Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Korean stocks and won roar back on Gulf endgame hopes
    Korean stocks and won roar back on Gulf endgame hopes SEOUL, April 01 (AJP) - The first buy-side sidecar in 10 trading sessions was triggered on the Seoul bourse at the open Wednesday, as the market surged nearly 5 percent with institutions returning in force on expectations the war may be winding down following overnight comments by U.S. President Donald Trump. The benchmark KOSPI rose 4.9 percent to reclaim the 5,300 mark, while the KOSDAQ gained 4.6 percent to move above 1,100. The U.S. dollar also fell back below the 1,510 won level after spiking above 1,530 won in the previous session. Investment sentiment improved for the first time in many days after Trump said U.S. operations against Iran could be “wrapped up” within two to three weeks. He also suggested that a formal agreement may not be necessary to end the conflict and that the United States could “leave Iran very soon,” remarks that markets interpreted as signaling potential de-escalation. The comments come amid mixed signals on diplomacy. While Trump said negotiations are underway, Iran has denied direct talks, though it confirmed indirect exchanges through intermediaries. The sharp rally followed strong gains on Wall Street overnight. The S&P 500 rose 2.91 percent to 6,528.51, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite jumped 3.83 percent to 21,590.63. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 2.49 percent to 46,341.33. Gainers on the KOSPI overwhelmed losers 818 to 84, with bellwethers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix soaring nearly 7 percent. 2026-04-01 09:33:26
  • Park Min-young Showcases OBZEE’s 26 Spring Collection in Dazed Pictorial
    Park Min-young Showcases OBZEE’s 26 Spring Collection in Dazed Pictorial Actor Park Min-young, who has returned to tvN’s drama “Siren,” is featured in a fashion pictorial for Dazed magazine’s April issue. Shot in Phuket, Thailand, the spread pairs Park’s polished, city-chic image with the resort backdrop. In the released images, Park models OBZEE’s 26 Spring collection with a sleek, modern look. One outfit combines a fluid blouse with a subtle sheen and draped lines with a glitter-fringe skirt, highlighting contrast in materials. Another look uses a deep-blue top and wide-leg pants in a tone-on-tone palette. Draped detailing on the top is matched with the relaxed fit of the pants to emphasize a long, streamlined silhouette, finished with a gold chain belt. In a separate cut, Park wears an all-white ensemble that underscores OBZEE’s couture-style detailing. A blouse with three-dimensional floral appliques is paired with a sheer fabric, matched with a slim boucle-textured skirt to sharpen the overall line. An OBZEE official said Park’s “captivating charm” blended naturally with the mood the brand pursues, creating strong synergy. The official added that it was meaningful to work with Park, saying she helped express the brand’s identity in a detailed way and raised the pictorial’s overall quality. OBZEE’s 26 Spring collection worn by Park in the pictorial is available through the brand’s official online store, TheHandsome.com, and its official social media channels. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-01 08:57:20
  • South Korea to Open World Cup Group Play vs. Czech Republic After Playoff Win
    South Korea to Open World Cup Group Play vs. Czech Republic After Playoff Win South Korea’s first opponent in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America will be the Czech Republic. The Czechs secured their place by beating Denmark 3-1 on penalties after the teams were tied 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time in the UEFA playoff Group D final at Epet Arena in Prague on April 1 (Korea time). It sends the Czech Republic to the World Cup finals for the first time in 20 years, since the 2006 tournament in Germany. With the Czech qualification, Group A is complete. South Korea will compete with Mexico, South Africa and the Czech Republic for a place in the round of 32. South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, will face the Czech Republic in its group opener on June 12 at 11 a.m. at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Czech Republic is ranked 43rd by FIFA, below South Korea at No. 22. The Czechs finished second in their European qualifying group behind Croatia to reach the playoffs, then advanced by beating Ireland on penalties in the semifinals and upsetting Denmark, which had been rated the stronger side, in another shootout in the final. The Czech Republic has a history of notable World Cup results. As Czechoslovakia, it finished runner-up in 1934 in Italy and in 1962 in Chile, and reached the quarterfinals in 1938 in France and in 1990 in Italy. Under the Czech Republic name, it appeared only at the 2006 World Cup and was eliminated in the group stage. South Korea is 1-2-2 all-time against the Czech Republic. Their most recent meeting was a friendly in June 2016, which South Korea won 2-1. 2026-04-01 08:51:00
  • BTS’ ‘SWIM’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 as ‘ARIRANG’ Tops Billboard 200
