Journalist
Lee Hugh
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BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ Tops Billboard 200 for Third Straight Week, a K-pop First BTS’ fifth album, “ARIRANG,” has become the first K-pop release to lead Billboard’s main albums chart, the Billboard 200, for three consecutive weeks. Billboard said in a chart preview article on the 12th (local time) that “ARIRANG” held the No. 1 spot for a third straight week, ahead of Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem” at No. 2 and Kanye West (Ye/YE)’s “BULLY” at No. 3. It is the first time a K-pop artist’s album has spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. “ARIRANG,” described as reflecting “today’s BTS” and the group’s identity, includes 14 tracks, including the title song “SWIM.” 2026-04-13 06:03:13 -
Kim Hye-yoon on horror film 'Salmokji': 'I want to be called a horror queen' Known for romantic comedies such as the dramas "Lovely Runner" and "Extraordinary You," actor Kim Hye-yoon is taking a sharp turn with the horror film "Salmokji," trading her bright image for a more worn, drained presence. "It’s a genre I love, and as a horror fan, I was excited to take on a horror project," Kim said. "When I first read the script, it was really fun, and the water ghost concept felt fresh. I also liked that Su-in is restrained and looks kind of worn down, different from characters you usually see in horror films." "Salmokji," directed by Lee Sang-min, follows a filming crew that heads to a reservoir to verify a mysterious figure captured on a road-view image, only to encounter strange events. Kim plays Han Su-in, a producer at Onroad Media who goes to the reservoir to investigate the unusual phenomenon. "As the director and I built Su-in together, we talked a lot about her fear of water and trauma, and that she lives with guilt," she said. "He suggested we start from a baseline where she looks exhausted overall because of the stress from that guilt. So I tried to look worn out, always tired, and like she’s with people but lost in other thoughts." A regular horror viewer, Kim said the film’s fear factor goes beyond jump scares, relying on tension built through images and sound — something she believes plays bigger in theaters. "There are a lot of shocking moments — scary images, and fear created by sound," she said. "Watching it at the press screening, I felt the fear grow not just from my own reaction but from the audience around me. The fear you share in the same room can stay with you like a memory. That’s why I hope people see it in theaters." Kim also spoke about working with castmates her age, saying the chemistry came naturally. "I like people, and I’ve been lucky to work with good people, so I often get close quickly without trying," she said. "This time, because we’re around the same age, we became close even faster. You can see that chemistry during stage greetings. I’m enjoying it now, and I really enjoyed filming, too." In the film, Su-in’s relationship with Gi-tae is not explained solely by the fact they once dated. They clash in everyday moments, but he is also one of the few people she can confide in. Kim said she discussed that delicate distance with the director. "Gi-tae calls Su-in’s name a lot," she said, laughing. "I even joked on set, ‘Stop calling my name.’ The set was upbeat, and I think some of that comes through in the movie. The director also said he wanted them to bicker more — to be more curt in daily life, since they’re exes. But Gi-tae is almost the only person Su-in can open up to, so in that situation, I thought she could speak more comfortably." Kim said she does not regularly rewatch her past work, but she sometimes runs into it through recommendations or when others bring it up. "Those projects feel like a diary to me," she said. "I think, ‘That’s what I looked like then, that’s how I expressed things.’ It was a different energy from what I have now, and it makes me reflect. Through that process, I think I’ve developed my own know-how. I’ve tried acting when I felt great and when I was tense, and now I feel I focus best when it’s a mix of both." She said the support she has received over the years feels more like motivation than pressure, pushing her to show different sides of herself. She added that she recently started raising a cat and finds comfort in holding it. "I’ve received so much love from fans, and it makes me want to show more variety — that becomes my driving force," she said. "I read somewhere that holding a cat helps relieve stress, and I think it’s true. Hearing it purr makes me feel calmer, and it feels like I’m recharging." With the release approaching, Kim said she hopes audiences experience the film together, arguing that horror is often more memorable when shared in the same