Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Korean Industry, Banks Brace for Prolonged Middle East Turmoil After Strait of Hormuz Closure The U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran are raising the risk of prolonged turmoil in the Middle East, putting South Korean industry on alert. With the Strait of Hormuz now blocked, disruptions to supplies of crude oil and liquefied natural gas, as well as air and sea logistics, have become more likely. A prolonged conflict could also weigh on exporters that have been posting a string of trade surpluses. Major companies including Samsung, LG and Hanwha have activated emergency response systems and are tightening safety management for employees in the region. According to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations and foreign media reports, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global seaborne oil shipments. Near the strait, at least four vessels, including the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight, were attacked, and one crew member was killed. The government said it has not identified any damage so far to South Korean oil tankers or LNG carriers. South Korea imports 70.7% of its crude oil and 20.4% of its LNG from the Middle East, and more than 95% of those shipments pass through the strait. The Korea International Trade Association estimates that using alternative routes could raise ocean freight rates by as much as 50% to 80% and extend transit times by three to five days. It also said insurance premiums for exporters could rise by up to sevenfold, adding to inflationary pressure. If instability persists, exports of defense products, automobiles and semiconductors could weaken, and multiple Middle East projects pursued by Samsung, Hyundai Motor and Hanwha could be suspended. Hanwha’s construction unit said it is closely monitoring the situation, along with the South Korean Embassy in Iraq and Iraqi military and police, in connection with its Bismayah new city project in Iraq. A surge in global oil prices could also raise costs for petrochemicals, airlines and shipping, potentially hurting first-quarter results. An industry official said the Middle East is a key market for defense and construction orders, and warned that if the region becomes a powder keg, ongoing production and consumption, investment and research and development could face setbacks. The official said companies are watching closely for an export slowdown and the possibility of weaker global consumption if the war drags on. The financial sector, which supports companies, has also moved into emergency mode. All seven branches operated by the four major banks — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana and Woori — in the Middle East are within the impact zone of the Israel-Iran war. Financial holding groups said there has been no direct damage so far, but warned that additional losses could be unavoidable if the conflict becomes prolonged, as in the Russia-Ukraine war. KB Financial Group, led by Chairman Yang Jong-hee, is checking exchange rates, interest rates and oil prices in real time. Shinhan Financial Group convened its group crisis management council to review its response system amid rising volatility in financial indicators. Hana Bank set up a rapid response team for the Iran situation. Woori Financial Group ordered an urgent review across affiliates, including stronger monitoring of financial markets and steps to ensure the safety of employees working overseas. If a prolonged war weakens the broader Middle East economy, cash flow at South Korean companies operating there could also deteriorate. Banks are also concerned that if exporters face disruptions, delinquency rates could rise. The average delinquency rate on small and midsize business loans at the four major banks in the fourth quarter of last year was 0.45%, already the highest level in nine years. The four banks said they will provide 42 trillion won in management-stabilization funding, interest-rate reductions and deferred installment repayments for companies struggling due to Middle East risks. 2026-03-02 16:21:22 -
South Korea, Singapore agree to upgrade free trade deal SEOUL, March 2 (AJP) - The leaders of South Korea and Singapore agreed on Monday to begin negotiations to upgrade their free trade agreement, as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. The agreement was reached as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who arrived in Singapore the previous day, sat down for talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for the first time in several months since they last met in Seoul in November. In a joint press statement after the summit, the two leaders said both sides discussed upgrading their decades‑long bilateral FTA, which has been in effect since 2006, to "fully reflect evolving trade and economic security environments." The statement highlighted that the two countries had demonstrated resilience by turning limited resources and geopolitical challenges into a foundation for growth, becoming "model middle powers." The