Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Actress Ku Hye-sun Earns Engineering Master’s Degree at KAIST Actress Ku Hye-sun has received a master’s degree in engineering. Ku posted photos on her social media account on the 4th with the message, “Thank you.” The images showed her diploma and Ku wearing a graduation cap after earning a master’s degree in engineering through the Science Journalism program at KAIST’s Moon Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy. Online commenters responded with messages including “Congratulations” and “So lovely.” In January, Ku said she had completed her KAIST master’s program early. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-04 08:09:16 -
Park Ji-hoon’s ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ Nears 10 Million Admissions, Expands Overseas Actor Park Ji-hoon is set to meet global audiences as the film “The Man Who Lives With the King” continues its box-office run in South Korea. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, the movie is set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo and follows village chief Eom Heung-do, who volunteers to live in exile to revive his town, and the young deposed king Lee Hong-wi as they end up living together. The film surpassed 9 million admissions on March 2, putting it within reach of 10 million. Amid strong word of mouth, the film is also scheduled for release overseas, including in 26 U.S. cities such as New Jersey, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Seattle and Las Vegas, as well as in Canada, Australia, Taiwan and New Zealand. The film opened in Australia on Feb. 19 and drew strong interest, the distributor said. With its cumulative admissions now above 9 million, attention is focused on whether it can become the first domestic film to reach 10 million admissions in two years, since “Exhuma” in 2024. Park stars as Danjong, and the cast’s performances have been cited as a key driver of the film’s popularity. Adding to the momentum, “The Man Who Lives With the King” has been officially invited to the main competition section of the 28th Udine Far East Film Festival, which opens April 24. The festival is Europe’s largest event dedicated to Asian cinema. Park has also been gaining visibility beyond the film’s success. The Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute ranked him No. 1 in its February 2026 rising star brand reputation list. Park is also set to broaden his activities through the first-half release of the TVING original series “Becoming a Legend as a Cook Soldier,” and an entertainment program featuring the full reunion of Wanna One for the first time in about seven years.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-04 08:06:17 -
BTS Reveals Track List for 5th Album 'ARIRANG'; Title Track Is 'SWIM' BTS is returning with “SWIM,” a song that centers on love for life. BTS on March 4 released the track list for its fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” on the group’s official social media accounts. The image pairs the album logo with a red tape-like graphic. The 14-track album includes the title song “SWIM,” along with “Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” “Aliens,” “FYA,” “2.0,” “No. 29,” “Merry Go Round,” “NORMAL,” “Like Animals,” “they don’t know ’bout us,” “One More Night,” “Please” and “Into the Sun.” BigHit Music said “ARIRANG” brings together BTS’ identity and the emotions built over the group’s journey. “SWIM” is an upbeat alternative-pop track about pressing forward through life’s waves, moving at one’s own pace rather than fighting the current. RM participated broadly in writing the lyrics, the agency said. “Body to Body,” the opening track, is framed as a call to enjoy the moment with concertgoers. “Hooligan” reflects time spent traveling the world and carving out a path, while “Aliens” and “FYA” convey ambition and the energy of the group’s return. “2.0” is described as showing the present of the seven members as they enter a new phase. “No. 29” and “Merry Go Round,” placed after the title track, depict enduring life’s repeating cycles. “NORMAL” addresses feelings on and off stage, and “Like Animals” expresses a resolve to live intensely. “they don’t know ’bout us” projects confidence with the message, “We’re just us,” while “One More Night” sings of wanting to stay longer in an ecstatic moment. “Please” conveys a candid desire to be together in any situation, and “Into the Sun” closes the album with a confession of running toward “you.” BTS worked on the album after holding songwriting sessions in Los Angeles last summer. Producers Diplo, Ryan Tedder and El Guincho, each with Grammy Awards histories, participated, the agency said. BTS will release “ARIRANG” at 1 p.m. March 20. The next day, the group will hold “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG” around Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, with the performance livestreamed on Netflix. 2026-03-04 07:57:23 -
