio subsidiary, and “has no connection to Cha Eun-woo’s family.” Earlier, Cha’s parents operated Eojeoyeon Charcoal-Grilled Eel in Ganghwa, Incheon. A corporation set up by his mother, identified only as Choi, listed the restaurant as its address, but the National Tax Service viewed it as a paper company that did not provide actual services to Cha. The Ganghwa restaurant closed late last year, but Fantagio took over the name and reopened the business as Eojeoyeon Cheongdam. Some have speculated the move was tied to the tax-evasion allegations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 11:12:00 -
LG Energy Solution, Hanwha Qcells team up to target US energy storage boom SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - LG Energy Solution (LGES) and Hanwha Qcells have joined hands to strengthen their position in the fast-growing U.S. market for large-scale energy storage systems. Industry sources said Wednesday that Hanwha Qcells plans to procure up to 5 gigawatt-hours of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from LGES’s plant in Holland, Michigan. The batteries will be deployed in U.S. ESS projects where Hanwha Qcells will oversee engineering, procurement and construction between 2028 and 2030. The arrangement also covers long-term operation and maintenance services, signaling a strategic partnership rather than a one-off supply agreement. The cooperation comes as structural shifts reshape the U.S. power market. Rapid growth in AI-driven data centers and broader electrification are boosting electricity demand, while permitting and transmission constraints slow the addition of new generation capacity. As a result, large-scale storage systems that can balance load fluctuations and support grid stability are emerging as critical infrastructure. Consultancy Wood Mackenzie forecasts nearly 318 GWh of new ESS installations in the United States over the next five years. Hanwha Qcells is emphasizing local sourcing to enhance eligibility for U.S. incentives such as advanced manufacturing and investment tax credits, while strengthening compliance with domestic content requirements. Once its solar manufacturing complex under construction in Georgia — dubbed the Solar Hub — is completed, the company expects to operate a localized production network covering both solar modules and storage solutions. Industry officials describe the partnership as a role-based strategy in which Hanwha Qcells focuses on project development, EPC services and solar supply, while LGES provides U.S.-based battery manufacturing and operational support. LFP batteries are widely viewed as suitable for large-scale ESS due to safety and longer cycle life, making them attractive for grid and data center applications. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-04 11:09:17 -
BTS Comeback D-45: homecoming along the royal axis SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - The comeback of BTS is set trace one of Seoul's most resonant historical lines: the so-called King's road, the ceremonial axis once reserved for Joseon-era monarchs. The route runs from Geunjeongmun through Heungnyemun to Gwanghwamun, culminating at the Weoldae, a stone platform where kings appeared before the public. Built in 1866, the Weoldae was dismantled during the colonial period and remained lost for more than a century before being restored in 2023. In the Joseon court, the axis symbolized sovereign authority and ritual order; today, it anchors one of Seoul’s most visible public spaces. By staging its return along this line, BTS frames its comeback as a modern reinterpretation of a royal entrance — not a reenactment, but a cultural echo that links contemporary pop spectacle with historical memory. According to Seoul city officials, BTS’s team is discussing plans to install the concert stage at the northern end of Gwanghwamun Square, directly facing the Weoldae in front of Gwanghwamun. The venue is expected to accommodate roughly 34,000 spectators, including about 17,000 main seats in front of the stage and another 17,000 side seats in adjacent areas. From parts of the audience, the performance will unfold against views of the Statue of King Sejong or the Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-shin, two figures central to Korea’s historical narrative. The concert will be free of charge, with tickets distributed through advance reservations on BTS’s fan platform, Weverse. Detailed booking information is expected to be announced at a later date. The venue itself sits along a straight north–south urban axis that defines central Seoul. Attendees entering via Gwanghwamun Station, Exit 1 will pass the Statue of King Sejong, a central landmark of Gwanghwamun Square, before reaching the stage area. To the east lies the Uijeongbu Historical Plaza, while the west is bordered by the Government Complex Seoul and the former Office of the Censor-General, situating the concert within the ceremonial and administrative heart of the Joseon era. BTS has also applied for permits to use and film major heritage sites around Gwanghwamun, including Gyeongbokgung Palace gates, the Gwanghwamun–Weoldae area, and Sungnyemun. Reporting indicates that the King’s Road route may be used as the concert’s opening sequence, with footage of the members’ procession shown through pre-recorded segments or partial live broadcast. Meanwhile, Netflix said it will exclusively livestream “BTS Comeback Live: Arirang” to audiences in 190 countries, marking the first time the platform has live-streamed a single artist’s standalone concert on an exclusive, real-time basis. Netflix will co-produce and stage the Gwanghwamun Square performance alongside HYBE, with direction by Hamish Hamilton, known for helming multiple Super Bowl halftime shows since 2010. Following the concert, a documentary film, “BTS: The Return” will premiere on Netflix on March 27, chronicling the making of the group’s new album Arirang. Directed by Vietnamese filmmaker Bao Nguyen, the film traces BTS’s creative journey toward its first full-member release in three years and nine months, with both the live broadcast and documentary produced by Done and Dusted. 2026-02-04 10:45:11