space. Recalling watching scary movies with friends as a student, she said she hopes "Salmokji" can leave that kind of memory. "I felt it again watching it in a theater at the screening, and when I think back to watching horror movies with friends in school, building those shared memories was really nice," she said. "I hope people come to theaters and make those memories together. You have to see the ghost in person, too," she added with a laugh. "I hope many people come and respond well." While she remains grateful for the "rom-com queen" label, Kim said she wants a different description this time. "I’m truly thankful for ‘rom-com queen,’ but this time — even if it sounds a bit cliché — I want to earn the label ‘horror queen,’" she said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 00:05:53 -
Veteran Actors Shin Goo, Park Geun-hyung Back Youth Theater Project in Seoul "Theater is about people, and it’s our story," said 90-year-old actor Shin Goo, speaking April 7 to young actors gathered at Daehangno Arts Theater in Seoul. He described theater as work that expresses what happens in relationships and stressed that the expression "must be honest." Without that, he said, the effort becomes meaningless, urging the actors to keep making strong work. That day, 30 young actors in the Theater Tomorrow Project presented key scenes from three original productions: "Tandem," "The Birth of a Queen" and "Firdaus." The works were developed through training, creation and collaboration within the project. The productions are scheduled to meet audiences April 24-26 at Arko Dream Field Theater, and tickets sold out as soon as sales opened. The Theater Tomorrow Project began after veteran theater artists Shin Goo and Park Geun-hyung, 86, joined forces to pass on stage experience and know-how to younger performers. The two donated proceeds to the Arts Council Korea, known as ARKO, from a special benefit performance of the play "Waiting for Godot" in March last year, helping create the Theater Tomorrow Fund. The project then moved into full operation. In early January, organizers held an open call and auditions and selected 30 young actors from 1,000 applicants. The group studied Park’s acting philosophy and stage experience through his master class, then went through directing workshops, actor training, creation and rehearsals before preparing to take the stage this month. Park said "Waiting for Godot," which he performed with Shin, drew enough love to sell out nationwide and made them feel they should do something more. He said the project now seems to have produced a small first result and asked ARKO to help ensure it continues rather than ending as a one-time effort. To keep supporting the project, the two veteran actors plan to appear in the play "The Merchant of Venice" in July, continuing their donations. A separate audition will be held for the 30 project participants, and selected actors will perform in "The Merchant of Venice" alongside Shin and Park. After watching the young actors, Shin said it felt like going back 60 years. "I was so flustered at my first performance that I can’t even remember how I got through it," he said. He added he was grateful younger performers now have a better environment for taking the stage than his generation did. Park said the present looks hopeful compared with a time when he felt they were searching for a path without light. But he warned that pursuing the work requires accepting financial hardship, adding, "Welcome to the hard road." Young artists said the project helped them grow. Actor Ahn Seung-gyun, who took part in "Tandem," said he came to realize "nothing can be done alone" and that the process of questioning, clashing and building the work together was a joy. Actor Ryu Ji-o, who appears in "The Birth of a Queen," said the key lesson was that people matter. "I realized again that theater is made by rubbing shoulders with people," Ryu said. "I was happy to meet friends who share the same dream and to work closely with them." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 00:04:26 -
National Theater Company, LG Arts Center to Stage Rival Takes on Chekhov’s 'Uncle Vanya' in May Two big-budget productions based on Anton Chekhov’s play “Uncle Vanya” will go head-to-head on Seoul stages in May, with the National Theater Company of Korea and LG Arts Center each unveiling a new version. The source material is the same, but the two productions signal different approaches, starting with their titles. According to the theater community, the National Theater Company of Korea will present “Banya Ajae,” while LG Arts Center will stage “Uncle Vanya.” Both will be mounted in large venues with more than 1,000 seats, a rare “major production” matchup in Korean theater. Their runs overlap: “Banya Ajae” is scheduled for May 22-31, and “Uncle Vanya” for May 7-31. In “Banya Ajae,” Cho Seong-ha plays Vanya (Park I-bo), and Shim Eun-kyung plays Sonya (Seo Eun-hee). In LG Arts Center’s “Uncle Vanya,” Lee Seo-jin plays Vanya and Go Ah-sung plays Sonya. The split in naming — “ajae,” a colloquial term akin to “middle-aged guy,” versus “uncle” — reflects how the directors view the character. “Banya Ajae” director Cho Kwang-hwa said he saw himself in Vanya, while Son Sang-gyu, who leads “Uncle Vanya,” said the character reminded him of his father. Cho was born in 1965 and Son in 1977, a difference that may shape their perspectives. Cho has said he once preferred works with solemn, lofty ideas and disliked Chekhov’s focus on ordinary people. As he grew older, he said, his view changed. Through Vanya, he began thinking of “the uncles around us now,” and Chekhov’s everyday life felt like his own story. He emphasized the term “ajae,” aiming for a Korean-inflected adaptation that audiences can relate to without barriers and find comfort in. Son said Vanya’s grumbling sense of duty — and the anger that finally breaks through — overlapped with his image of his father. He said that helped inform his casting of Lee, whose public persona includes complaining while still seeing tasks through to the end. At a recent production presentation, Son said, “My father worked late and retired. Because he had to support the family, he used to say, ‘I’ve never even been able to take a trip,’” adding, “Who can casually judge a life like that?” Son said he wondered whether people, like trees accepted as they are, could at least be more generous about their own lives. Son said he focused on the relationship between Uncle Vanya and his niece Sonya, choosing “uncle” rather than “mister” for the title. An LG Arts Center official said the production would aim for universality while delivering a modern, minimalist mise-en-scene. Some in the theater world are also framing the pairing as a contest between experience and novelty. Cho is known as a veteran director who has worked across musicals and plays. Son is a newer director who debuted with the 2024 play “The Lives of Others,” and “Uncle Vanya” will be his first production in a large theater.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 00:03:17 -
An Se-young wins first Asian Championships title to complete career Grand Slam An Se-young of Samsung Life won the Asian Badminton Championships for the first time, completing a career "Grand Slam" by winning the Olympics, world championships, Asian Games and Asian Championships. The world No. 1 beat China’s Wang Zhiyi (No. 2) 2-1 (21-12, 17-21, 21-18) in the women’s singles final on 12 at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center in Ningbo, China. The Asian Championships had long eluded An. She lost to Wang in the semifinals in Manila in 2022, then finished runner-up in Dubai in 2023 after losing the final to Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan. In Ningbo in 2024, she fell in the quarterfinals to China’s He Bingjiao, and she missed last year’s tournament because of injury. This time, she finally won the title. With the victory, An completed the career Grand Slam. She previously won the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, the 2023 BWF World Championships and the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. An is the first South Korean women’s badminton player to achieve the feat. The win also served as payback. An had lost to Wang in the final of the All England Open, ending her 36-match winning streak. She again asserted her dominance in the rivalry, improving her career record against Wang to 19-5. An controlled the opening game, turning an 11-8 edge into a wider lead with four straight points and closing it out with steady defense and consistent scoring. The second game shifted. After trailing 2-8, An pulled within 11-13, but she suffered a setback when she scraped her knee while defending and needed treatment for bleeding. Wang pressed the advantage, and An fell behind 13-19 as the match went to a decider. In the third game, An surged to a 9-3 lead. Wang drew level at 15-15, but An responded with four straight points to regain control. Leading 19-18, An added a point, then sealed the championship when Wang’s next attack landed out.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 17:33:00 -