Park Ji-hoon Teases Next Role in TVING Series as Film Nears 10 Million Viewers Singer-actor Park Ji-hoon, whose film “The Man Who Lives With the King” is closing in on 10 million moviegoers, is drawing attention to whether his next project will also be a hit. Park posted a photo on social media on March 3 with the message, “You worked hard, Kang Seong-jae.” In the image, he wears a military uniform and looks off into the distance. The post was a tease for his upcoming role in the TVING original series “Becoming a Legendary Army Cook,” set to air this year. The series is based on a web novel of the same name. Park plays Kang Seong-jae, a private newly assigned to the Gangrim outpost who works as an army cook. After falling from top trainee to a soldier of concern, he follows an unfamiliar voice and accepts a quest to change jobs as a cook. The original author, J. Robin (real name Oh Jong-pil), wrote on social media on March 2 about Park’s casting: “I’ve used up all my luck for life. He stepped right off the novel cover. I’m really looking forward to his acting.” Meanwhile, “The Man Who Lives With the King,” starring Park, has surpassed 9 million admissions, moving closer to the 10 million mark. Park plays Danjong (Lee Hong-wi) in the film.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-04 07:27:16 -
The first full moon of the year is red GYEONGGI, March 03 (AJP)-On the fifteenth night of the first lunar month, Korea steps outside. The holiday is Jeongwol Daeboreum, the first full moon of the year — a night when neighborhoods, not just families, gather under the open sky. If Lunar New Year belongs to the dining table, Jeongwol Daeboreum belongs to the fields, the hills, the riverbanks. People tilt their heads upward and wait for the moon to rise, round and bright in the brittle winter air. The full moon has long stood for abundance and well-being. In agrarian times, it was more than a celestial body; it was a calendar, a compass, a quiet oracle. Its fullness promised ripening crops and steady fortunes. To greet the year’s first full moon was to ask — gently, collectively — for balance. This year, the sky offers a rare spectacle. A total lunar eclipse coincides with Jeongwol Daeboreum. As Earth’s shadow slowly swallows the moon, its silver glow dims, then deepens into a muted red. Science explains the color: sunlight bending through Earth’s atmosphere, scattering blue and leaving crimson behind. Yet knowing the physics does not dispel the awe. Suspended in darkness, the red moon feels ancient, almost sentient — a reminder of how small and how connected we are. Below that darkened moon, another light ignites. The heart of the festival is daljip taeugi, the burning of the “moon house.” Villagers stack pine branches and straw into a towering cone, sometimes taller than a house. At dusk, the structure is set alight. Flames surge upward in an instant, sparks spiraling into the night. The fire roars, crackles, breathes. It is not spectacle for spectacle’s sake. The blaze carries away misfortune, illness and ill luck. The higher the flames climb, the more auspicious the year ahead is believed to be. Smoke becomes a messenger, rising toward the moon with whispered wishes for health and harvest. On a night of eclipse, the symmetry feels almost scripted: a red moon shadowed above, a pillar of fire blazing below. One is astronomical, governed by orbital precision. The other is ritual, shaped by human hands and memory. Yet both mark the same truth — that darkness and light are not opposites but partners. The moon may lose its brilliance for an hour, but it never vanishes. The moon house may collapse into ash, but from its embers begins another cycle. Even in a society wired to satellites and screens, people still pause for this moon. Children clutch roasted peanuts and crack them with laughter. Elders murmur old sayings about the year’s fortune. Cameras flash, but so do quiet prayers. On Jeongwol Daeboreum, people bite hard nuts to prevent boils and share five-grain rice to wish for abundance. These customs have continued despite changing times. Jeongwol Daeboreum endures because it binds sky to earth, science to story, past to present. Under the red-stained moon and beside the leaping flames, time seems to fold in on itself. The first full moon does what it has always done: gathers strangers into a shared circle of light. And as the shadow slips away and the fire dies down, what remains is simple — a sky restored, warm ashes underfoot, and the steady, human hope that the year ahead will burn bright. 2026-03-04 07:23:44 -
Kim Seon-tae’s New YouTube Channel Nears 586,000 Subscribers in Two Days Kim Seon-tae, who gained prominence as “Chungju Man,” is drawing explosive attention after launching a new YouTube channel following his retirement. Kim opened the channel, titled “Kim Seon-tae,” on March 2. News of the launch spread more widely on March 3, and subscriber numbers surged after he uploaded his first video. As of 6:45 a.m. on March 4, the channel had about 586,000 subscribers. The figure is notable given that only two days had passed since the launch and the channel had just one video. After Kim signaled his intention to leave public service, speculation circulated about possible offers, including from the Cheong Wa Dae, a move into politics, or recruitment by major companies and entertainment agencies. Kim instead chose to pursue YouTube. In the channel’s first video, he said he had received “more offers than I deserve,” but started YouTube because he wanted to work “a bit more freely.” He also said he “wanted to make more money,” speaking candidly about his decision. The official YouTube channel of Chungju City, his former workplace, drew attention by commenting on the first video, “Seon-tae, my Seon-tae.” After news broke that Kim had submitted his resignation, Chungju City also posted a “chasing” video that became a talking point.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-04 06:54:23 -
