Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Mideast War, Oil Spike Squeeze South Korea Pharma-Bio Supply Chains and Shipping Costs South Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industry is facing a double hit from soaring oil prices tied to a prolonged Middle East war: disruptions in raw-material supplies and higher logistics costs. Major drugmakers are expanding inventories and seeking alternative suppliers amid concerns over shortages of key inputs such as naphtha, while the government is stepping up supply-chain monitoring and exploring joint measures with the industry. Industry officials said Sunday that the Middle East crisis, fueled by the war involving the United States and Israel and Iran, has heightened fears of instability in crude supplies from the region. International oil prices have topped $100 a barrel, setting new record highs. The combination of surging input prices and supply uncertainty is rippling through the sector. With domestic refiners heavily dependent on Middle Eastern crude, supply chains have come under strain and naphtha prices have jumped more than 20% this month. Naphtha is a core material used to make pharmaceutical packaging containers and IV fluid bags, raising concerns across the industry. Suppliers of basic IV solutions, including JW Jungoe Pharm and HK inno.N, are moving urgently to prepare for possible shortages of IV bags. The companies held an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to discuss bringing in alternative materials and freezing inventories, according to industry officials. “If the situation drags on, hospitals could face supply disruptions due to a shortage of IV bags,” a pharmaceutical company official said. Major drugmakers have also taken preemptive steps to secure materials. Yuhan Corp. has stockpiled two to three months’ worth of pharmaceutical packaging materials, and Dong-A Pharmaceutical and Korea United Pharmaceutical have increased inventories through early orders. Rising logistics costs are another pressure point. With oil prices surging, sea and air freight rates have climbed 15% to 20%, pushing up the cost of importing raw materials. Smaller drugmakers said the added burden is difficult to absorb given already thin margins. The food and drug safety ministry is frequently checking the supply of pharmaceutical packaging containers. It is also reviewing regulatory support, including faster approval procedures when changes in packaging materials are needed. A pharmaceutical company official said the business environment is deteriorating rapidly as global instability drives up oil prices, exchange rates and freight costs while worsening uncertainty over raw-material supplies. The official warned that disruptions could lead to imbalances in supplies of essential medicines such as cold remedies and antibiotics, posing a potential threat to health security. Some in the industry said the turmoil should be used to reshape supply chains. A biotech industry executive noted that most domestic companies import active pharmaceutical ingredients, making broader drug production vulnerable if supply chains falter. The executive called for government incentives to raise self-sufficiency in active ingredients.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 18:33:21 -
Pro-Palestinian, pro-U.S. rallies converge in Seoul on Land Day eve SEOUL, March 29 (AJP) - Rival demonstrations filled the streets of central Seoul on Sunday, as pro-Palestinian activists and Iranian expatriates backing the United States held back-to-back rallies that briefly brought opposing crowds face-to-face without incident. The larger of the two gatherings, organised by the group dubbed "People in Solidarity with Palestinians," drew about 200 participants to Jongno-district before marching toward the U.S. and Israeli embassies. South Koreans, resident Palestinians, and resident Americans joined the march, calling for an end to U.S. strikes on Iran and Israel's offensive in Gaza. The rally was timed to mark the 50th anniversary of Land Day, commemorated each March 30 in memory of six Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in 1976 during protests against land seizures. Participants laid out photographs of Iranian children killed in airstrikes alongside small backpacks in a silent tribute. A separate cycling contingent from the "BDS Korea" group rode from Jongno-district to the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-district, their bicycles bearing Palestinian flags and banners demanding a halt to what they described as a massacre in Gaza. On the opposing side, the "Iranian Network in Korea" held a pro-U.S., anti-regime rally near Uijeongbu Station in the afternoon. About 20 Iranian residents waved the flags of Iran, the United States, and Israel, chanting slogans including "We are the revolution" and "No justice, no peace." Tensions briefly spiked when the pro-Palestinian march passed the Iranian rally in progress, prompting the counter-demonstrators to raise their voices. Police, who had maintained control of the march route throughout the afternoon, prevented any physical confrontation between the two groups. 2026-03-29 18:00:05 -
Lee Sun-bin Tries to Deliver Party Invite to Park Bo-young on MBC’s “Manitto Club” Lee Sun-bin launches a mission to deliver an invitation to Park Bo-young on MBC’s variety show “Manitto Club.” Episode 9, airing today (29), follows third-generation members Cha Tae-hyun, Park, Lee, Hwang Kwang-hee and Kang Hoon as they carry out individual “manitto” missions. Lee, an eight-year friend of Park and her assigned partner, plans an “early birthday party” and prepares a special surprise for her. In a preview clip, Lee disguises herself as a part-time worker to hand Park the invitation. Lee moves in as soon as she spots Park and passes along the invite, but Park quickly senses something is off and asks, “Are you my manitto?” catching Lee off guard. Lee keeps up the act, signaling that she was sent by someone else, and the show says she manages to fool Park. To maintain the cover, she continues doing actual part-time work to stay in character. The preview also shows Park checking the invitation and offers a look at the party venue, building anticipation for Lee’s surprise and Park’s reaction in the full episode. “Manitto Club” Episode 9 airs at 6:05 p.m. today.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 16:36:15 -