    BTS’ ‘SWIM’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 as ‘ARIRANG’ Tops Billboard 200 BTS swept Billboard’s charts again, led by its fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” and the title track “SWIM.” The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while “SWIM” rose to the top of the Hot 100 and other tracks from the album posted strong global results. According to Billboard’s latest rankings released March 31, “SWIM” hit No. 1 on the April 4-dated Hot 100. It became BTS’ seventh career Hot 100 No. 1, following “Dynamite,” “Savage Love,” “Life Goes On,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance” and “My Universe.” Billboard said BTS now has the fifth-most No. 1 songs among groups since the Hot 100 began. In its first week in the United States, “SWIM” logged 15.3 million streams, reached 25.8 million radio listeners and sold 154,000 digital and physical singles. The song debuted at No. 2 on Streaming Songs and No. 18 on Radio Songs, and ranked No. 1 on Digital Song Sales. The album’s tracks also surged globally. Of the album’s 14 tracks, 13 vocal songs — excluding an interlude — entered Billboard’s global charts at the same time. On the Global Excl. U.S. chart, “SWIM” ranked No. 1, with “Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” “FYA,” “Normal,” “Aliens” and “2.0” also landing high. All 13 songs placed within the top 13. Billboard said it was the first time one artist occupied every spot from No. 1 through No. 13 on that chart. On the Global 200, Luminate data showed “SWIM” at No. 1 with 108.8 million streams worldwide and 221,000 in sales. Nine songs, including “Body to Body” and “Hooligan,” entered the Global 200 top 10 in the same week — the most weekly top-10 entries since Taylor Swift in May 2024. BTS recorded its eighth career No. 1 on both the Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts. “ARIRANG” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 641,000 album units, the best weekly total for a group album since Billboard began tracking units in December 2014. It marked the second time BTS topped both the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 in the same week, after 2020’s “BE” and “Life Goes On.” BTS also led several other Billboard charts, including Artist 100, Digital Song Sales, World Digital Song Sales, Top Album Sales, Top Streaming Albums and Vinyl Albums. “ARIRANG” is BTS’ fifth full-length album, with HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk credited as executive producer. The album draws on multiple genres and focuses on broadly relatable emotions. The title track, “SWIM,” centers on pushing forward through life’s hardships. RM participated in writing lyrics across the album, reflecting what BTS wants to convey now.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-01 08:39:58
  • South Korea falls 1-0 to Austria as Son Heung-min held scoreless
    South Korea falls 1-0 to Austria as Son Heung-min held scoreless Hong Myung-bo’s South Korea squad lost to Austria in its final warmup before the last call-up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. South Korea fell 1-0 to Austria on April 1 (Korea time) at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. The defeat followed a 4-0 rout by Ivory Coast on March 28 in Milton Keynes, England, leaving South Korea winless in its two-match A match set with the World Cup call-up about three months away. It was South Korea’s first back-to-back A match losses since June 2023, when it lost 2-1 to Uruguay and 1-0 to Peru. The March friendlies were framed as dress rehearsals for potential World Cup opponents. The Ivory Coast match was treated as a stand-in for South Africa, while Austria was used to prepare for the Czech Republic, the winner of European playoff Group D. Hong’s team used a three-back system in both matches but conceded five goals and scored none, exposing problems at both ends of the field. Against Austria, South Korea started key attackers Son Heung-min (Los Angeles FC), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) but again struggled to finish chances. After creating little in the first half, South Korea conceded in the third minute of the second half. Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig) drove down the right and cut the ball back for Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund), who scored with a right-footed first-time shot. South Korea pushed for an equalizer and had a clear chance in the 17th minute of the second half. Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda) sent a low cross from the right, and Son hit a right-footed first-time attempt that went wide to the right. In the 29th minute, Son broke in on goal after a through ball from Lee Kang-in but was denied in a one-on-one as his left-footed shot was saved by the goalkeeper.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-01 08:21:18
  • April squeeze forces K-pop acts to fight to spotlight 