Injury-hit South Korea targets WBC quarterfinals, with Taiwan game looming large Ryu Ji-hyeon’s South Korea national baseball team is aiming for a spot in the quarterfinals at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, seeking to end a run of three straight first-round exits in 2013, 2017 and 2023. The path looks steep. Injuries have sidelined key players, and rivals in Pool C appear stronger than in past tournaments. South Korea will play four Pool C games at the Tokyo Dome, opening March 5 against the Czech Republic, then facing Japan on March 7, Taiwan on March 8 and Australia on March 9. To reach the quarterfinals in Miami, South Korea must finish in the top two of the group. ◆ Injuries put pitching staff under strain; pressure rises on Kwak Bin and Ryu Hyun-jin South Korea’s biggest concern is the loss of core players. Expected starters Moon Dong-ju (Hanwha Eagles) and Won Tae-in (Samsung Lions) were dropped from the roster, and Korean American big leaguer Riley O’Brien (St. Louis Cardinals), slated to close, could not join because of a calf injury. In the field, Kim Ha-seong (Atlanta Braves) and Song Seong-mun (San Diego Padres) are also out. Analysts have assessed the team at about 80% to 85% of full strength. Song Jae-woo, a TVING commentator, said in a Feb. 27 phone interview that most of the injured players were key contributors. “The three pitchers being out feels especially big,” Song said. “The WBC is a tournament where you need to go in at full strength to have a chance. Not being able to do that makes it a tough road.” With the staff thinned, the role of Kwak Bin (Doosan Bears) has grown, with analysts expecting him to start the pivotal game against Taiwan. SPOTV commentator Min Hoon-ki said, “All the ace pitchers are out. Kwak’s role will be big.” Song said South Korea’s best international runs have typically featured a clear No. 1 starter. “In this tournament, Kwak has to fill that role,” Song said. “It’s a really important assignment, and he has to deliver.” Veteran left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha) is also seen as a stabilizing presence. Min said Ryu would be counted on in big moments and could help teammates prepare off the field as well. South Korea is also looking to Korean American players for a boost. Under WBC rules, players may choose a national team based on a parent’s heritage. This roster includes Jermaine Jones (Detroit Tigers), Shay Whitcomb (Houston Astros) and veteran pitcher Dane Dunning (Seattle Mariners). Min described Jones and Whitcomb as right-handed power bats who could help the lineup, particularly against left-handed pitching. Song said Whitcomb’s power could matter when the team needs a big swing. Dunning is expected to work as a flexible option, starting or relieving. Song called him a “joker card,” citing his experience and a sinker that could be useful when South Korea needs ground balls or a double play. ◆ Taiwan game seen as the key hurdle for a quarterfinal berth Analysts say South Korea’s quarterfinal hopes may hinge on Taiwan, assuming it takes care of the Czech Republic and Australia. South Korea is 4-0 against Taiwan in WBC play, but the most recent meeting ended in a painful loss to Taiwan in the group stage of the 2024 WBSC Premier12. Song said Taiwan is “the strongest it has ever been,” noting that it now has five or six pitchers who throw in the mid-to-upper 150 kph range, giving it more flexibility. Min said the old view of Taiwan as a team prone to defensive mistakes no longer applies, calling it roughly equal to South Korea in ability. The schedule is another concern. South Korea plays Japan at 7 p.m. on March 7, then returns less than a day later to face Taiwan at noon on March 8. To limit bullpen wear, analysts said South Korea needs early runs against the Czech Republic to reduce the use of late-inning relievers, then adjust for Japan and Taiwan. “South Korea has to crush the Czech Republic early and build momentum,” Song said. “Save pitchers and face Japan and Taiwan with confidence.” ◆ Against Japan, analysts say South Korea needs a clutch hitter and extra edge South Korea and Japan have played close games in WBC history, with South Korea holding a 4-5 record. But analysts said the gap in overall talent looks wider heading into this tournament. “Objectively, looking at name value, the lineup and how the pitching staff is built, South Korea is behind,” Min said. Song said South Korea would need something beyond its baseline performance in a short tournament. “Because we’re clearly weaker, we have to show something more than our ability,” he said. “In the tight flow of a short series, a ‘problem-solver’ has to emerge to flip the mood in an instant.” Even so, both analysts said rivalry games can turn on factors outside pure talent, including mental toughness. “In Korea-Japan games, variables beyond objective strength often affect the result,” Min said. “When we face them head-on as one team, there’s no rule that says we can’t beat Japan. Our players are mentally prepared.” Song said the best-case scenario would be to stay even through a clutch performance, then steal the win late.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-04 00:03:00 -
