BTS stages comeback at Gwanghwamun on March 21 SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) -The date is set for an open invite for BTS's long-awaited full-group comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21 after Seoul on Thursday granted conditional approval for the large-scale outdoor concert and began preparations for an influx of tens of thousands of fans into the city center. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it approved conditional use of Gwanghwamun Square for the “BTS 2026 Comeback Show @ Seoul,” proposed by HYBE and Big Hit Music, during the first Gwanghwamun Square advisory committee meeting of the year. Final authorization will be issued once the event passes a safety management review and organizers submit supplementary measures to prevent overlapping exit times for performers and audiences and to minimize traffic disruption, the city said. Seoul officials expect heavy crowding not only at Gwanghwamun Square but across surrounding districts on the day of the concert. The city said it will closely examine safety and crowd-control plans and coordinate with police, Jongno District and other agencies to ensure public safety. The city will also conduct advance on-site inspections to prevent unfair practices, including excessive accommodation pricing, and to address traffic congestion and pedestrian safety risks. Inspections will focus on areas surrounding Gwanghwamun Square, covering 280 lodging facilities in Jongno District and 411 in Jung District. Organizers requested approval for a performance accommodating about 18,000 people at Gwanghwamun Square, with a separate event for up to 30,000 people at Seoul Plaza. City officials cautioned that total turnout could approach 100,000 when accounting for fans gathering in nearby streets and public spaces. The concert marks BTS’s first public appearance as a complete seven-member group in three years and nine months. It follows the release of the group’s fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” scheduled for March 20. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok underscored the symbolism of the venue, saying during a town hall meeting at HYBE headquarters that returning to Gwanghwamun — “a space once safeguarded by fans’ light sticks” — carries special meaning. Seoul said it will roll out special experience programs for overseas visitors, including BTS fans known as ARMY, and create a festive atmosphere across major districts by combining K-pop and broader Hallyu content. “Our top priority is safety,” said Kim Chang-gyu, head of Seoul’s Balanced Development Headquarters. “We also aim to turn this into an opportunity to showcase Seoul’s global appeal and establish Gwanghwamun Square as a landmark for K-pop culture.” 2026-01-23 07:18:35

BTS countdown begins as album drop, Gwanghwamun street show take shape SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) — The countdown has begun. Global K-pop phenomenon BTS is preparing a long-awaited return — not on a closed stadium stage, but potentially on the streets of central Seoul — as the group plans to unveil new music for the first time in nearly four years ahead of its upcoming ARIRANG world tour. The focal point of the comeback calendar is March 20, when BTS is set to release a new album and make its first public appearance as a full seven-member group since 2022. The performance is planned for the Gwanghwamun area, a dense civic and cultural hub surrounded by government offices, royal palaces and major tourist sites. Authorities have granted conditional approval for the event, though the precise venue and timing remain under review due to safety considerations. The date falls on a Friday during business hours, complicating crowd-control planning in one of Seoul’s busiest districts. Even so, anticipation is already reshaping travel behavior. According to Hotels.com on Wednesday, inbound travel searches to South Korea surged within 48 hours of the world tour announcement on January 13. Compared with the previous week, searches for Seoul jumped 155 percent, while Busan spiked 2,375 percent. By country, demand for Seoul was led by Japan, where searches rose 400 percent, followed by Taiwan (260 percent), Hong Kong (170 percent) and the United States (95 percent). For Busan, Japan again topped the list, with searches soaring 10,545 percent, while Hong Kong rose 7,100 percent, Taiwan 1,275 percent and the United States 835 percent. The online surge is already translating into fully booked rooms. “We have seen a noticeable increase in online bookings for the period around the Gwanghwamun performance,” said Kim Jae-heon, a hotel manager in Seoul. The spillover effect is visible across other tour cities as well. According to the Goyang city government, 820 rooms at nearby accommodations — including Sono Calm Goyang — sold out shortly after the tour dates were announced. At the same time, prices are rising sharply. Listings on Agoda show that one hotel near a concert venue priced rooms at 76,000 won per night as of early June, but raised the rate to 587,000 won for the concert date — nearly an eightfold increase. The combination of search spikes, rapid sell-outs and abrupt price hikes underscores the scale of BTS’s return — not just as a cultural event, but as a nationwide economic ripple already visible in real-world data. Online, the sense of anticipation is equally intense. On social media platform X, international fans are amplifying the countdown with posts blending humor, encouragement and ticketing anxiety. One fan wrote that “there is no bad seat at a BTS concert,” sharing footage from upper-level seats while praising the synchronized glow of the “ARMY Bomb” light sticks. Others posted parody videos pretending to sneak into venues disguised as security staff, only to burst into dance once the music starts. Still, excitement comes with pressure. “Future me is happily vibing at a BTS concert right now,” one user wrote, “while present me is going bald from the stress of getting tickets.” Whether on the streets of Gwanghwamun or thousands of kilometers away, fans are now united by a single calendar — counting down to a return that is already moving markets before the first note is played. 2026-01-22 17:58:51

