Journalist
Lee Hugh
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MINI Korea Launches Limited-Run Paul Smith Edition Electric Cooper SE BMW MINI is officially launching a limited-edition electric vehicle in South Korea that combines MINI styling with design elements from British fashion brand Paul Smith. The project is part of MINI’s new “Customization 2.0” strategy, aimed at reflecting customers’ tastes and lifestyles and strengthening the brand’s fan culture. Jeong Su-won, head of BMW MINI Korea, said at a Feb. 26 media event in Seoul’s Yongsan district that MINI entered the Korean market in 2005 with sales of 761 vehicles and has since sold a cumulative 134,103 units through last year — a 176-fold increase. “This year, through Customization 2.0, we will launch new models that actively reflect customers’ lifestyles across six areas — music, art, sports, travel, fashion and tech,” Jeong said. The first model under that push is the all-electric MINI Cooper SE Paul Smith Edition unveiled at the event. The collaboration incorporates Paul Smith’s design philosophy throughout the exterior and interior. The roof, grille, side mirror caps and wheels feature “Nottingham Green,” a signature Paul Smith color, while Paul Smith lettering is engraved on items including the door handles, wheel caps and front and rear design elements. Inside, the seats, dashboard and floor mats use Paul Smith’s 46-stripe signature pattern. When the door opens, a “Hello” projection appears on the ground. The model is offered in three colors: Inspired White, Statement Gray and Midnight Black. The Paul Smith Edition is limited to 100 units in South Korea and has sold out. Jeong said the full allotment was reserved within about a month of preorders opening last month, and the company has placed an order for additional units. “On the back of that support, we decided to add an internal-combustion Paul Smith Edition model around the second half of the year,” he said. He also said MINI plans to introduce 11 models this year that more closely align the brand with owners’ lifestyles. The vehicle uses an electric motor rated at 218 horsepower and 33.7 kg·m of maximum torque, reaching 100 kph from a standstill in 6.7 seconds. It carries a 54.2 kWh high-voltage battery and is rated at 5.3 km/kWh in efficiency. On a single charge, it is certified for 300 kilometers under Korean standards and up to 402 kilometers under the WLTP standard. With fast charging, the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. The price in South Korea is 59.7 million won. With the national EV subsidy (3.96 million won) and local subsidies (9.14 million won, based on Haenam County in South Jeolla Province), the purchase price can fall into the 40 million won range. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 13:36:44 -
Jisoo and Seo In-guk team up for Netflix rom-com series 'Monthly Boyfriend' “A rom-com goddess title? Yes, I want it.” Actor Jisoo is taking on her first romantic comedy, joining actor Seo In-guk in Netflix’s new series “Monthly Boyfriend,” built around the idea of a “dating subscription service.” A production presentation for the Netflix original series “Monthly Boyfriend” (written by Namgung Do-young, directed by Kim Jung-sik) was held on the morning of Feb. 26 at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Director Kim and lead actors Jisoo and Seo attended and discussed the project. “Monthly Boyfriend” is a romantic comedy about Seo Mi-rae (Jisoo), a webtoon producer worn down by real life, who “subscribes” to romance and tries dating through a virtual relationship simulation. Kim, known for his energetic style on “Work Later, Drink Now” and “Strong Girl Nam-soon,” directs the series. Kim Jung-sik said the series began with the question, “What if you could subscribe to dating?” He said he wanted to tell a story of a protagonist hurt in real life who finds healing by experiencing dates in a virtual world. “We put in everything you like,” he said, adding that he hopes viewers will feel as if they are trying a device that “is being developed somewhere.” For Jisoo, the series is her first romantic comedy and her first contemporary drama. She plays Mi-rae, a webtoon producer who hopes for a second chance at romance through virtual reality. Jisoo said virtual reality did not feel like a distant future but something relatable. She said she chose the project because the character is close to her in age, making Mi-rae’s struggles and choices feel familiar. Calling herself a homebody, Jisoo said she envied the idea of a device that could let someone “travel to different worlds” from home. She said it felt less like fantasy and more like something plausible. She described Mi-rae as someone who, after being hurt in love, throws herself into work and focuses on getting through daily life, but grows as she learns through the virtual world. Seo plays Park Kyung-nam, Mi-rae’s future co-worker, a capable employee with an appeal that is hard to pin down. Seo In-guk said he was drawn to the virtual-reality setting and was curious about the computer graphics and themes that could exist only in that world. He described Kyung-nam as someone who may look cold “like a robot” but is considerate and delicate inside, adding that viewers will want to see how Kyung-nam, who struggles to express emotions, changes after meeting Mi-rae. The two actors also highlighted their on-set chemistry. Both said the set was upbeat, with laughter from start to finish. Seo said Jisoo was “much funnier and more humorous” than he expected. He said the Mi-rae Jisoo played was more lovable than the character he first met on the page, adding that it made him want to hug her. Jisoo said she tried to follow Seo’s lead because of his experience in romance projects. Asked whether she wanted the “rom-com goddess” label, she answered shyly, “I want it.” Addressing concerns that have followed her acting, Jisoo said she discussed the role extensively with the director to show a better side of herself. She said she looked for a way to make the character fit her naturally, and that she hopes to hear viewers say she “found a role that suits her.” Kim said Jisoo worked hard, adding that the effort showed him “hard work can beat talent,” and that viewers will see her growth. He also said Jisoo wears 250 outfits in the series, signaling a range of looks. The 10-episode series, featuring special appearances by Seo Kang-jun, Lee Soo-hyuk and Lee Jae-wook, will be released worldwide on Netflix on March 6.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 13:09:00 -