Korea’s Biopharma CDMO Exports Hit Record Q1 High Despite Mideast Risks South Korea’s biopharmaceutical exports posted a record first-quarter total despite prolonged Middle East risks, led by contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) firms, regulators said. At the same time, domestically focused drugmakers are moving to emergency measures as uncertainty grows over supplies of packaging-related materials. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said April 12 that biopharmaceutical exports in the first quarter totaled $2.0 billion (about 2.96 trillion won), up 11.1% from a year earlier. Biopharma accounted for 71% of Korea’s total pharmaceutical exports of $2.8 billion. The quarterly total extended a three-year rise from $1.5 billion in 2024 to $1.8 billion last year and $2.0 billion this year, underscoring the competitiveness of Korea’s CDMO industry. Monthly exports were steady: $660 million in January, up 11.9% year over year; $690 million in February, up 25.4%; and $650 million in March, up 2%. By destination, Switzerland took 17%, the United States 16.5%, Hungary 15%, Germany 10% and the Netherlands 9.5%. The top five markets accounted for 68.4% of the total. Industry officials attributed the expansion in Europe to a combination of co-development with global drugmakers, technology exports and favorable perceptions of biosimilars. “As CDMO competitiveness and production infrastructure reach global standards, companies are actively building direct production and supply systems for Europe,” an industry official said. Samsung Biologics and Celltrion, among large companies with in-house production and CDMO capabilities, have helped drive the boom. Lotte Biologics, a late entrant to the CDMO market, is expanding the business with more than 1 trillion won in group-level investment. The government is also stepping up support for global expansion. A special law enacted last year to provide regulatory support for biopharmaceutical CDMO companies is set to take effect in December. Key provisions include streamlining production licensing and cutting the number of documents required for GMP evaluation submissions to four from 11. The law is intended to provide a framework allowing export-oriented CDMO companies to enter overseas markets without obtaining a separate manufacturing license. The ministry is also running a pilot program to certify manufacturing sites for raw materials and providing global regulatory information, while supporting the industry’s push to build a “fast-track review system.” While exports remain strong, Middle East-related risks are weighing on the broader domestic medicine supply chain. As fighting between the United States and Iran drags on, the Strait of Hormuz has remained blocked, and international oil prices at one point topped $100 a barrel. With crude supply uncertainty spreading to refiners, naphtha prices have recently jumped by 20% to 30%. Naphtha is a key feedstock for medical plastics such as IV fluid bags and packaging containers. That has heightened concerns among suppliers of IV solutions, including JW Pharmaceutical and HK inno.N. The pharmaceutical industry is also working to prevent stockpiling by hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. Yuhan Corp. has tightened inventory management for its acetaminophen in IV-bag form. HK inno.N, an IV-solution supplier, has adjusted some excessive orders to block stockpiling in advance. The ministry recently held an emergency meeting with major drugmakers to discuss short-term steps including using alternative materials, adjusting shipments and freezing inventories. Major companies are expanding stockpiles and diversifying suppliers amid concerns over shortages of key inputs such as naphtha, while the government is strengthening supply-chain monitoring and seeking joint measures with the industry. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 17:30:00 -
Two firefighters killed in cold storage warehouse blaze in southern South Korea SEOUL, April 12 (AJP) - Two firefighters were killed after becoming trapped inside a burning cold storage warehouse in South Korea's southwestern county of Wando, authorities said, in a blaze that triggered a vapor explosion and prompted a national outpouring of grief. The fire broke out at about 8:25 a.m. Sunday at a seafood processing plant in Wando County, South Jeolla Province, according to fire authorities. A seven-member crew arrived within six minutes and entered the 3,693-square-meter facility to rescue a plant worker who had inhaled smoke. After pulling the worker to safety, the crew briefly withdrew. When fresh plumes of smoke appeared from another section of the warehouse, the team re-entered at about 8:45 a.m. to finish suppression, believing the fire was nearly contained. Minutes later, flammable vapors from epoxy and urethane materials that had accumulated near the sealed ceiling ignited, producing a flashover that sent flames erupting through the entrance. Commanders radioed evacuation orders three to four times, but two firefighters could not escape. A rapid intervention team located the body of a 44-year-old fire lieutenant from Wando Fire Station at about 10:02 a.m., roughly five meters from the entrance. A 31-year-old firefighter from Haenam Fire Station was found dead at 11:23 a.m. The blaze was fully extinguished three minutes later. Authorities believe the fire started when a worker used a blowtorch to strip paint from walls lined with urethane foam insulation and finished with sandwich panels. The sealed structure, designed to maintain freezing temperatures, trapped smoke and hindered rescue efforts. Police and fire investigators are probing the exact cause. President Lee Jae Myung paid tribute to the pair, saying they "rushed to the most dangerous scene to protect lives and fulfilled their duty to the very last moment," in a X post. He vowed the government would ensure all frontline personnel can operate in safer conditions. 