KOSPI hits historic 5,000-point milestone, following Trump's tariff relief SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI crossed the historic milestone of 5,000 points, just minutes after the day's trading began on Thursday. The milestone, which came for the first time since the country's stock market began trading some 70 years ago, was followed by gains on the Wall Street after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would not proceed with previously threatened tariffs on European countries, easing global trade uncertainty. The rally expanded beyond semiconductors, with gains spreading to other major sectors. The junior KOSDAQ also rose 1.38 percent, reaching 964.40 by around 11 a.m. Individuals bought a net 127.3 billion won ($86.8 million), joined by institutions with net purchases of 28.5 billion won, while foreign investors sold a net 202 billion won. Among large-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 3.81 percent to 153,200 won, SK hynix advanced 3.38 percent to 765,000 won, and LG Energy Solution gained 4.69 percent to 413,000 won. Samsung Life Insurance rose 1.6 percent to 177,500 won, while Samsung Biologics dropped 4.27 percent to 1,793,000 won. Auto-related stocks were mixed, Hyundai Motor advanced 1.91 percent to 559,500 won, continuing its upward momentum, while Kia down 1.69 percent to 169,200 won in the early trade. Defense and aerospace stocks declined, with Hanwha Aerospace down 0.99 percent at 1,302,000 won. Shipbuilding-related shares weakened, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries falling 2.54 percent to 615,000 won and Hanwha Ocean sliding 2.05 percent to 138,600 won. Boosted by the KOSPI's historic milestone, the won strengthened, trading at 1,467.30 won per dollar. Elsewhere in Asia, Japanese shares were higher, with the Nikkei 225 Index gaining 1.71 percent to 53,679.48. China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.39 percent to 4,132.97. Hong Kong shares also traded 0.25 percent higher at 26,651.26. 2026-01-22 11:41:12

KOSPI touches landmark 5,000 mark SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI in its 46-year history has touched the 5,000 mark Thursday from strong retail push. The four-digit milestone was reached just two months after the index broke above 4,000, reflecting accelerating momentum fueled by strong domestic participation. After pausing briefly following a 12-day uninterrupted rally, the KOSPI rebounded as easing geopolitical tensions — triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of Greenland-related threats — boosted global risk appetite after overnight gains on Wall Street. Retail investors bought more than 300 billion won worth of shares in early trading. Gains were led by heavyweight stocks including Hyundai Motor, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The KOSPI opened 1.57 percent higher from the previous session at 4,987.06 and quickly breached the 5,000 threshold in early dealings. As of 9:06 a.m., the index was up 2.06 percent at 5,011.09. The milestone comes roughly two and a half months after the KOSPI first closed above 4,000 in October last year. 2026-01-22 09:52:20