Lee Hi and Dok2 Go Live Together After Dating Rumors, Show Affection On Camera Singer Lee Hi and rapper Dok2 went live together shortly after reports sparked dating rumors. On the 28th, Lee Hi hosted a real-time livestream on her social media account. The two counted down to 6 p.m. with fans ahead of the release of “You & Me,” the first single from their jointly founded label, 808 HI RECORDINGS. Throughout the broadcast, they showed frequent physical affection, including putting an arm around each other and linking shoulders. They also showed matching necklaces described as a couple item. When viewers asked, “Are you really dating?” they avoided a direct answer, though their appearance was widely interpreted as an acknowledgment of the relationship. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 16:15:18 -
Actor Lee Dong-hwi on 'Method Acting' and Moving Beyond a Comedy Image 코미디로 사랑받았지만 더 이상 '웃기는 배우'로만 남고 싶지 않은 인물. 영화 '메소드연기'는 그 욕망과 불안을 메타 코미디의 방식으로 비튼 작품이다. 실제 이름을 그대로 가져온 캐릭터 '이동휘'를 연기한 배우 이동휘는 웃음과 자의식, 과몰입이 뒤섞인 낯선 얼굴을 꺼내 보인다. 영화 '메소드연기'(감독 이기혁)로 돌아온 이동휘를 만났다. "Director Lee Gi-hyeok was preparing a feature based on a different story, but it was halted for various reasons. Then he thought about which of his shorts could be expanded for a wider audience, and 'Method Acting' came to mind. Since the short was introduced mainly on the festival circuit, we brought in the more universal keyword of family and expanded it so audiences could relate," Lee said. '메소드연기'는 이기혁 감독의 동명 단편에서 출발한 작품이다. 장편으로 확장되는 과정에서 영화는 보다 보편적인 정서로 넓어졌고, Lee participated closely in that process as both an actor and a producer. Working with Lee Gi-hyeok, a longtime friend, he said he watched up close as a short film grew into a story meant to meet a broader audience. 무엇보다 흥미로운 건 영화 속 '이동휘'가 실제 배우 Lee Dong-hwi와 떼어놓고 보기 어려운 인물이라는 점이다. In the film, the character is also loved for comedy but does not want to be trapped by that image. Lee said the premise did not feel unfamiliar. "Whether it's a villain role or comedy, the public knows you for what they've seen. Once an image sticks, scripts tend to come in along those lines," he said. "There are seniors who broke out of those images over a long time and proved it through experience. I'm quietly following that path. I think it's arrogant to feel I have to solve it quickly. In an actor's life, I'm grateful for each opportunity. If there's a use for me, if there's value, I'm just thankful." He said he draws inspiration from athletes and musicians who train daily, pushing through boredom and fatigue, and tries to bring that discipline to his work. "I love comedy as a genre, and I have expectations about language and expression," he said. Lee also spoke about the gap between his friendly public image and what he described as a more sensitive private temperament, saying it once weighed on him but has eased with age. "Now that I'm 40, I think I'm becoming more rounded," he said. "The sharp parts and those worries soften, and I accept what I need to accept. I think I'm in the process of becoming an adult. If it were back when I was more hot-blooded, I might have been a bit prickly, but now I have chronic fatigue. Ha ha." On the surface, the project can look like a vehicle built for Lee: He uses his real name and plays a character that overlaps with his public persona. Lee said that made it harder, not easier, because he had to manage the distance between reality and fiction in every scene. "I vaguely thought it would be easier if I played 'me,' but once we started shooting, every day was homework," he said. "It shouldn't look like a documentary, and it's not a reality observation show, so you have to keep building layers." He cited a scene in which the character watches his mother from behind as she crosses a crosswalk. Seeing actress Kim Geum-soon from behind reminded him of his own mother, he said, and the emotion surged. "I thought, 'If the role gets too close to my life, it will be hard,'" he said, adding that he decided family material needed a more fictional approach to avoid taking a mental toll. The film also includes moments that recall a less mature period in the actor's life, including how the character treats juniors and approaches the set. Lee said the project prompted him to reflect on his earlier self, when he was focused on doing well but had not yet learned how to help carry a production as part of a team. "Looking back, I think I was only obsessed with running forward," he said. "My focus was only on 'I have to do well,' and I thought only, 'I have to be intense.'" He said he was struck by an acceptance-speech remark by actor Tony Leung, who wondered whether he could have worked with more smiles, and said he related to it. Lee said he learned by watching veteran actor Choi Min-sik on the set of 'Casino,' describing how Choi embraced the whole set and treated people warmly. "If there's a set I return to someday, I should approach it with more growth and maturity, shouldn't I?" he said. "It's a process of telling myself that." Lee said he was cautious about audiences overlapping the character with him as a person. He said he hoped it would be received as one person's story, but not reduced to only his private hardships. "I've