Journalist
Lee Hugh
=
-
Review: Kim Young-ha’s ‘What Happened to the Man Stuck in the Elevator?’ ‘Even now, I still wonder. What on earth happened to him.’ Twenty-seven years after it was published, no one knows what became of him — the man who, in 1999, got stuck in an apartment elevator in Kim Young-ha’s short story, ‘What Happened to the Man Stuck in the Elevator?’ Though I read it more than 20 years ago, several scenes remain vivid, like a film: the man wedged at the fifth floor with his upper body caught between the doors, his feet dangling outside. The narrator, a resident of the same building, sees the man on the way to work and decides to report it rather than pull him free — worried about being late. But he has no cellphone. The security guard is out on patrol, and no one will lend a phone. The day only gets stranger: the commuter bus crashes, the narrator is mistaken for a sex offender, and at work he ends up trapped in an elevator. He is rescued much later, but his suit is ruined, he is late, and an important meeting ends in disappointment. By the time he gets off work, he still has not been able to report what he saw. Back home, he asks the building manager and neighbors what happened to the man — but no one knows. More than that, no one even seems to know such an incident occurred. The shock I felt then came from how chillingly real the story made “indifference” feel. The lingering anger came, too, from the author’s refusal to provide an ending. Kim, even now, has never offered an epilogue about the man’s fate. When I first read the story, I resented the neighbors, bus passengers and co-workers who piled hardship onto the narrator. A scene in which employees debate how many squares of toilet paper to allow for bodily waste, to save supplies, felt absurd. The narrator’s helplessness also seemed pathetic. Looking back now, I see the narrator differently: timid, perhaps, but in his own way admirable — the kind of worker who keeps showing up, enduring the long years, no matter what derails the day. Over time, my irritation at the bystanders has faded, replaced by a renewed respect for the many office workers who quietly withstand routine and then absorb sudden crises, solve them and move on. Kim, who was just over 30 when he wrote the story, may have been driven by irritation at people who pride themselves on being expressionless, detached and narrowly focused on their own tasks. Whether he still thinks that way is unclear. Now nearing 60, Kim met audiences on the 1st at a matinee concert that paired music and storytelling. The program placed the author’s commentary between performances of opera arias and film music. There, Kim reflected on ‘Cinema Paradiso,’ screened at a commemorative film festival marking the 30th anniversary of his literary debut. “I used to see it as a story about having to leave,” he said, “but watching it again, I realized it was about understanding the past and the community that made you.” He also said that in spring, more people wander without a destination, and “in that process, love shows on their faces.” The sharp edges in the author’s aura seem to have softened. So have mine. With time and experience, I have come to understand more of people’s smallness — and to value compassion more. I also find myself hoping that the story’s narrator, now surely older, would do something, anything, for a stranger in danger. * Leftover Review: A review of the impressions that remain after the main takeaways from cultural content are set aside.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-03 18:45:18 -
Shinhan Bank Sells $600 Million in Global Bonds After Drawing $7 Billion in Orders Shinhan Bank said it issued $600 million (about 9.05 trillion won) in global senior foreign-currency bonds on April 1. The deal marked the first overseas foreign-currency bond sale by a major South Korean commercial bank since tensions in the Middle East rose following the war between the United States and Iran. Investor demand totaled about $7 billion (about 10.563 trillion won), the bank said. The bonds were issued as development finance notes, aimed at creating social and economic value by supporting climate-change response, expanding financial inclusion and backing small and midsize businesses. The offering was split evenly between a $300 million, three-year floating-rate note and a $300 million, five-year fixed-rate note. The spread on the three-year FRN was set at 0.58 percentage points over SOFR, a U.S. risk-free benchmark rate. The five-year fixed-rate note was priced at 0.43 percentage points over the yield on a U.S. Treasury of the same maturity. A Shinhan Bank official said the bank achieved a stable result by broadening its investor base and maintaining communication despite continued volatility in global markets. The official said the bank will pursue sustainable growth based on trust with global investors.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-03 17:36:00 -