KOSPI closes higher as won strengthens amid mixed Asian markets SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Asian stock markets closed mixed on Wednesday as U.S. tariff threats rattled investors, with signs of a broader "sell America" trend adding to volatility across the region. In Seoul, the KOSPI swung more than 100 points before finishing at 4,909.93, up 0.49 percent from the previous session, while the KOSDAQ dropped 2.57 percent to 951.29. Individuals offloaded a net 996.5 billion won ($675 million), while foreign investors and institutions purchased net amounts of 439.5 billion won and 321.6 billion won, respectively. Among large-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 2.96 percent to 149,500 won, while SK Hynix fell 0.40 percent to 740,000 won, Samsung Biologics dropped 2.45 percent to 1,873,000 won, Samsung Life Insurance slipped 0.29 percent to 174,700 won, and LG Energy Solution declined 2.11 percent to 394,500 won. Auto-related stocks traded higher, led by Hyundai Motor, which surged 14.61 percent to 549,000 won, continuing its upward momentum. Kia also gained 5 percent to 172,100 won. Defense and aerospace stocks also traded higher, with Hanwha Aerospace up 0.46 percent at 1,315,000 won. Shipbuilding-related shares weakened, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries falling 1.56 percent to 631,000 won and Hanwha Ocean sliding 3.81 percent to 141,500 won. The won, which traded at 1,481.4 per dollar earlier in the morning, strengthened to 1,469.40 later in the day, buoyed by remarks from President Lee Jae-myung, who said he would seek to ease concerns over foreign-exchange volatility. Elsewhere in Asia, Japanese shares pulled back, with the Nikkei 225 Index down 0.41 percent to close at 52,774.64, as investors weighed political uncertainty due to a looming snap election along with tax relief proposals as an election sweetener. 2026-01-21 17:27:33

Vietnam's U-23 title bid halted by China in semi-finals SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Vietnam's bid to replicate its historic 2018 run under South Korean leadership ended in the semi-finals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup on Wednesday, following a 3-0 defeat to China. The loss at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City denies head coach Kim Sang-sik a shot at the title in his first major tournament. Kim had been tasked with reviving a program defined by his compatriot and predecessor, Park Hang-seo, widely revered as a national hero in Vietnam for launching a golden era of football success. Eight years after Park guided Vietnam to a shock runner-up finish, the 2026 squad held firm through a goalless first half but collapsed after the break. Vietnam conceded three times in the second half and finished with 10 men following a red card. Despite the exit, the semi-final appearance marks a stabilization for the team following the tenure of Philippe Troussier. Kim's appointment was seen as a move to restore the discipline and organization that became the team's identity under Park. Vietnam will now conclude its campaign with a commercially and emotionally significant third-place playoff against South Korea on Saturday. China advances to face Japan in the final on January 25. Japan is chasing a second consecutive and third overall title, while China is bidding for its first trophy at this level. 2026-01-21 10:59:18

Asian markets track Wall Street pullback; KOSPI pauses after 12-day rally SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) — Asian markets moved lower on Tuesday, tracking an overnight retreat on Wall Street, with South Korea’s KOSPI taking a breather after a 12-day uninterrupted rally. As of 11:20 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI was down 0.61 percent at 4,874.83, pulling back after touching an intraday record high of 4,923.53 earlier in the session. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ bucked the trend, rising 0.45 percent to 971.48. Retail investors absorbed selling pressure from institutions and foreigners. Individuals bought a net 646.7 billion won ($438 million), while institutions and foreign investors sold a net 279.4 billion won and 409.4 billion won, respectively. Most large-cap stocks traded lower. Samsung Electronics fell 2.8 percent to 145,000 won, while SK hynix dropped 3 percent to 741,000 won. Samsung Biologics slipped 0.26 percent to 1,916,000 won. In contrast, Samsung Life Insurance rose 3.71 percent to 173,200 won, and LG Energy Solution gained 1.76 percent to 405,500 won. Hyundai Motor briefly topped a market capitalization of 100 trillion won at the open but later edged lower on profit-taking, trading down 0.83 percent at 476,000 won as of 10 a.m. Kia declined 2.12 percent to 165,900 won. Robot-related shares extended gains in early trade. Doosan Robotics jumped 7.06 percent, or 7,600 won, to 115,300 won, while Hyundai Movex advanced 5.15 percent to 36,750 won. Defense and aerospace stocks also traded higher, with Hanwha Aerospace up 0.75 percent at 1.34 million won. Shipbuilding and heavy industry names moved lower, as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries fell 2.78 percent to 630,000 won and Hanwha Ocean declined 1.21 percent to 147,000 won. In the currency market, the won weakened, with the dollar trading at 1,476.80 won, up 2.30 won from the previous session. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 0.76 percent to 53,174.78 after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house and called a snap election. 2026-01-20 11:31:45