two leaders also affirmed that the two countries can serve as "reliable partners" as they navigate "another challenge" in what they described as an era of uncertainty in the early 21st century. They also signed a series of memorandums of understanding to enhance cooperation in the science and technology sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI)-related technologies, intellectual property measures, joint use of environmental satellites, and other areas. Lee said South Korea could also learn from Singapore's housing policies and the integrity of its civil service and also expressed interest in expanding cooperation in future-oriented advanced fields. He also said he would work closely with Singapore to implement the vision of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), established in October 2024 as a regional development initiative, as Singapore prepares to assume the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year. Lee also recalled that Singapore played a key part eight years ago by hosting the historic summit between the U.S. and North Korea in 2018, calling on Singapore to continue supporting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula through a constructive role. Later in the day, Lee is scheduled to attend a joint business forum with entrepreneurs and business leaders from both countries in AI-related sectors, before heading to his next itinerary in the Philippines on Wednesday. 2026-03-02 16:13:54 -
South Korean Refiners, Shippers and Petrochemical Firms Brace for Hormuz Risk After U.S. Strikes on Iran The possibility that the Strait of Hormuz could be blocked after U.S. airstrikes on Iran has put South Korea’s refining, shipping and petrochemical industries on alert as they monitor developments. Industry officials said Monday that rising geopolitical risks around the Strait of Hormuz — a key global energy corridor — and the Red Sea, a major logistics route, are adding uncertainty across the economy. The Strait of Hormuz carries about 20% of globally traded oil, 70% of South Korea’s imported crude and 20% of its imported liquefied natural gas. The route is used mainly by oil tankers rather than container ships, but heightened tensions could also destabilize nearby Red Sea lanes, likely pushing up overall ocean freight rates. Extra costs incurred as tankers transit the strait despite risks or wait offshore are expected to add upward pressure on oil prices. Refiners have not set up a separate task force, but have begun internal risk checks and are preparing responses. A sharp rise in crude prices can bring short-term inventory valuation gains, but if import costs climb quickly, refining margins are likely to narrow. A refining industry official said the strait has not reached a stage where a blockade is taking shape, and companies are closely watching Middle East developments, longer-term oil price trends and potential effects on crude imports. The government and refiners say they have about seven months of strategic stockpiles, limiting near-term supply concerns. If the situation drags on, however, disruptions to crude procurement could combine with higher insurance premiums and freight costs to raise the burden. Global analysis firms have also issued pessimistic forecasts that oil could reach $100 a barrel if Iran actually blocks the strait. Shipping companies are watching whether the downturn in the sector could pause if detours become necessary. They expect the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index, which has been falling, could rebound, with ocean freight rates rising as much as 50% to 80% and offsetting weak conditions. In the tanker market, some forecasts say daily rates for very large crude carriers on Middle East-Asia routes could top $200,000 as the situation overlaps with rising global LNG demand. Still, the Iran strikes are seen as effectively ending hopes that HMM would return to the Suez route in the second half of this year. Over the longer term, higher fuel and insurance costs could also limit profit gains. Petrochemical companies, already trying to survive by consolidating naphtha cracking capacity, face added strain. Higher crude prices lift naphtha prices and then feed into prices for basic petrochemicals such as ethylene. But ethylene prices have been stuck since last year due to oversupply. If feedstock costs surge while product prices remain flat, margins will shrink further, worsening profitability for petrochemical makers. 2026-03-02 16:04:11 -