Shinhan Financial Nominates Park Jong-bok and Professor Lim Seung-yeon as Outside Directors Shinhan Financial Group has nominated Park Jong-bok, former CEO of SC First Bank, and Lim Seung-yeon, a professor at Kookmin University, as new outside directors. Shinhan’s board on Tuesday approved the nominations at a meeting of its Outside Director and Audit Committee Candidate Recommendation Committee. Park, a former deputy head of retail banking at SC First Bank, was recommended as a financial expert. Shinhan said he led growth and improved profitability during more than a decade as SC First Bank CEO and successfully pushed new businesses including digital initiatives. It said his retail experience would support consumer-focused management. Shinhan also said Park’s governance experience at a global financial group would allow him to provide practical advice aligned with global standards. It added that, alongside director Choi Young-kwon’s capital-markets expertise, Park’s appointment would help the board offer balanced guidance spanning banking and capital markets. Lim is a U.S. certified public accountant and has served as dean of Kookmin University’s business school. If Lim is approved and directors Kim Jo-seol, Song Seong-ju and Jeon Myo-sang are all reappointed at the shareholders meeting, Shinhan is expected to maintain four female outside directors. Shinhan described Lim as a candidate with academic achievements in accounting and a deep understanding of governance through experience as an outside director and audit committee member at other companies. It said it nominated a female accounting expert to maintain expertise and diversity after the term of Yoon Jae-won, a finance and accounting specialist, expires. Shinhan said it expects Lim to advise on internal controls and play an oversight role as the board’s responsibilities for internal control and auditing grow. The board also recommended the reappointment of five outside directors whose terms expire in March: Kwak Soo-geun (emeritus professor at Seoul National University’s business school), Kim Jo-seol (professor at Osaka University of Commerce), Bae Hoon (attorney at Orbis law firm), Song Seong-ju (professor of statistics at Korea University) and Choi Young-kwon (former CEO of Woori Asset Management). It recommended Kwak and Lim as outside directors who would serve as audit committee members, and nominated Bae and Choi as audit committee candidates, reflecting revisions to the Commercial Act. The nominees will be finalized after approval at this month’s annual shareholders meeting. Separately, Yoon Jae-won, whose term ends under regulations, and Lee Yong-guk, who has said he intends to resign, are expected to step down after this month’s annual shareholders meeting.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 18:12:00 -
Middle East Tensions Lift Demand for South Korea’s Cheongung-II Air Defense System U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have heightened security concerns across the Middle East, driving up demand for air defense weapons. South Korea’s Cheongung-II, which has expanded its export footprint in the region over the past two to three years, has now been deployed in combat, drawing attention as a lower-cost option with faster delivery. The defense industry said Tuesday that the United Arab Emirates used the South Korean-made medium-range surface-to-air guided weapon system to intercept multiple Iranian missiles. With forecasts that Iran could fire ballistic missiles toward countries near U.S. forces, the UAE fielded Cheongung-II and it was used operationally, the industry said. The UAE’s air defense network is known to include the U.S.-made Patriot, Israel’s Arrow and South Korea’s Cheongung-II. The UAE military said its overall interception rate across its air defense systems was above 90%. Often described as a Korean version of the Patriot, Cheongung-II is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system jointly produced by LIG Nex1, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems. If wartime demand accelerates local deployment, related sales are expected to be reflected starting this year. Cheongung-II entered mass production in 2024, and some units have been delivered to the UAE since last year. LIG Nex1, the lead contractor, has signed deals with the UAE (about $3.5 billion in January 2022), Saudi Arabia (about $3.5 billion in November 2023) and Iraq (about $2.5 billion in September 2024), securing a Middle East order backlog of about $9.5 billion (10.2 trillion won) tied to Cheongung-II. The system is a so-called “K-one team” project involving major South Korean defense firms. LIG Nex1 handles system integration