In a weak home market, K-food finds future in overseas SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Beneath the global rise of K-ramyeon lies a harsher reality at home: much of Korea’s food industry is shrinking, squeezed by a prolonged domestic consumption slump, rising input costs and a weak currency that has inflated import prices. On the surface, K-food appears unstoppable. Samyang Foods’ Buldak Spicy Chicken Noodles dominate convenience-store shelves worldwide, while Nongshim’s Shin Ramyun has become a staple at major U.S. retailers such as Walmart. But the export boom is far from universal. Samyang Foods now generates 81 percent of its sales overseas, with Nongshim and Pulmuone also posting steady growth abroad. Beyond this narrow group, however, many food makers remain heavily exposed to weak domestic demand. Binggrae, whose Melona brand has become an icon of “K-ice cream” in North America, still derives only 13.7 percent of its revenue from exports as of 2025. That limited overseas exposure has failed to offset falling local consumption and rising costs, prompting the company to offer voluntary retirement to employees across the organization. A similar pattern has emerged among other domestically focused firms. Lotte Wellfood reported a consolidated operating profit of 63.9 billion won in the third quarter of 2025, down 8.9 percent from a year earlier, citing higher cocoa prices and one-off costs linked to voluntary retirement programs. The contrast with export-driven peers is stark. According to the Korea Customs Service, ramyeon accounted for 13.3 percent of total K-food exports last year, followed by seaweed at 10 percent and confectionery at 6.7 percent. Together, the three categories made up roughly 30 percent of total exports — and the companies most exposed to these segments delivered the strongest earnings. Samyang Foods posted third-quarter consolidated sales of 632 billion won and operating profit of 130.9 billion won in 2025, up 44 percent and 49.9 percent, respectively, from a year earlier, driven by surging overseas demand. Nongshim reported sales of 871.2 billion won and operating profit of 54.4 billion won, with operating profit jumping 44.7 percent. Pulmuone also recorded solid growth, with sales rising 6.6 percent and operating profit up 14.4 percent. Industry observers say the outperformance was driven not only by wider distribution but also by consumer engagement strategies centered on social media. “Rather than relying on traditional marketing, we expanded by communicating with consumers through social media-linked campaigns such as the ‘Fire Noodle Challenge’,” said Lee Hye-ryeong, a manager at Samyang Foods. “We organized events like speed-eating contests at schools and other on-site activities, and the distinctive taste of Buldak created a synergy with those efforts. We plan to continue this approach in 2026.” Such direct communication helped turn online buzz into real demand abroad, accelerating Buldak’s expansion into mainstream retail channels. More broadly, analysts say exports have become the industry’s primary growth engine, fueled by rising shipments of ramyeon and beverages to the United States, Southeast Asia and China. Stronger brand recognition, aggressive overseas marketing and localization strategies have allowed leading players to scale beyond the limits of the domestic market. The message is becoming unmistakable. In an era of weak local consumption, the K-food boom belongs to those that treat overseas markets not as a supplement, but as their main stage. For companies that fail to do so, global popularity alone may not be enough to ensure survival. 2026-01-19 18:05:13

KOSPI bucks global stock weakness on robotics-led rally SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) — Asian stock markets opened the week on a weaker footing amid rising geopolitical uncertainty, as tensions flared between the European Union and the United States over Greenland. South Korean stocks, however, moved against the regional trend, buoyed by strong gains in robotics-related shares. The benchmark KOSPI opened at 4,829.40, down 0.23 percent from the previous close, but quickly reversed course. As of 11:10 a.m., the index was up 0.9 percent at 4,883.72. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ rose 0.7 percent to 961.3. Retail investors drove the rebound, posting net purchases of 56.6 billion won ($192 million). Institutions and foreign investors remained net sellers, offloading 13 billion won and 118 billion won, respectively. Among blue chips, Samsung Electronics rose 300 won to 149,100 won, while SK hynix gained 16,500 won to 772,500 won. Decliners included Samsung Life Insurance, down 4.10 percent to 163,600 won; LG Energy Solution, down 1.41 percent to 385,500 won; and Samsung Biologics, down 1.39 percent to 1,920,000 won. Hyundai Motor surged 12.59 percent to a fresh intraday high of 465,000 won, extending a rally that has lifted the stock more than 40 percent since the start of the year. Analysts attributed the gains to renewed optimism following CES 2026 and a series of upward revisions to target prices, reinforcing expectations for medium- to long-term growth as the automaker accelerates its transition into robotics manufacturing. Investor sentiment has also been supported by Hyundai’s plan to deploy Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robots at its Metaplant America facility in Georgia starting in 2028 and scale production to 30,000 units annually by 2030. Kia advanced 3.51 percent to 156,400 won. Robot-related shares rallied sharply in morning trade. Doosan Robotics jumped 20.35 percent, or 18,400 won, to 108,800 won, after earlier touching 110,900 won — a fresh 52-week high. The collaborative robot maker’s rally was driven by expectations that expanding orders from North America and Europe will translate into stronger earnings. Defense and aerospace stocks also traded higher, with Hanwha Aerospace gaining 2.31 percent to 1,329,000 won. Shipbuilding and heavy industry shares showed solid momentum, as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries rose 2.09 percent to 635,000 won and Hanwha Ocean added 1.09 percent to 148,600 won. In currency markets, the dollar was little changed at 1,475.1 won, down 0.4 won. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 retreated 1.25 percent to 53,260.73 in morning trading on profit-taking. 2026-01-19 11:30:50