Park Jeong-min on playing a North Korean security officer in 'Humint': 'I’m glad it didn’t feel awkward' Actor Park Jeong-min has transformed again. After swinging between cowardice and cruelty as “Jang Dori” in “Smugglers,” he returns in the new film “Humint” as Park Geon, a cold North Korean Ministry of State Security unit leader. “After reading the script, I thought the story could be overturned depending on Park Geon’s emotional state,” Park said. “I suddenly wondered, ‘Why did director Ryoo Seung-wan give me such a great role?’” “Humint” is set in Vladivostok, where secrets and truth sink into an icy sea, and people with different aims collide. It is Park’s second project with Ryoo after “Smugglers.” “Actually, it was during the ‘Smugglers’ stage greetings,” Park said. “He asked what I thought about action films, and I said I liked them. He said he was going to make a film called ‘Humint’ and asked if I was interested, and of course I said yes. That was basically it beforehand.” To build Park Geon’s rough-edged presence, Park started with physical changes, including training at a gym. But as he immersed himself, he said he grew anxious about the distance between himself and the character. “He told me it was a masculine role with a lot of action, so I needed to prepare, and I was building my body,” Park said. “The director said he wanted Park Geon to look cool, and I did, too. Usually once filming gets going, you get a little intoxicated — you start to fuse yourself with the character. “But with ‘Humint,’ I was scared. Until I saw the finished film, I worried the gap between Park Geon and Park Jeong-min was so big it would make me cringe. Thankfully, after watching it, it didn’t feel that familiar in a bad way. I was grateful it didn’t look awkward.” Park said his trust in Ryoo and the production company Oeyunaegang brought him back to another demanding set. “If director Ryoo calls, I’m ready to run anytime,” he said. “When I was in my 20s and was nobody, he gave me important roles and trusted me. It’s hard not to feel more drawn to someone like that. And I’ve never been disappointed by the results of projects I’ve done with Oeyunaegang.” Park Geon, he said, communicates less through words than through silence and controlled emotion. Park focused on the loneliness of a man who begins to waver between belief and personal feeling. “Park Geon feels like someone who has never had inner conflict and is starting to have it for the first time,” he said. “I thought about what it feels like when someone who has never once questioned his convictions begins to struggle between belief and personal emotion. In the end, he’s a character who makes choices and meets tragedy.” Park said he watched many reference films Ryoo shared on USB drives or DVDs, including “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and Hong Kong movies. “Watching them actually made me more confused,” he said. “Because I’m not Chow Yun-fat. Ha.” The intense action work sometimes pushed him to his limits, he said, especially during a fight scene in a cramped, harsh location. “It was an action scene where I fought a Russian boss two-on-one,” Park said. “The action itself wasn’t the hard part, but the environment that boxed us in was terrible. It wasn’t even my first time in that space. It was where I filmed a bar scene with senior actor Jo Woo-jin for the film ‘Harbin,’ but I still don’t know why I fell apart. “For about two hours, I couldn’t understand what people were saying and I was doing strange things. It was the moment I was most disappointed in myself recently. I just couldn’t pull myself together. A lot of people, including the director, were watching, and I struggled with an easy scene. I remember going back to the lodging alone without even greeting anyone.” He said colleagues noticed and helped him recover, and that Ryoo’s attention mattered. “If someone just recognizes, ‘He’s collapsed,’ it can become the trigger to stand back up,” Park said. “If it turns into a lonely fight by yourself, you keep falling. This time, director Ryoo sensed, ‘He’s not like himself,’ and quickly grabbed me and pulled me up. “You don’t always have someone like that beside you. Filming isn’t always smooth. There are always rough patches. Sometimes you get through them alone, sometimes colleagues or the director help, but it feels like it only works if someone notices what state you’re in.” Park said Park Geon’s relationship with Chae Seon-hwa was built less on explicit dialogue than on shared backstory the actors kept off-camera. “There were actions in the film that we gave a backstory to, just between us,” he said. “For example, resting her head on his lap or stroking her hair — those are things they did when they were in love in the past, and also things shown at the last moment. The audience doesn’t have to catch it, but sharing that backstory helps the acting. “It’s the same when Park Geon listens to Chae Seon-hwa’s recorded voice on a phone. The way Park Geon speaks in that recording is different from his voice in Vladivostok. In the pure time when he loved her, he probably wasn’t as violent as he is now. As he changed, the person he loved left. After a breakup, you miss them, but the time you shared can also hurt. “I thought those memories would have rushed back to him along with Chae Seon-hwa. They didn’t break up because they hated each other, so he would have wanted to hold on to something again, but he fails, and those choices pile up into the events of the story.” Park said he avoided physical affection without a clear reason, choosing instead to convey feeling through gaze and restraint. “Skinship without a reason would have made Park Geon’s situation harder,” he said. “It wouldn’t have felt like him. I did think about it — when they met in the back alley behind ‘Arirang,’ I wondered if he should at least hold her hand once. But actions without purpose feel awkward. “There’s a completely different mood between thinking, ‘I really want to hold her hand,’ and thinking, ‘Would it look more heartbreaking if I hold her hand?’ In rehearsal, I tried to move closer, it got awkward, and I gave up. I decided Park Geon should just stand there to feel more like Park Geon.” For Park, “Humint” combined the appeal of a classic spy film with emotionally driven action. He said it was his first time playing a character propelled by longing for someone. “Director Ryoo said he wanted to make a more classic-style spy action film, and I think it was realized well,” Park said. “The cinematography and lighting directors worked very hard, too. From early monitoring, I told him I’d never seen this kind of film among his movies. “I think it was an interesting attempt because emotional action is woven into it. Personally, I think it’s the first time I’ve played a character whose goal is the woman he loves. I don’t know about being satisfied, but I hope people will watch it kindly. It doesn’t look extremely strange to me, so I’m telling myself, ‘That’s enough.’ Ha.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-02 15:57:24 -
Kim Do-young’s tying homer lifts South Korea to 3-3 WBC tune-up draw vs Hanshin South Korea’s national baseball team, preparing for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, played Japan’s Hanshin Tigers to a 3-3 tie in an exhibition game. The team managed by Ryu Ji-hyun drew with Hanshin on March 2 at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, Japan, in an official WBC tune-up. Ryu’s squad entered its first official exhibition after going 4-1 in five games in Okinawa against KBO clubs including the Samsung Lions, Hanwha Eagles and KIA Tigers. Starter Kwak Bin (Doosan Bears) struggled, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk with one strikeout over two innings. He ran into trouble in the second inning. Six relievers followed and combined for scoreless work. Noh Kyung-eun (SSG Landers), Son Ju-young (LG Twins) and Ko Young-pyo (KT Wiz) each threw a scoreless inning from the second through the fifth. Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles) worked two innings in the sixth and seventh, giving up one hit and no runs. Park Young-hyun (KT) and Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan) each pitched a scoreless inning in the eighth and ninth. At the plate, leadoff hitter Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers) provided the key blow, hitting a game-tying solo homer in the fifth. He went 2 for 3 with one RBI and one run scored. South Korea will play the Orix Buffaloes at noon March 3 at the same venue in its final warmup, then travel to Tokyo. The team opens WBC group play on March 5 against the Czech Republic at the Tokyo Dome.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-02 15:48:00 -
Boston Dynamics IPO emerges as pivotal card in Hyundai Motor governance overhaul SEOUL, March 02 (AJP) -The long-running governance overhaul of South Korea's top automobile conglomerate Hyundai Motor Group could finally gain traction as a potential initial public offering of its robotics unit Boston Dynamics moves closer to reality. The automaker officially maintains that “no plans have been set,” but industry observers say preparations for a possible Nasdaq listing are increasingly visible behind the scenes. More importantly, the IPO is widely seen not merely as a capital market event, but as a strategic lever that could unlock Executive Chair Euisun Chung’s long-delayed restructuring agenda. Boston Dynamics has undergone a dramatic revaluation since Hyundai Motor Group acquired an 80 percent stake from SoftBank in 2021, when the company was valued at roughly $1.1 billion. After years of heavy investment and mounting losses, sentiment shifted following the unveiling of the new electric humanoid Atlas platform and expanded AI collaborations during the CES show in Las Vegas in January. Analysts now estimate the company’s enterprise value in a far higher range — from 30 trillion won to over 100 trillion won — depending on commercialization assumptions. KB Securities projects that the global humanoid robot market could reach 9.6 million units annually by 2035, with Boston Dynamics capturing about 15 percent market share. On that basis, it estimates a potential valuation of 128 trillion won. Hanwha Investment & Securities has suggested an even higher figure of roughly 146 trillion won under aggressive growth scenarios. More conservative analysts place the valuation closer to 30 trillion to 40 trillion won, citing the company’s financial track record. From 2022 through the third quarter of 2025, Boston Dynamics recorded cumulative revenue of 390.7 billion won but accumulated losses of 1.38 trillion won. Hyundai Motor Group has injected 3.28 trillion won in capital to prevent impairment. Yet