Korean stocks rebound as Hormuz risks recede, foreign inflows return SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) - Asian markets swung mostly higher Friday as governments from the Middle East to Europe scramble to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The benchmark KOSPI led gains, closing up 2.7 percent at 5,377.3, as foreign and institutional investors returned to net buying. The won strengthened to 1,507.9 per dollar. The move followed reports that Iran is working with Oman on a maritime protocol to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a route that handles roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day. The development eased immediate concerns over prolonged supply disruptions, though tensions remain elevated. Foreign investors bought a net 808.5 billion won ($536 million) of stocks, while institutions added 723.8 billion won. Retail investors sold 2.09 trillion won, indicating profit-taking into the rebound. Energy-linked sectors led the rally. Equipment and services firms surged 12.35 percent, shipbuilders rose 6.6 percent and trading companies gained 6.7 percent, reflecting continued positioning around energy security and logistics risks. Semiconductors also drove gains. Samsung Electronics climbed 4.4 percent to 186,200 won, while SK hynix advanced 5.5 percent to 876,000 won, tracking steady U.S. tech performance. By contrast, rate-sensitive heavyweights lagged. LG Energy Solution fell 1.5 percent to 398,500 won and Samsung Biologics declined 2.0 percent to 1,554,000 won, pointing to lingering caution. The KOSDAQ rose 0.7 percent to 1,063.8, giving up part of its earlier gains after hitting an intraday high of 1,083.24. Foreign and institutional investors sold a combined 413.8 billion won, while retail investors bought 406.0 billion won, signaling weaker conviction in smaller, growth-oriented stocks. In currency markets, the won gained 0.34 percent against the dollar, while the dollar index edged down 0.07 percent to 99.95. The VIX fell 2.7 percent to 23.9, indicating easing near-term volatility. Still, oil prices held above $110 per barrel, suggesting that risks tied to Hormuz are not fully priced out. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.3 percent, while China’s Shanghai Composite fell 1.0 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.7 percent. 2026-04-03 17:31:54 -
BTS '2.0' MV channels Oldboy noir as cinematic callbacks spark global buzz SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) - A few Korean films have left a deeper imprint on global cinema than Oldboy (2003), the brutal, operatic noir that propelled director Park Chan-wook onto the world stage — with a Cannes Grand Prix and admiration from filmmakers including Quentin Tarantino. Its side-scrolling corridor fight, shot in a single take, has since become one of the most imitated sequences in modern cinema. Now, that visual language has found an unlikely new interpreter: BTS. The music video for “2.0,” from the group’s comeback album Arirang, has surged across global platforms, drawing immediate attention for its striking parallels to Park’s signature style. Released Tuesday via Hybe Labels’ YouTube channel, the video surpassed 16 million views within 24 hours and topped YouTube’s trending music chart. The album’s title track “Swim” posted around 30 million views on its first day. The video opens with RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, Jungkook and V stepping into a stylized past — retro hair, vintage tailoring, mustaches and beards — before moving into a dimly lit corridor staged for confrontation. What follows is a clear visual homage. In Oldboy, Choi Min-sik’s protagonist battles waves of attackers in a claustrophobic hallway, captured in a lateral tracking shot that has since become iconic. BTS mirrors the composition: the members advance in formation as the camera glides sideways, flanked by opponents, blending choreography with cinematic tension. The sequence adopts a one-take structure, placing multiple figures within a compressed horizontal frame. Everyday objects — from newspapers to back scratchers — are used as props, injecting a note of absurdity into an otherwise controlled, high-stakes setting, a tonal contrast long associated with Park’s direction. The references extend further. Later scenes unfold in an office setting closely resembling a key location from the film, while visible newspaper headlines — including “Brand New 2.0 Launch” and “Hidden Code Discovered” — fold the narrative