From kimchi to cola, everyday eating fuels Korea's chronic disease spike SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - From kimchi to cola, everyday eating fuels Korea's chronic disease spike South Korea exports some of the world’s most carefully engineered products: K-pop choreographed to the millisecond, cars built for global roads, smartphones that set industry standards. Yet when it comes to everyday health, the country is quietly losing control — not in hospitals, but at the dining table. Despite its global image as a land of fresh vegetables and fermented food, roughly one in five Korean adults now lives with hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia — or a combination of all three. These are diseases typically associated with Western lifestyles: ultra-processed foods, excess salt, sugar-sweetened beverages and sedentary habits. Korea, it turns out, has adopted many of those risks without fully shedding its own. According to the latest National Health Statistics released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), sugar intake in Korea increasingly comes from carbonated soft drinks, which ranked second among major sources in 2024. Sodium tells a more culturally revealing story. Salt remains the single largest source of sodium intake, accounting for 15.6 percent of the daily total. Close behind are foods deeply embedded in Korean identity: napa cabbage kimchi and soy sauce. Together, these staples quietly push sodium consumption well beyond recommended levels — not through excess, but through routine. The result is visible in the data. Hyperlipidemia — elevated blood lipid levels tied to diet and inactivity — affected 23.6 percent of adults in 2024, roughly one in four. Diabetes cases have risen even faster: from just over 2 million in 2014 to more than 3.6 million in 2024, a jump of 73 percent. Among people in their 20s and 30s, the increase was sharper still, nearly 80 percent over the decade — a demographic long assumed to be protected by youth and metabolism. It is not that Korea is neglecting the problem. Cholesterol-lowering drugs are effective: among patients receiving treatment, 86 percent manage to keep cholesterol under control. The problem is that only about half of those who need medication actually take it. Diabetes reveals an even wider gap. While six in ten patients receive treatment, only one in four successfully keeps blood sugar within the recommended range. Medication alone, doctors say, cannot compensate for daily habits. “Diabetes is a disease where early management dramatically reduces complications,” said Bae Hong-won, director of the Gangwon Health Examination Center. “But people in their 20s and 30s tend to neglect it, assuming they’re still young. Once it develops, it requires lifelong care.” Experts stress that prevention does not require radical dieting or expensive interventions. Sometimes, it’s about sequence. Professor Cho Young-min of Seoul National University Hospital points to a simple adjustment: eat vegetables first, followed by protein and fat, and leave carbohydrates for last. This order slows glucose absorption and reduces blood sugar spikes — no prescription required. Movement matters just as much. A 15-minute walk after meals, even at a leisurely pace, helps muscles absorb glucose more efficiently, lowering post-meal blood sugar levels. Dietary patterns, however, remain stubborn. Analysis of national nutrition data published in Nutrition Research and Practice found that rice-centered diets were linked to higher triglycerides in men and lower “good” HDL cholesterol in both sexes, reinforcing the connection between carbohydrate-heavy meals and metabolic disease. Recognizing the risk, the KDCA has begun distributing tailored educational materials at workplaces, particularly targeting people in their 30s and 40s — the most economically active group, yet one with relatively low awareness of cardiovascular disease. “To prevent and manage chronic conditions, regular checks of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol are essential,” said former KDCA Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong. “But just as important is practicing healthy lifestyle habits every day.” The illnesses reshaping Korean health are not born in laboratories or genetics. They are born at the table — one familiar meal at a time. 2026-01-16 17:47:18