and the operations control center; Hanwha Systems supplies the multifunction radar; Hanwha Aerospace provides launchers and munitions. Kia supplies the vehicle platform. Cheongung-II is widely seen as costing about half as much as the U.S. Patriot, helping it gain traction in the Middle East, where demand for guided weapons is high. The push by some countries to reduce reliance on a single supplier has also supported broader interest in South Korean defense exports. Chae Un-saem, an analyst at Hana Securities, said Lockheed Martin’s Patriot PAC-3 surface-to-air missiles have an annual production capacity of about 600 rounds despite plans to increase output. “The unit price is also very high at $4 million, making it more than twice as expensive as Korea’s Cheongung,” Chae said. South Korea recently signed a $35 billion memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation with the UAE, adding to expectations of further exports. Details were not disclosed, but forecasts have pointed to additional contracts for medium- and long-range weapons to build a layered air defense network. Experts said continued instability in the region could keep export momentum going for South Korean defense companies. Nam Myeong-ryeol, head of Korea University’s K-Defense Industry Center, said tensions are rising as Iran attacks not only Israel but also multiple areas where U.S. forces are stationed. “More Middle Eastern countries are likely to seek South Korean weapons that combine performance and price competitiveness, fast delivery, and the ability to operate and sustain the systems,” he said. 2026-03-03 18:04:48 -
Tanker Charter Rates Double After Iran Strikes, Raising South Korea Energy Security Fears U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran have sent global oil prices surging, and tanker freight rates have more than doubled, raising alarms over South Korea’s energy security. With heavy reliance on Middle Eastern energy, South Korea could face a shock comparable to the 1970s oil crisis if the conflict drags on, industry officials warned. According to the industry on Tuesday, the attacks pushed up international crude prices and natural gas prices in Asia and Europe. On ICE Futures, Brent crude for May delivery settled at $77.74 a barrel, up 6.7% from the previous session. Brent briefly climbed 13% intraday to $82.37, its highest level in more than a year since January last year. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, WTI for April delivery settled at $71.23 a barrel, up 6.3%. WTI also rose as much as 12% intraday to $75.33, the highest since June last year. Shipping costs jumped alongside crude. A VLCC (very large crude carrier) rate indicator for the Middle East-to-East Asia (MEG–China) route obtained by Ajou Economy showed the Worldscale (WS) index at 410.44 as of March 2. The corresponding daily time charter equivalent (TCE) was calculated at $423,736. That was nearly double the level just before the war on Feb. 27 (WS 224.72; TCE $218,154) and more than five times January’s level (WS 96.12; TCE $78,793) in about a month. Worldscale is the standard benchmark used to settle international tanker freight. A reading below 100 is generally seen as weak and above 100 as strong. Against that yardstick, a move above WS 400 is viewed as an extreme level reflecting war risk, not just a strong market. The market is increasingly concerned that tanker freight could rise more than tenfold from prewar levels as Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has effectively become a reality. Marine insurance, a major component of shipping costs, has continued to climb sharply, the report said. Experts said the fallout for South Korea could be significant because the country depends on the Middle East — where the Strait of Hormuz is located — for about 70% of its imported crude and up to 30% of its natural gas. If higher crude prices are compounded by rising transport costs, refiners’ import costs would jump, likely feeding into higher prices for petroleum and petrochemical products and higher power-generation costs, squeezing profitability across industries. The government plans to respond by releasing stockpiled oil and securing alternative supplies. It says it holds about 208 days’ worth of crude reserves, enough to manage short-term disruptions. But a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could change the picture. As the war lengthens, releasing reserves alone may not fully ease supply anxiety. The Korea International Trade Association said using detours instead of the strait could lift shipping costs by an additional 50% to 80% from current levels. Transit time and customs procedures could also add up to five days, and in past conflicts in the region, war-risk insurance premiums have been marked up as much as sevenfold. Oh Hyun-seok, a professor of international trade at Keimyung University, said, “The government says it still has room with its stockpiles, but it is not time to be optimistic.” He added, “If the strait is blocked, South Korea needs to diversify oil imports, and in the short term it needs tax adjustments, such as easing fuel taxes, to reduce the burden on companies and consumers.” 2026-03-03 18:03:25