kept challenging myself, but I still don't think I've achieved something," he said. "On set there are cries that don't remain as records, and inside that we're always chasing something. I wanted it to be received not just as results, but as a person's story. But I didn't want it to be limited to Lee Dong-hwi's personal struggle or difficulty, either." He added that some viewers may find parts of the finished film lacking in communication, but said he hoped his effort came through. He said he confronted family issues and other emotional matters during filming and came to see himself in difficult moments, which he believed could shape how the work is received. Still, Lee said he felt he had little choice but to put more of himself forward in this project, believing a purely fictional character would not bring audiences close enough. Even so, he said he ultimately hopes the film is received as fiction. "I hope this film is ultimately accepted as a fictional character," he said. "In this project, I had to find the courage, and I didn't think I could get close to the audience by only playing a made-up person. So I thought I had to put some of myself out front, and I challenged myself with that mindset. How it looks is up to the audience."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 14:57:20 -
S.Korea sets 2030 target for 6G rollout, unveils digital blueprint to become top-three AI power SEOUL, March 29 (AJP) - South Korea's government has finalized a sweeping digital strategy aimed at propelling the country into the ranks of the world's three leading artificial intelligence powers by 2028, anchored by a push to commercialize 6G networks by 2030. The plan, approved at the 18th Information Communications Strategy Committee meeting on March 27 and announced Sunday, lays out a three-year roadmap covering network upgrades, cybersecurity, data infrastructure and talent development from 2026 through 2028. Under the blueprint, the government will convert the nationwide 5G network to standalone mode and fast-track next-generation 6G technology development. It will also overhaul its information security management framework and build a national integrated data platform to cultivate a high-quality data ecosystem. To shore up its digital workforce, Seoul plans to channel resources into core technologies including AI, semiconductors and quantum computing, with a structured support pipeline stretching from high school students through doctoral candidates. The government will also embed AI across manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture and disaster response systems. On the consumer side, authorities will introduce a "data relief option" guaranteeing access to basic services such as messaging even after users exhaust their mobile data allowances, a move designed to ensure universal connectivity. The strategy committee, chaired by the prime minister, comprises 25 members including cabinet ministers and civilian experts. The session marked the first meeting for the sixth cohort of civilian members, appointed on March 10. 2026-03-29 14:07:21 -
South Korea may impose mandatory civilian car rationing if oil hits $120-$130 a barrel SEOUL, March 29 (AJP) - South Korea's finance chief said the government could impose mandatory vehicle rationing on civilians if international oil prices climb to $120-$130 per barrel, signaling a potential escalation in the country's crisis response to the Middle East conflict's economic fallout. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy Koo Yun-cheol said Sunday the government would elevate its energy crisis alert to Stage 3 if prices breach that threshold. The country currently asks civilians to voluntarily observe an odd-even license plate driving system, but Koo indicated that compliance could become compulsory. "If the situation deteriorates further, we will need to move to Stage 3, and at that point we may have to ask the public to cooperate with a mandatory vehicle rationing system," Koo said. Oil prices currently hover between $100 and $110 per barrel. Koo said the government would assess a range of factors beyond crude prices alone before raising the alert level, adding that further fuel tax cuts remain on the table to cushion the burden on households. To address a naphtha shortage disrupting petrochemical and consumer goods production, Koo said Seoul is securing alternative supply sources and prioritizing allocation across industries. The government is also accelerating its shift toward nuclear and renewable energy to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. On the fiscal front, Koo outlined a supplementary budget of about 25 trillion won ($16.5 billion) targeting four areas: high oil price countermeasures, support for small business owners and young workers, industrial relief, and supply chain stabilization. He stressed the spending would be financed by projected surplus tax revenue rather than new debt. Koo also sought to calm nerves over the won's slide past the 1,500-per-dollar mark, citing South Korea's foreign reserves of more than $420 billion and net external assets of about $900 billion. He pointed to the country's upcoming inclusion in the World Government Bond Index in April, which is expected to attract $50 billion to $60 billion in foreign capital inflows. The deputy prime minister additionally previewed a "new deal" package for youth due in April to tackle rising youth unemployment, and said the government's first investment project in the United States under a recent bilateral investment law would likely focus on the energy sector. 2026-03-29 11:41:01 -