even at the lower end of the valuation spectrum, the IPO math materially alters Hyundai’s governance calculus. Chung holds a 21.9 percent stake in Boston Dynamics. If the company lists at 40 trillion won, his stake would be worth more than 8 trillion won. At higher valuation assumptions, liquidity from partial share sales could reach tens of trillions of won. Hyundai Motor Group remains the only top-10 Korean conglomerate that still maintains a circular shareholding structure. The core loops — Hyundai Mobis → Hyundai Motor → Kia → Hyundai Mobis, along with two additional chains involving Hyundai Steel and Hyundai Glovis — have long been criticized for opacity and systemic risk. At the apex sits Hyundai Mobis, which owns 22.4 percent of Hyundai Motor. However, Chung’s direct stake in Mobis stands at just 0.33 percent. The most straightforward restructuring scenario would involve Chung significantly increasing his stake in Hyundai Mobis, consolidating control under a simplified structure of “Chung family → Hyundai Mobis → Hyundai Motor → Kia.” Such a move requires substantial capital. If Chung inherited the 7.38 percent Hyundai Mobis stake held by Honorary Chairman Mong-koo Chung, inheritance taxes — levied at up to 60 percent — are estimated at 7 trillion to 8 trillion won. Additional funds would be needed to purchase Mobis shares from affiliates such as Hyundai Steel and Kia, depending on the restructuring blueprint. An IPO windfall from Boston Dynamics would provide the liquidity necessary to execute such transactions without excessive leverage. “A Boston Dynamics listing would be the best card Hyundai can play,” an industry official said. “It would cement the company’s valuation in the public markets while simultaneously easing capital pressure tied to governance reform.” Automotive industry sources expect Hyundai Motor Group to file preliminary listing documents in the first half of this year, select underwriters, and potentially proceed with a Nasdaq debut in early next year. The listing clause in the original acquisition agreement envisioned an IPO within four years. However, expanded R&D spending and accumulated losses delayed the plan as Hyundai sought a more favorable valuation environment. Commercial scaling remains a key variable. Hyundai aims to establish an annual production capacity of 30,000 robots in the United States by 2028, meaning full-scale revenue ramp-up is unlikely before then. Until commercialization stabilizes, an IPO remains one of the most efficient tools for securing external capital. Hyundai executives remain reserved. “Nothing has been confirmed yet,” said Lee Seung-jo, CFO and chief strategy officer of Hyundai Motor, during an earnings call in January. Vice Chairman Jae-hoon Chang likewise said discussions would be addressed “at a more concrete stage.” Beyond governance mechanics, the IPO underscores Hyundai’s broader transformation. Robotics — alongside advanced air mobility and autonomous driving — has been designated as a core future growth engine. Boston Dynamics has commercialized Spot and Stretch, and is accelerating humanoid development through partnerships with Nvidia and Toyota Research Institute. The electric Atlas platform is expected to begin factory-level proof-of-technology testing within Hyundai Motor Group facilities as early as next year. Global market forecasts reinforce the long-term bet. MarketsandMarkets projects the industrial robotics market to reach $35 billion by 2030, while the humanoid segment is expected to expand to $18 billion from just $2 billion in 2024. 2026-03-02 14:56:26 -
Shinhan Bank Launches Supply Chain Payments Platform to Digitize B2B Transactions Shinhan Bank said Monday it has launched a “supply chain payments and settlement platform” to improve transparency in transactions between small and midsize companies. The platform is designed to replace the common practice of handwritten ledgers in business-to-business deals with a digital process, reducing risks tied to delayed payments. Shinhan Bank said it developed the service based on its experience in banking-as-a-service, or BaaS. A key feature is that the bank directly manages the payments and settlement process to strengthen stability and trust in commercial transactions. The platform was also designed to connect with large-company supply chains. It aims to ease costs for transaction partners while supporting liquidity. Buying companies can use purchases on credit to cut financing costs. Selling companies can reduce uncertainty over collecting payments and quickly secure liquidity by discounting accounts receivable. Shinhan Bank said the platform also lays the groundwork for tailored financial services for each company based on actual transaction data. For companies adopting the platform this year, the bank plans to waive payment guarantee fees for buying companies for one year to reduce initial costs. A Shinhan Bank official said the bank will continue upgrading functions within the platform “to faithfully carry out the essential role of finance.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-02 14:54:00 -