back into the track’s thematic frame. Released in 2003, Oldboy drew more than 3 million viewers in South Korea and went on to win the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. Its corridor sequence, staged in a confined space and executed in a lateral one-take composition, remains one of the most recognizable images in Korean noir. Online, the parallels have not gone unnoticed. Social media users have circulated side-by-side comparisons, with one post on X reading, “This is literally the Oldboy hallway scene but BTS version,” while another described it as “not an ‘Old’ boy — brand new Oldboy,” underscoring how viewers are decoding the visual references in real time. The track itself debuted at No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100, adding commercial weight to the artistic conversation. More broadly, the video reflects a shift in K-pop production, where music videos increasingly draw on established cinematic language — particularly from Korean film — to construct globally legible narratives beyond performance-driven formats. In a separate development, BTS also announced a new single, “Come Over,” set for release as part of a deluxe vinyl edition of Arirang, extending the group’s promotional cycle following their return after nearly four years. 2026-04-03 17:31:44 -
Korea's credit market shows crunch signs as demand dries up SEOUL, April 3 (AJP) — Spring has arrived, but South Korea’s debt market remains stuck in a winter chill, especially for sub-investment-grade issuers, as surging bond yields, weak demand and a cheapened won erode the appeal of Korean assets. Government bond yields have climbed back to levels last seen in November 2023, when the benchmark rate stood at 3.50 percent during the post-pandemic tightening cycle — even as the current policy rate has been held at 2.50 percent for nearly a year. The three-year government bond yield on Friday approached 3.5 percent, up more than 50 basis points this year, while the 10-year yield rose to around 3.8 percent, gaining over 60 basis points. The increase is roughly twice that of Japanese government bonds and more than triple the rise in U.S. 10-year Treasury yields, which have climbed about 15 basis points. Some relief came as South Korean sovereign bonds began their inclusion in the World Government Bond Index (WGBI) on April 1, but yields quickly resumed their upward march as initial optimism faded. The strain is more acute further down the credit curve. Corporate bond issuance totaled 21 trillion won ($14.2 billion) in the first quarter, down 30 percent from a year earlier, according to the Korea Financial Investment Association. Yields on lower-rated debt have risen even faster. The three-year AA- yield has jumped more than 70 basis points to above 4 percent, while BBB- yields are nearing 10 percent. Demand has narrowed sharply to top-tier borrowers. The share of demand for AA-rated corporate bonds rose to 93 percent in January 2026 from 81 percent a year earlier, underscoring an increasingly selective market. Hanwha Aerospace, rated AA, drew 3.23 trillion won in bids for its Jan. 14 offering — nearly 13 times its initial 250 billion won target — prompting the company to double issuance to 500 billion won. Similarly, AA- rated E-Mart attracted 1.94 trillion won in orders against a 300 billion won target. The retailer’s improved earnings outlook, including a 585 percent surge in operating profit in 2025, helped offset concerns over intensifying competition with Coupang. The flight to quality is deepening refinancing pressure for lower-rated firms. Lotte Engineering & Construction (A) and CJ CGV (A-) have repeatedly withdrawn bond sales due to weak demand. Geopolitical risks are compounding the stress. The ongoing disruption of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical artery for global energy flows — has driven up oil prices and dampened investor appetite for riskier credit. At the same time, financial institutions are ramping up issuance to shore up balance sheets against rising delinquencies. Financial bond issuance surged 17.5 percent on-year to 76.4 trillion won in the first quarter. Liquidity remains ample but is adding to market distortions. Broad money (M2) reached 4,560.6 trillion won as of January, up 8.5 percent from a year earlier. Even under a narrower classification, it rose 5.8 percent to 4,108.9 trillion won — still outpacing major economies. With excess liquidity weighing on the won and energy-driven inflation risks mounting, the Bank of Korea has already shifted its stance. It removed references to rate cuts from its January policy statement, even before the Middle East conflict escalated. “As uncertainty grows, demand concentrates in top-rated bonds, including financial debt,” said Daeil Ahn, head of Korea debt capital markets at Citi. Ultimately, both the surge in financial issuance and the concentration of demand reflect deepening market anxiety. “The strengthening preference for safe assets is pushing flows into high-grade bonds,” said Kim Ki-myung, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities, noting that the tilt toward AA-rated paper reflects heightened risk aversion. Lee Jae-hyung, a researcher at Yuanta Securities, added: “The widening of credit spreads is a direct reflection of investors’ increasing risk-avoidance.” 2026-04-03 17:24:35 -