BTS’ Gwanghwamun comeback show sells out fast as global interest surges Ticket demand for BTS’ return to central Seoul has surged ahead of the group’s March 21 comeback live show in and around Gwanghwamun, with seats selling out quickly and online queues swelling. When offline viewing reservations opened at 8 p.m. on Feb. 23, traffic from around the world flooded the booking site, NOL Ticket, which briefly crashed. Kim, a 29-year-old office worker, said he logged in 30 minutes early but the screen froze at the opening time. “All I could see was a notice saying there were about 30,000 people waiting,” he said, adding he ultimately failed to secure a ticket. The waiting number later exceeded 100,000, and all seats sold out in about 40 minutes. Despite the show being free, posts offering scalped tickets for hundreds of thousands of won appeared on social media soon after reservations opened. Organizers said the venue will be built around a main stage installed across from the Gwanghwamun Woldae platform, with about 15,000 seats in total. Standing and reserved sections will be mixed near the statue of Adm. Yi Sun-sin. Of the standing-area tickets closest to the stage, 2,000 will be allocated by lottery among those who preordered the new album. Large LED screens will be placed in limited-view areas, and some pedestrian movement will be restricted under safety guidelines. The event will also be carried online. Netflix will exclusively livestream the Gwanghwamun performance worldwide as its first live event in South Korea. A Netflix official said it would be “a true live moment” in which viewers around the world share the same experience at the same time, beyond language and cultural barriers. Ticketing also began Feb. 25 for “live viewing” screenings tied to concerts scheduled for April in Goyang and Tokyo, with organizers preparing to host fans at about 3,800 locations across 80 countries and regions. Travel indicators have also jumped. Hotels.com said that in the 48 hours after the tour plan was announced, overseas searches for trips to Seoul rose 155% from the previous week. Searches for Busan, which is set to host a June concert, surged 2,375%, driven by major Asian markets including Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Domestic searches also climbed sharply, up 190% for Seoul and 3,855% for Busan. The show is built around the concept of the new album, “Arirang,” with production designed to highlight Korean aesthetics around Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwanghwamun. Organizers said the opening will feature the members marching along the “King’s Road” from Geunjeongmun Gate to the Woldae platform. The stage will use the Woldae, restored after 100 years, as a backdrop. A new-song performance with an Arirang traditional music ensemble and dancers is planned, along with an evening media facade projected across the Gwanghwamun wall. BTS will release its fifth full-length album, “Arirang,” worldwide at 1 p.m. on March 20, the day before the concert. The 14 new tracks will be unveiled live for the first time at Gwanghwamun on March 21. A Netflix documentary, “BTS: The Return,” about the album’s production will be released on March 27. The group is then set to begin a large-scale world tour in April starting in Goyang, with 82 shows across 34 cities. 2026-02-26 12:03:27 -
Volkswagen Group Korea CEO Till Scheer Reappointed as Importers Association Chair for Third Term Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA) said it held its general meeting on Feb. 26 at the Westin Josun Hotel and appointed Till Scheer, CEO and president of Volkswagen Group Korea, as its 17th chair. Scheer, who has led the association since 2022 after joining Volkswagen Group Korea as group president in 2021, will serve a third consecutive term following his 15th and 16th terms. During his tenure, KAIDA said Scheer focused on cooperation with the South Korean government and related organizations at home and abroad as the market shifts toward eco-friendly vehicles and future mobility. The association also said it expanded regular policy seminars, strengthened its English translation work on increasingly complex regulations tied to technological advances, and bolstered its role as an information provider by building an industry database. KAIDA said that last year, marking the association’s 30th anniversary, new registrations of imported passenger cars reached 300,000 units. Scheer said he will strengthen external cooperation and communication and, together with the newly appointed board, work to promote the development and innovation of South Korea’s auto industry and expand diversity. 2026-02-26 11:48:07 -