    April squeeze forces K-pop acts to fight to spotlight  SEOUL, April 01 (AJP) - April may prove a cruel month for some K-pop acts, as a crowded comeback calendar squeezes much of the first half’s release schedule into a single month. At least 27 acts are set to return in April, ranging from major-label groups and established stars to rookies and soloists. What was supposed to be a strategy to avoid head-on clashes with mega events — including BTS’s return and major political and sporting fixtures — has instead produced an intense bottleneck. The lineup begins with Tomorrow X Together on April 13, marking the group’s first release since renewing their contracts. NCT WISH follows on April 20, while ILLIT is scheduled to return on April 30. LE SSERAFIM is set for a comeback just six months after its previous release, with TWS and others also joining the packed slate. Solo releases are piling up alongside group returns. Much of the congestion stems from delays earlier in the year. First-quarter releases were pushed back to avoid high-profile events, including the Winter Olympics in Italy from Feb. 6 to 22 and BTS’s March 20 release of its fifth studio album, followed by a large-scale performance in downtown Seoul the next day. The months ahead offer little relief. Local elections are scheduled for June 4, and the World Cup will follow, creating further pressure on agencies trying to secure attention before public focus shifts elsewhere. “When major national or global events take place, attention and spending are redirected there first,” pop culture critic Kim Sung-soo said. “Entertainment becomes secondary.” That has left only a narrow window between BTS’s return and the coming wave of headline-grabbing events. In trying to avoid competition, the industry has instead concentrated it. “When resources, time, money and attention are pulled toward larger events, other forms of consumption are pushed back,” Kim said. “That is when release schedules begin to cluster.” The April lineup now spans the full spectrum of the market, with top-tier groups, solo acts and newcomers all crowding into the same stretch in a fight for visibility. 2026-04-01 08:13:04
  • April Fools’ Day Celebrity News That Turned Out to Be True
    April Fools’ Day Celebrity News That Turned Out to Be True April 1 is known for pranks and falsehoods, so entertainment news that breaks that day is often met with extra skepticism. Still, a number of major celebrity stories reported on April Fools’ Day — or immediately after — prompted “No way” reactions before being confirmed as true. One of the best-known cases involved Hong Kong star Leslie Cheung, who died on April 1, 2003, at a hotel in Hong Kong. The news was so sudden and shocking — and fell on April Fools’ Day — that some fans initially questioned whether it was a hoax. His death is still remembered each year as news that felt unbelievable. Dating reports can also seem less believable when they surface on April 1. When reports emerged on April 1, 2016, that EXO’s Kai and f(x)’s Krystal were dating, some people responded by asking whether it was an April Fools’ Day stunt. SM Entertainment soon confirmed the relationship, saying the two “had been friends and recently began to develop feelings for each other.” On April 1, 2023, news broke that actors Lim Ji-yeon and Lee Do-hyun — who drew attention for the Netflix series “The Glory” — were dating. Their agencies confirmed it the same day, saying, “The two are cautiously getting to know each other with good feelings.” The timing on April Fools’ Day, along with the contrast to their on-screen relationship, made the news feel especially unexpected to the public. There was also heartbreaking news immediately after April Fools’ Day. Turtleman, the leader of the group Turtles, died suddenly on April 2, 2008. He was 38. As word spread the day after April 1, fans and online users responded by saying they hoped it was not true. Because April 1 is associated with jokes, news reported that day — or right after — can draw sharper disbelief and, when confirmed, a deeper shock. Cheung’s death, the Kai-Krystal dating report, the Lim-Lee relationship and Turtleman’s sudden death are among the entertainment stories that lingered longer in public memory because of when they were reported. 2026-04-01 06:18:18
  • Singer Jun Jin’s Wife Ryu I-seo Says She Is Pursuing IVF at 43
    Singer Jun Jin’s Wife Ryu I-seo Says She Is Pursuing IVF at 43 Ryu I-seo, the wife of Shinhwa member Jun Jin, said she is pursuing in vitro fertilization at age 43. A video titled, “Why the lovebird couple Jun Jin♥Ryu I-seo began preparing for pregnancy at 43,” was posted March 31 on the YouTube channel “My Love Ryu I-seo.” Asked about her goals for the year, Ryu said, “I’m currently preparing for pregnancy, so I’m doing IVF. I’m going to retrieve eggs one more time and try implantation.” When Jun Jin asked whether the IVF process was difficult, Ryu replied, “I lived comfortably when I was younger, but even if it’s a bit hard now, I think it’s only natural, so I don’t feel like it’s hard.” She added, “I hope the baby looks like my husband, and only the personality takes after me,” expressing affection for him. Ryu said she decided to try to become pregnant after Jun Jin went to the hospital last year because he was ill. “Seeing him in so much pain, I thought, ‘If this person dies, how will I live?’” she recalled. “I thought if I had a child who resembles him, I could endure it. I suddenly became scared, and I seriously brought up pregnancy with my husband.” Jun Jin and Ryu married in 2020. The couple also discussed plans for a child during an appearance last October on broadcaster Jang Young-ran’s YouTube channel. 2026-04-01 05:27:19