Comedian Lee Hwi-jae’s TV Return on KBS Draws Chilly Online Reaction Entertainer Lee Hwi-jae’s return to television has drawn a cool response from some online commenters, according to reactions shared after his appearance. Lee appeared on the March 28 broadcast of KBS2’s ‘Immortal Songs’ for a special titled ‘2026 Entertainment King of Kings.’ After performing Choi Ho-seop’s ‘As Time Goes By,’ Lee spoke about his recent life. Asked whether his twin sons, Seo Eon and Seo Jun, are now in middle school, Lee replied they are first-year students. When asked if they knew he was appearing on TV, Lee said they are now old enough to understand what he does. “When they were younger, they didn’t really know. They said they thought I was a dad who kept going to work out,” he said. “But as four years passed, and I ended up taking a break because of my mistake, they came to understand.” Lee became tearful as he said his sons did not say it directly but wrote him letters. Host Shin Dong-yup asked whether the letters comforted him and urged him to stay strong. Lee nodded, holding back tears, and added that they said they wanted him to work again. After the episode aired, many online commenters reacted skeptically. Comments included: “Why does he have to be on TV — can’t he do manual labor?” “Do we have to give him a job because his kids cried? Emotional manipulation,” and “Bringing up his kids, really? Producers will decide. If he’s on, you can just not watch.” Others wrote, “It’s not like he suffered extreme hardship or was sick — why cry on TV?” and “Not a crime, but it’s rare to be this disliked.” Lee debuted in 1992 on MBC’s variety program ‘Sunday Night.’ He later appeared on a range of entertainment shows. He faced controversy, including disputes with neighbors over apartment noise, and stopped broadcasting in 2022. He also spent time in Canada with his family. More recently, speculation about a comeback surfaced after his wife, Moon Jeong-won, resumed activity on social media.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 11:03:16 -
Pentagon prepares for weeks of ground operations inside Iran, reports say SEOUL, March 29 (AJP) - The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations inside Iran that could thrust the month-old war into a perilous new phase, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing U.S. officials familiar with the planning. The operations would fall well short of a full-scale invasion but could involve a mix of special operations forces and conventional infantry carrying out raids on Iranian soil, the officials said on condition of anonymity. Discussions within the administration over the past month have included plans to seize Kharg Island, Iran's vital oil-export hub, and to strike coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz where Iranian forces can target commercial and military vessels, according to the Post. One official said the operations would take "weeks, not months" to accomplish their objectives, though another told the newspaper the timeline could stretch to several months. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Defense Department's mission is to provide the commander-in-chief with the widest range of options, adding that the planning does not mean the president has made a decision. The United States has been massing ground-capable forces in the region as Operation Epic Fury enters its fifth week. About 5,000 Marines and 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division are being repositioned to the Middle East, and U.S. Central Command said about 2,200 Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the assault ship USS Tripoli completed their deployment to the theater on March 27. U.S. media have also reported that the Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 additional troops, including infantry and armored units, to the region — a buildup that would represent the largest American ground presence in the Middle East since the Iraq War. Whether President Donald Trump will authorize a ground campaign remains uncertain, but the scale of the preparations signals that military planners are assembling executable options rather than theoretical contingencies, defense analysts said. 2026-03-29 11:03:13 -
BTS Releases 'SWIM' Live Clip Filmed at Seonhyewon BTS has released a live clip for “SWIM.” The group posted the video at midnight on the 29th on its official YouTube channel. It was filmed at Seonhyewon, pairing a traditional setting with the modern choreography of “SWIM.” Instead of elaborate stage effects, the clip relies on lighting to highlight the group’s dance lines and the space itself. Lighting designed to evoke flowing water adds to the sense of immersion, and the members’ live vocals — down to audible breathing — are captured clearly. BTS released its fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” on the 20th. Using “Arirang,” a song widely associated with Korea, as the title, the group said the album expresses its roots and the emotions felt by the seven members in 2026. The album also reflects a hope that, like the folk song that has endured across generations, the new release will resonate widely and be remembered for a long time. “ARIRANG” has gained traction on major charts worldwide. On Hanteo Chart, it set a new BTS record with first-week sales of 4,169,464 copies. The title track, “SWIM,” held No. 1 for eight straight days (20-27) on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart. On the U.K. Official Charts, “ARIRANG” debuted at No. 1 on the Official Albums Top 100 (March 27-April 3), and “SWIM” reached No. 2 on the Official Singles Top 100, setting another group record. BTS is continuing promotions with appearances on YouTube channels including “Insaeng 84” (Jin), “Hot Issue Ji” (Jimin), “Finding Kani” (j-hope), “Epic Kase” (RM, Suga) and “Ppadeoneoseu” (RM, V). At 5 p.m. on the 29th, an episode of “Fairy Table” featuring V will be released. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 10:48:22