2026-04-12 17:28:51 -
Singer Lee Hyo-ri’s Father Dies; She and Husband Lee Sang-soon Keep Vigil Singer Lee Hyo-ri is mourning the death of her father. Her agency, Antenna, said April 12 that her father, Lee Jung-kwang, died that day. A wake has been set up in Room 1 of the funeral hall at Chung-Ang University Hospital in Seoul. The funeral procession is scheduled for 7 a.m. April 14. Lee and her husband, Lee Sang-soon, are listed as chief mourners and have been keeping vigil at the wake. Lee has spoken publicly about her father on several occasions. She included family stories in the song “Barbershop Daughter” on her July 2008 album “It’s Hyorish.” On tvN’s “Canada Check-In,” which aired in January 2023, she said her father was ill.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 16:57:13 -
MBC’s ‘21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’ hits 10% in Seoul area by Episode 2 MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama “21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife” crossed into double-digit ratings in the Seoul metropolitan area by its second episode. Nielsen Korea said Saturday that Episode 2, aired Friday, drew a nationwide rating of 9.5% and 10.1% among households in the Seoul area, ranking No. 1 in its time slot. Its 20-49 rating was 5.3%, the highest among all Saturday programming. The minute-by-minute peak reached 11.1%. The top moments were a scene in which Seong Hui-ju wins a top entrepreneur award and another in which Prince Ian meets Lee Yun, who arrives alone at an event marking Entrepreneurs’ Day. The episode followed Seong’s efforts to win Ian’s affection. After her proposal, pitched as a show of her strengths, was rejected, she pursued him across locations including a road, a movie theater, a riding arena and an event venue, pressing forward at every turn. As Seong kept approaching him, Ian’s attitude began to shift. He tidied his appearance as if expecting her to appear at any moment and showed a subtle reaction to news of her blind date. Set in a 21st century constitutional monarchy, the drama centers on a romance between a woman who has everything but is a commoner and a king’s son who can have nothing. Episode 3 airs April 17 at 9:50 p.m.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 16:45:15 -
Rookie Kim Min-sol wins wire-to-wire at KLPGA iM Financial Open for third career title Kim Min-sol, billed as a “super rookie,” captured her third career title on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour on April 12 with a wire-to-wire victory at the iM Financial Open. Kim shot a 1-under 71 in the final round at Golfzon County Sunsan (par 72) in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, with four birdies, one bogey and one double bogey. She finished at 11-under 277, winning by four strokes over the trio tied for second at 7-under 281: Kim Si-hyeon, Jeon Ye-seong and Ahn Ji-hyeon. Kim led outright after the first round and again in rounds three and four, and shared the lead after the second round to complete the wire-to-wire win. The tournament purse was 1 billion won, and she earned 180 million won for first place. Born in 2006, Kim won her first KLPGA title last August at the BC Card-Hankyung Ladies Cup as a sponsor invite. She added a second victory in October at the Dongbu Construction-Korea Land Trust Championship. Competing this season as a rookie, she secured her third win in six months. The most recent rookie-eligible winner on the KLPGA regular tour before this was Yoo Hyun-jo at the KB Financial Star Championship in September 2024. Kim entered the week third in rookie-of-the-year points but moved into first with the victory. “This tournament was a fight against myself,” Kim said in a postround broadcast interview. “I wavered because I made a lot of mistakes, but I think I finished well to the end.” Ko Ji-won, who won last week’s The Siena Open, tied for sixth at 4-under 284 with Bang Shin-sil, Lee Ye-won, Song Eun-a and Kim Min-seon. Defending champion Kim Min-ju finished tied for 19th at 1-under 287.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 16:15:00