  • Everland Unveils Upgraded Night Finale With Fireworks, Drones and K-pop
    Everland Unveils Upgraded Night Finale With Fireworks, Drones and K-pop Starting in April, Everland in Yongin, south of Seoul, will stage a large-scale nightly finale built around its fireworks expertise accumulated over more than 30 years. The park said the show, titled ‘Guardians of Light,’ is not a simple fireworks display but an outdoor multimedia production combining art and technology, with characters flying overhead, laser effects and fireworks. Yang Jung-woong, a leading South Korean director who led cultural performances for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, is directing. Artists including K-Herz, the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra and singer 10CM are participating in the production at Four Seasons Garden. Everland said the show combines fireworks, what it calls a world-first flight of large-object drones, K-pop and a story aimed at both children and adults. A rescue mission and a laser battle Everland said the revamped night finale begins at 9:20 p.m., when a “Darknight” spell sets the stage for the story. The park’s ‘Lenny and Friends’ characters have been reintroduced as the “Guardians of Light,” embarking on an about 20-minute adventure to protect Evergarden. The show’s setting draws on science fiction and a steampunk look. The characters set out to save a friend, “Jack,” who has been corrupted by magic, and fight a laser battle on a planet of darkness and chaos. As the guardians overcome the crisis, hope returns and the story ends with fireworks. Yang, described in the release as an “alchemist who breaks boundaries,” is combining thousands of fireworks with large-object drones, 3D visuals, dynamic sound, laser mapping and special effects. Everland said the scale is designed to heighten tension and immersion. Other participating directors include Lee Eom-ji (art), K-Herz (music) and Yoon Jae-ho (laser art). The soundtrack blends genres, including a theme recorded live in the Czech Republic by the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra, along with K-pop, EDM and musical theater music. Everland said vocals by 10CM’s Kwon Jung-yeol add to the experience for audiences across ages and nationalities. At a March 26 news conference at Everland, Yang said the concept is “sparkly steampunk.” “We dressed the characters in steampunk-style costumes and gave them interesting props like laser guns,” he said. “Steampunk is usually mechanical and rough. But for this show, we tried a new genre that fits Everland.” Yang, who drew global attention with a drone show using about 1,200 drones at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opening ceremony, is now presenting what Everland called South Korea’s first large-object drone flight. Everland said five large drones will carry an object of its summer-season character “Bambam Man” in a group-flight performance. “Drones are always my favorite,” Yang said, adding that he placed a 150-centimeter “Bambam Man” object on a large drone. “Light comes out of Bambam Man’s eyes and collar,” he said, adding that five character drones will perform a short but intense group flight to K-Herz’s electronic music alongside Yoon’s laser art. Everland said a massive screen measuring 62 meters wide and 10 meters high will run 3D visuals, while garden lighting created in collaboration with British installation artist Bruce Munro will add atmosphere. The park said audiences will watch fireworks as music from the 82-member Czech Metropolitan Orchestra plays. Everland said the production is also aimed at strengthening its in-house intellectual property. Yang said it is an attempt to build a foundation that could later expand into animation and to create a story world that helps “Lenny and Friends” become more widely known. Jung Se-won, head of Everland’s Entertainment Group, said Everland is the only place in South Korea that has continued nightly fireworks since 1996, nearly 30 years. He said the new show carries on that heritage while putting the lion-themed character brand Lenny and Friends at the center. An indoor circus aimed at families At Everland’s large indoor venue, the Grand Stage, the park is also launching ‘Wings of Memory,’ which it described as South Korea’s only world-class circus production. The show was created through about 18 months of collaboration with Canadian circus company Cirque Eloize, which includes many producers who previously worked with Cirque du Soleil. Based in Quebec and active for more than 30 years, Cirque Eloize has staged more than 7,000 performances in about 700 cities across 50 countries, Everland said. The 40-minute show is performed twice daily in a dedicated indoor theater with about 1,000 