Jang Hang-jun’s ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ Tops 9 Million Tickets, Nears 10 Million The film ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ has drawn 9 million moviegoers. Showbox said Monday that the film surpassed 9 million in cumulative admissions on its 27th day in theaters. That pace is faster than the historical drama ‘The King and the Clown,’ the first period film to reach 10 million admissions (50 days), and ‘Masquerade’ (31 days). According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing network, the film drew 817,205 viewers on March 1, its biggest single-day total since release. It topped its previous high set on Lunar New Year’s Day on the 17th, when it drew 661,442. Set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo, the film follows a village chief who volunteers to live in exile to revive his community and a young deposed king sent into exile. It was directed by Jang Hang-jun and stars Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Ji-tae and Jeon Mi-do.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-02 14:21:15 -
Asian markets reel from Iran strikes as Seoul bourse remains closed for holiday SEOUL, March 2 (AJP) - South Korea's stock market remained closed on Monday in observance of a makeup holiday for March 1 Independence Movement Day, leaving investors to monitor developments in regional markets following the U.S.-led military strikes against Iran over the weekend. Most Asian markets opened lower amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following a joint air strike by the U.S. and Israel that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to end his 36‑year iron rule, prompting fears of further disruption to air travel and energy supply chains. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index opened 1.2 percent lower at 23,610 points, and Japan's Nikkei 225 plunged over 2 percent and its broader Topix slipped 1.24 percent in early trading. China's CSI 300 edged down 0.25 percent, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.48 percent. Airline stocks led losses across the region, with Singapore Airlines falling more than 6 percent, Japan's ANA and JAL each dropping over 4 percent, and Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific slipping 3.6 percent. Australia's Qantas and Taiwan's Eva Air also shed more than 4 percent as investors fretted over rising fuel costs and operational uncertainties. Energy-related shares across Asia gained buoyed by rising oil prices, with Japan's INPEX, Australia's Woodside Energy, and China's Hong Kong-listed National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) all climbing more than 5 percent. Defense stocks also saw modest gains, with Japan's defense giants Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and IHI each rising more than 1 percent, while Singapore's ST Engineering climbed 2 percent. Oil futures surged amid the escalation, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil last trading at US$69.68 per barrel and Brent crude oil at $76.13. Gold futures also jumped 2.3 percent as investors flocked to safe-haven assets. The South Korean stock market is set to resume trading on Tuesday after a long weekend, with analysts expecting investors to closely monitor airline, defense and energy-related stocks amid escalating Middle East tensions that could heighten volatility and weigh on import-dependent industries. 2026-03-02 14:14:42 -
World AI Film Festival to Debut in Seoul as Asia’s First WAIFF Event The World AI Film Festival (WAIFF), which highlights the convergence of artificial intelligence and film, will open in Seoul this month for its first event in Asia. Aju Media Group is participating as a media partner for WAIFF Seoul 2026, which is part of a global expansion linked to the festival’s main event in France. An opening ceremony and awards presentation will be held March 6 at Lotte Concert Hall, where winners in nine categories will be announced. The program will also include a special performance by singer Insooni and the Seocho Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Bae Jong-hoon, organizers said. On March 7, Lotte Cinema World Tower will host the Creative Intelligence Forum with global speakers. The forum will discuss production innovation using generative AI and future strategies for K-content, with additional events including special screenings of award-winning works and talks with directors (GV). The festival said Son Seung-hyun, CEO of Westworld, will serve as jury chair, with Nelson Shin, Nam Na-young and Jang Hang-jun among the jurors. Marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between France and South Korea, the festival said actor Gong Li will serve as honorary chair. ■ WAIFF Seoul 2026 at a glance ● Dates: March 6, 2026 (Fri) to March 7, 2026 (Sat) ● Venues: Lotte Concert Hall (March 6), Lotte Cinema World Tower (March 7) ● Host/Organizer: WAIFF Organizing Committee; KBS N (host broadcaster) ● Media partner: Aju Media Group ● Contact: WAIFF Seoul 2026 secretariat 2026-03-02 14:12:16