National Dance Company Premieres 'Gwi-hyang,' a Dance Drama on a Mother's Love Mother, I’m back/After passing dark, damp cliffs/I ran through the long night/As wind returns to the wind’s home to rest/I ran with only one heart. (From Kim Seong-ok’s poem “Gwi-hyang”) The National Dance Company of Korea will present “Gwi-hyang” as its first new production of the year. The dance drama blends the lyricism of Korean dance with a theatrical narrative, drawing on Kim Seong-ok’s poem “Gwi-hyang” to stage the inner memories and emotions between a mother and her son. Artistic Director and company head Kim Jong-deok said at a news conference on April 3 at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul that “Gwi-hyang” is a work he created to connect and communicate with audiences, built from a story he felt most deeply. He said he drew inspiration from his mother and his hometown. Kim has often addressed social phenomena and broad themes, but said he came to feel limits in working that way. For this piece, he chose what remained most vivid in his heart: parents, family and home. Centered on family and longing that many can relate to, the production adds modern stage design to the restrained aesthetics of Korean dance. Company member Jang Hyun-su, who plays the mother, portrays a devoted love for her child with small, detailed gestures. She hums the song “Spring Days Pass,” and speaks into empty air as if her son were beside her, expressing a mother living with dementia. During the news conference, Jang Hyun-su became emotional while speaking about her mother. “I like the song lyric, ‘A pale pink skirt fluttered in the spring breeze.’ When I sing that song thinking of my mother, it makes my heart ache,” she said. “I think, my mother must have suffered so much. A mother is also a woman.” Company member Jang Yoon-na, who plays the mother in her younger years, said she also immersed herself in the role. “I play the mother as she moves from her brilliant 20s and 30s through her 40s and 50s,” she said. “I’m also a mother in my mid-40s with two children, and I’m trying to express the sorrow by imagining what it would feel like to lose the son who was my whole world.” The work has three chapters: the mother’s present at the end of her life; the story of mother and son; and a process of looking back on the mother’s life. The stage traces passing years, love and separation, memory and reconciliation, wounds and longing, and a journey toward recovery and comfort. For Kim, a mother’s love is like a gardenia. “Gardenias are simple, but their fragrance is strong,” he said. “When I think of my mother, I think of a gardenia — not flashy, but with a gentle scent that carries far. It’s a kind of medium for expressing the memories and love in my heart.” “Gwi-hyang” runs April 23-26 at the Haeoreum Grand Theater at the National Theater of Korea. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-03 17:24:15 -
Learning to plant green on Arbor Day SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) -Arbor Day may have faded from public attention, but in pockets of Seoul it still lives on — especially for children discovering the simple joy of planting a tree. In Gangnam, that spirit took root along Yangjaecheon on Friday. To mark the 81st Arbor Day on April 5, Gangnam-gu hosted the “Our Neighborhood Green Donation Challenge – Garden Forest of Participation” at Gaepo-dong Neighborhood Park, drawing some 500 participants — from local residents and donors to children, Saemaul members and volunteer gardeners. Together, they transformed a stretch of parkland into a shared green space. Participants planted 94 trees, including kousa dogwoods and maples, alongside some 1,000 shrubs such as azaleas and euonymus. Flower beds were laid out and benches installed, turning the site into a community-built garden. More than a one-day event, the initiative reflects a shift toward participatory urban greening — where residents do not just use public spaces, but help create and care for them. For many of the children, it was also a rare, hands-on reminder of a holiday that once held a firm place in the national calendar — now quietly kept alive, one sapling at a time. 2026-04-03 17:11:13 -