KOSPI and Nikkei extend record rally on Nvidia guidance SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - KOSPI and Nikkei extend record rally on Nvidia guidance South Korean and Japanese shares stayed on their record-setting path Thursday, lifted by rosy guidance from Nvidia, while China-linked markets remained subdued ahead of the annual policy-setting congress next week. Japan’s Nikkei 225 opened higher and briefly surpassed 59,000 for the first time in morning trade, marking a fresh record, before trimming gains to 58,863.20 around 11 a.m. The KOSPI also marched north, gaining nearly 2 percent in early trade to push above 6,200, just a day after landing on the 6,000 territory. Shares of Samsung Electronics jumped 4.91 percent to 213,500 won, while SK hynix added 1.57 percent to 1,036,000 won, helping propel the broader market higher. Han Ji-young of Kiwoom Securities said strong data center results and higher guidance from Nvidia indicate AI demand remains solid, suggesting a neutral-to-positive spillover effect on Korean chip stocks. Nvidia said its fiscal fourth-quarter revenue (November–January) rose 73 percent year on year to $68.13 billion, beating market expectations of around $66.2 billion and marking a record quarterly high. Chinese stocks traded mixed ahead of the National People’s Congress and the annual “Two Sessions” in early March, as expectations for additional policy support kept sentiment in check. While selective shares advanced, the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.13 percent to 4,141.74 as of 10:00 a.m. local time. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index edged up 0.077 percent. Seoul sentiment was further buoyed by the Bank of Korea decision to keep the base rate steady at 2.50 percent and upgrade this year’s growth outlook to 2.0 percent, implying the economy is normalizing toward its potential growth rate. The dollar fell 3.60 won to 1,423.9 amid a broad retreat in the greenback. Individual investors were net buyers of 1.2616 trillion won, while foreign and institutional investors were net sellers of 1.2784 trillion won and 54.7 billion won, respectively. Autos and non-chip stocks mixed Non-chip large-cap stocks showed mixed moves. Among auto shares, Hyundai Motor was flat at 572,000 won, while Kia rose 0.82 percent to 197,700 won. SK Square gained 1.08 percent to 654,000 won, whereas Samsung Life Insurance fell 4.47 percent to 235,000 won. In biotech and battery plays, Samsung Biologics rose 0.12 percent to 1,730,000 won, while LG Energy Solution lost 0.47 percent to 424,000 won. In defense and shipbuilding, Hanwha Aerospace fell 2.15 percent to 1,286,000 won. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries declined 1.52 percent and Hanwha Ocean slipped 1.34 percent. Entertainment shares extended losses amid heavy upfront investment and restructuring costs, with HYBE down 1.26 percent, JYP Entertainment losing 0.29 percent and YG Entertainment trading 2.21 percent lower. 2026-02-26 11:32:21 -
BMW Motorrad to Sell 15-Unit Limited R 12 S Special Edition in South Korea BMW Motorrad said it will sell just 15 units of the BMW R 12 S Special Edition in South Korea through the BMW Motorrad Shop online store starting at 2 p.m. on the 26th. The R 12 S was previously released in limited numbers in April last year to mark the 30th anniversary of BMW Group Korea. The entire allotment sold out within a week. BMW Motorrad decided to bring it back in a 15-unit run after continued purchase inquiries. The model reinterprets the heritage of the legendary 1973 BMW R 90 S sport motorcycle. The R 90 S was BMW’s first mass-produced motorcycle to exceed 200 kph (124 mph). BMW said the R 12 S revives signature R 90 S design cues, including a cockpit fairing mounted to the handlebar, a dark-tinted windscreen and a short seat highlighted by orange stitching. It also debuts “Lava Orange Metallic,” a modern take on the R 90 S signature Daytona Orange. Brushed aluminum on the fuel tank and seat hump, a red double coach line and a dedicated R 12 S badge on the side cover further emphasize the heritage styling. Power comes from an air/oil-cooled 1,170cc two-cylinder boxer engine rated at 109 horsepower and 11.7 kg·m (115 Nm) of torque. BMW said it reaches 100 kph (62 mph) from a standstill in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 200 kph (124 mph). The bike uses a lightweight trellis frame, with a 45mm inverted telescopic fork up front and a Paralever swingarm with spring strut in the rear. Front and rear suspension allow preload and damping adjustment. It also comes with BMW Motorrad ABS Pro for stable braking, the company said. Standard features include hill start control, Shift Assistant Pro, heated grips, cruise control and “Headlight Pro” with adaptive cornering. Other equipment includes dual round analog gauges, ConnectedRide Control, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPC) and an anti-theft alarm (DWA). The R 12 S is priced at 33.10 million won in South Korea, including value-added tax.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 11:15:51 -
K Bank Nominates CEO Choi Woo-hyung for Second Term as Bank President K Bank has nominated its current president, Choi Woo-hyung, as the sole candidate for its next chief executive officer, the bank said Thursday in a regulatory filing. The executive candidate recommendation committee approved Choi unanimously as the candidate for representative director, with final selection to be decided at the bank’s regular shareholders meeting scheduled for March 31. It would be the first time since K Bank’s launch that a president is reappointed for another term. The committee cited Choi’s performance since taking office. During his tenure, the bank expanded its customer base to about 16 million and posted net profit in the 100 billion won range for two consecutive years, it said. The bank also said it diversified its asset portfolio by strategically expanding loans to sole proprietors even as household lending faced tighter regulation. K Bank said Choi has also moved early in blockchain-related businesses, including securing trademarks tied to stablecoins and pursuing domestic and overseas partnerships and remittance services. The committee said those efforts helped support K Bank’s push for a stock market listing and laid groundwork to strengthen its capital base. Born in 1966, Choi graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in economics. He previously worked at Hana Bank, Samsung SDS and IBM Korea, and later led digital and IT operations at BNK Financial Group. He has served as K Bank president since January 2024. 2026-02-26 11:09:00 -