seats. Everland said it blends stunts, acrobatics, dance, video, music and special effects. The story follows a girl, Eel, traveling through a mysterious forest with a swan, meeting spirits and a boy and building friendships. Everland said it added new stage devices, including a flying swan puppet and a moving boat, to deepen immersion. Cirque Eloize said it combines dance, visual elements and circus in every production. “They are disciplines you can see in other circuses, but we are different in that we put the story at the center and build the acts around it,” the company said. Jung said that in South Korea, audiences typically experience “art circus” only when Cirque du Soleil tours the country. He said Everland planned ‘Wings of Memory’ so people can see high-level circus in Yongin regardless of whether Cirque du Soleil visits. 2026-04-01 00:06:00
  • Seoul signals use of rarely-used emergency order to fast-track war budget
    Seoul signals use of rarely-used emergency order to fast-track "war" budget SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) -South Korea is pushing ahead with an aggressive fiscal response to cushion the economic shock from the Middle East war, unveiling a 26.2 trillion won ($19.4 billion) supplementary budget aimed at stabilizing energy prices, supporting households and shielding key industries — despite the risk of stoking inflationary pressure with the won hovering at 2009 crisis-era lows. The emergency package, approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae Myung, is framed as a “war-time” budget to counter a triple shock of surging oil prices, a weakening currency and rising inflation. Lee is set to seek bipartisan backing for the plan through a National Assembly address on Thursday, while signaling a willingness to invoke emergency fiscal powers under the Constitution for a “preemptive and proactive” response to the deepening energy crisis stemming from the widening Gulf conflict. The emergency fiscal authority, stipulated under Article 76 of the Constitution, allows the president to issue measures with the force of law in times of severe economic or national crisis when legislative delays are untenable. It has been used only once in modern history — in 1993, when then-president Kim Young-sam enforced the financial real-name system. At the core of the package is direct cash support and energy subsidies designed to sustain consumption and prevent a sharper downturn. About 4.8 trillion won will be distributed to roughly 35.8 million people — around 70 percent of the population — with payments ranging from 100,000 to 600,000 won depending on income and region. The funds will be issued in spending-linked forms such as local currency or card credits. Another 5 trillion won has been earmarked to cap fuel costs and ease transport expenses, including support for a temporary oil price ceiling and expanded public transport rebates. Additional measures target energy-vulnerable households and fuel-intensive sectors such as agriculture and fisheries. The government said the budget is structured around three pillars — responding to high energy costs, stabilizing livelihoods and minimizing industrial damage while securing supply chains. Targeted programs include 1.9 trillion won for youth employment and startups, alongside funding for renewable energy transition, export financing and critical raw material imports. Unlike past stimulus efforts, the package will not rely on additional debt issuance but instead be financed by stronger-than-expected tax revenues, buoyed by semiconductor exports and stock market gains. Fiscal indicators are expected to remain broadly stable, with the managed fiscal deficit projected at 3.8 percent of GDP, slightly lower than the original budget. The backdrop remains increasingly fragile. Escalating conflict involving Iran and disruptions to Gulf shipping routes have pushed global oil prices above $100 per barrel, amplifying input costs for an economy heavily dependent on imported energy. The government estimates the supplementary budget will lift growth by about 0.2 percentage point this year — a modest buffer as global institutions including the OECD have already downgraded Korea’s outlook amid weakening external demand and mounting geopolitical risks. Still, the policy comes with trade-offs. While authorities argue the stimulus will not significantly fuel inflation given subdued domestic demand and the absence of new bond issuance, some economists warn that injecting liquidity amid energy-driven price pressures could complicate inflation management. Political friction is also building. The opposition is widely expected to protest to the broad cash payouts as a pre-election measure ahead of local polls scheduled for June 4, arguing the package leans too heavily on short-term consumption support. For now, the administration is signaling urgency over orthodoxy since Lee has indicated he may resort to emergency fiscal authority if political gridlock delays implementation — underscoring the government’s determination to act swiftly as external shocks threaten to spill deeper into growth, prices and financial markets. 2026-03-31 20:11:37