Go Woori of Rainbow Announces Pregnancy, Due in October Go Woori of the group Rainbow is expecting her first child. On April 2, Go posted a video titled “Go Woori is pregnant! A tearful pregnancy announcement” on her YouTube channel, “Go Woori” (Go Woori). In the video, she said she is 10 weeks pregnant and has largely stayed home for three to four weeks because of morning sickness. She said she invited the production crew to her home for that reason. “I had both constant hunger and physical fatigue,” she said, describing it as feeling like a 24-hour hangover. “My stomach keeps feeling uncomfortable, and it’s hard like I’m full of gas.” Go also said she and her husband underwent in vitro fertilization and succeeded on the first attempt. “The first try is like winning the lottery, so I didn’t expect it,” she said. She shared Rainbow members’ reactions, saying she revealed the pregnancy at a birthday gathering and posted video from the moment. Members offered congratulations, saying things like, “That’s amazing,” “Congratulations,” and “That’s so great.” Born in February 1988, Go debuted with Rainbow in 2009. She married a businessman five years older than her on Oct. 2022, and her due date is Oct. 20. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-03 16:45:19 -
Remembering Jeju April 3 for the 78th time SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) -The Jeju April 3 Incident refers to a period of armed uprising and state suppression on Jeju Island between 1948 and 1954, during which tens of thousands of civilians were killed. The violence began with an uprising on April 3, 1948, rooted in unrest that had been building since March 1, 1947, and continued for years amid a broader ideological conflict in the early Cold War period. Voices of remembrance echoed across the nation on Thursday as South Korea marked the 78th anniversary of the tragedy, paying tribute to victims and renewing calls to uncover the full truth behind one of the country’s darkest chapters. Participants honored the victims through flower offerings, moments of silence and grave cleanings, expressing their condolences with quiet solemnity. 2026-04-03 16:07:44 -
Korean-French fusion and K-pop flair greet Macron couple in Seoul SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) - Winning over a French palate is no small task — even more so when the guests are the president of France and his wife. South Korea answered with a carefully staged blend of Korean tradition and French culinary technique at a state dinner hosted by President Lee Jae Myung for President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron on Thursday. Chef Son Jong-won, known for “Culinary Class Wars 2,” was brought in for the occasion, crafting a menu that followed a classic French course structure while reinterpreting Korean ingredients and forms. The opening course reimagined Korea’s ssam (wrap) culture into refined, bite-sized dishes — including three-color wheat wraps, Jeju sweet shrimp wraps and East Sea scallops with truffle. The trio subtly echoed the French national motto of liberty, equality and fraternity. A grilled Jeju pomfret, made with premium deokja, was paired with kumquat-infused doenjang sauce, maitake mushrooms, clams and sansho pepper, offering a balance of depth and delicacy. Samgyetang followed, transformed into a French-style chicken roulade while retaining its identity as Korea’s signature ginseng chicken soup. The main course featured layered Korean beef sirloin in a mille-feuille style, served with abalone — a pairing that combined richness with restraint. Dessert came as a buckwheat crepe filled with sweet potato mousse, inspired by Korea’s roasted sweet potatoes, presented in a traditional mother-of-pearl lacquer box. It was accompanied by camellia mistletoe tea made from locally sourced ingredients. The meal was paired with two French wines and a Korean traditional liquor, underscoring the evening’s theme of balance between the two culinary traditions. Chef Son personally served the main course, explaining the concept behind the dishes. Attention to detail extended beyond the table. Guests were welcomed with Eiffel Tower-shaped bread displays, while macarons were prepared by Korea’s national team — winners of the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie. K-pop, naturally, had a part. Brigitte Macron received signed albums by BTS, Stray Kids and G-Dragon, along with traditional Korean ceramic tableware. The visit marks the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and France. It is Macron’s first visit to Korea since taking office in 2017, and the first by a French president in 11 years. 2026-04-03 15:59:02