South Korea pledges $100,000 in aid to cyclone-hit Madagascar SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - South Korea will provide US$100,000 in humanitarian aid to Madagascar to help the country recover from damage caused by a recent tropical storm, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday. Madagascar, an island country off the southeastern coast of Africa, was recently struck by a tropical cyclone that left dozens dead and caused widespread damage including collapsed buildings, disrupted communications, and downed power lines. The ministry hopes the assistance will support recovery efforts in affected areas and help residents return to daily life as soon as possible. 2026-02-26 11:06:26 -
South Korea issues copyright fair-use guide for generative AI training, including web crawling Generative artificial intelligence developers and copyright holders in South Korea now have a new government guide on when copyrighted works may be used fairly to train AI models. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Copyright Commission said Thursday they will publish a guide titled “Copyright Law Fair Use Guide for Generative AI Training on Works” (the “fair use guide”). It will be available from 11 a.m. on the commission’s website. The guide explains four factors considered when judging fair use in the context of generative AI training, including the purpose and character of the use and the type and use of the work. It also says AI training is not automatically excluded from fair use even when done for commercial purposes or through web crawling — the automated collection, sorting and storage of website content — and that decisions require an overall assessment of the factors. To help readers understand the concept, the guide presents hypothetical examples of situations where fair use could be recognized and where it would be difficult to recognize. The ministry and the commission stressed the examples are not authoritative interpretations, and that courts will determine fair use based on specific facts. Even similar situations could lead to different rulings. The ministry and the commission said they began preparing the guide after forming a special subcommittee under an AI-copyright system improvement consultative body in September last year. They conducted a survey of AI developers and rights holders from Oct. 13 to Nov. 2, held interagency consultations for about three months starting in November, and released a draft at a public briefing on Dec. 4. They said they reviewed and reflected feedback and expert discussions gathered during the comment process. The government said it will strengthen policy support so rights holders and the AI industry can better anticipate and respond to copyright issues that may arise as generative AI spreads and training data use expands. At a meeting held Thursday morning at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon, and National AI Strategy Committee Vice Chair Lim Moon-young agreed to work together on institutional improvements and support programs aimed at coexistence between the AI and cultural industries. The culture ministry said it plans to build a foundation for providing and distributing rights information so users can verify accurate copyright rights-management information and, when needed, sign licensing agreements. The goal is to reduce transaction costs involved in identifying rights holders for training data. The science ministry said it will link a copyright rights-information system with private data marketplaces through an integrated AI training data supply system. It also plans to promote transactions in works used as training data, including applying research and development tax credits to the cost of purchasing AI training data. The culture ministry also said it will strengthen the basis for expanding the use of public works as AI training data. It added new categories “Type 0” and “AI Type” to the Public Nuri free-use license marking standards and said it will work with relevant ministries to broaden application of the new categories to public works managed by each ministry and agency. Choi said the guide will be updated to reflect new court decisions and technological developments. “We will continue to do our best so that protecting creators’ rights and the lawful use of works by AI models can remain in balance,” he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 11:03:22 -
Audi Korea Names KCC Auto Group as New Authorized Dealer Audi Korea said on Wednesday it has finalized the selection of KCC Auto Group as a new authorized dealer. Starting March 1, KCC Auto Group will operate showrooms in Songpa, Hanam and West Daegu, along with an Audi Approved Plus (AAP) certified used-car showroom in Gimpo. It will also run service centers in Gangdong, Songpa and West Daegu. Audi Korea said the showrooms and service centers will continue operating as they have, allowing customers to consult on purchases and receive after-sales service without any separate procedural changes or service interruptions. KCC Auto Group has operated showrooms and service centers in South Korea’s imported-car market and plans to run the sites in line with Audi’s brand standards. “Audi Korea will strengthen customer-focused service through cooperation with our nationwide dealer network and provide a stable, consistent brand experience,” the company said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 10:54:20