Journalist

Lee Soo-jin
  • Govt mulls export restrictions on naphtha amid supply disruptions
    Gov't mulls export restrictions on naphtha amid supply disruptions SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - The government is considering imposing restrictions on exports of naphtha amid supply shortages as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East drags on. At a press briefing at the government complex in the administrative city of Sejong on Tuesday, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, "We are discussing with relevant ministries steps to take, which would include restrictions on exports and a ban on hoarding." Naphtha, a primary raw material for petrochemical products, is produced domestically by refiners, accounting for about 55 percent of domestic supply, with the remainder imported. Disruptions to supply chains in the Middle East have prompted some petrochemical companies to halt operations. The remarks came just a day after LG Chem decided to halt operations at its plant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, which has an annual ethylene capacity of 800,000 tons. Yeochun NCC, an industrial complex in the same southern province, also halted its olefin conversion process to adjust output after the operating rate of its naphtha cracker declined. The ministry said, "Export restrictions alone would not be enough to resolve the shortage, so we are also preparing emergency supplies through a supplementary budget, as well as importing substitutes." But it added, "Exports of naphtha are not that large in volume, so we may prioritize supplies for petrochemical companies to help them maintain operations while restricting others." Despite rising prices of naphtha, the ministry said it has no plans to directly control prices, adding that any increase would have a limited impact on consumers. 2026-03-24 14:57:27
  • Lee Young-ae, Yoo Ji-tae to Reunite in New Drama 25 Years After One Fine Spring Day
    Lee Young-ae, Yoo Ji-tae to Reunite in New Drama 25 Years After 'One Fine Spring Day' Actors Lee Young-ae and Yoo Ji-tae will reunite in a drama series for the first time in 25 years since the film ‘One Fine Spring Day.’ Production company IWill Media said on the 23rd that it has cast Lee and Yoo as the leads of its new drama ‘Jaei’s Youngin.’ The two previously starred in ‘One Fine Spring Day,’ released in 2001, a film long regarded as one of South Korea’s signature romance movies. ‘Jaei’s Youngin’ is a mystery melodrama about two people left alone in the world. After they fall in love, a tangled past and hidden truths come to light. Lee will play Joo Youngin, an art teacher and painter who has lost her son. Yoo will play Shin Jaei, the head of an architecture firm who lives with dissociative amnesia. The series will be directed by Oh Gi-hwan, who previously worked with Lee on the film ‘Gift.’ The script is by Cho Eun-jung, whose credits include ‘Hotel King’ and ‘Feast of the Gods.’ Expectations are building over whether Lee, who chose her next project about five months after the well-reviewed drama ‘Eunsu’s Good Day,’ and Yoo, who recently became a “10 million actor” with the film ‘The Man Who Lives With the King,’ will deliver strong on-screen chemistry again. 2026-03-23 17:48:17
  • BTS Returns as Full Group After 3 Years, 5 Months; Fans Sing Along to Arirang in Seoul
    BTS Returns as Full Group After 3 Years, 5 Months; Fans Sing Along to 'Arirang' in Seoul BTS returned as a full seven-member group for the first time in about 3 years and 5 months, since its October 2022 “Yet to Come in Busan” concert. As the clock struck 8 p.m. on Saturday and the seven members appeared on a frame-shaped stage set up at Gwanghwamun Square, about 40,000 fans roared and chanted “BTS.” The show opened with “Body to Body,” a track from the group’s new full-length album, “Arirang.” When five traditional vocalists and a Korean traditional music ensemble performed the folk song “Arirang” live, ARMY members answered with a mass singalong. Attendance was estimated at 104,000 by organizers, while Seoul’s real-time city data put the figure at 42,000. That fell well short of the roughly 260,000 initially expected, but fans from around the world raised light sticks and turned the square purple, the group’s signature color. Many fans also watched from outside fences surrounding the 22,000 official seats, following the concert on large screens. Others streamed the live broadcast on smartphones to share in the comeback. Midway through the concert, the members shared how it felt to perform again and introduced the album’s title track, “Swim.” V said, “What we can do is not stop — to release music step by step and keep performing,” adding, “If we show ARMY a good side like this, I think we’ll move forward.” He said he hoped the song would offer listeners “even a little comfort and strength.” The members also spoke about the hiatus, saying they worried, “Would we be forgotten? Would you remember us?” RM said he had thought hard about what kind of artists they wanted to be “at this turning point,” and described the album’s goal as listening to their own voices and openly capturing “worries, anxiety and wandering.” Jimin said he feels fear every time, including for this show, but added he firmly believes that if they “Keep Swimming,” they will find answers someday. The Gwanghwamun comeback concert ended with “Dynamite” and “Mikrokosmos.” Fans lingered afterward, taking photos with the stage behind them before leaving. 2026-03-21 22:06:19
  • Foreign Media Cover BTS Comeback Concert Live, Call Group a K-Pop Powerhouse
    Foreign Media Cover BTS Comeback Concert Live, Call Group a K-Pop Powerhouse As BTS’ comeback concert began at 8 p.m. on the 21st, international media outlets delivered real-time coverage to audiences worldwide. The New York Times created a separate online live page to report on the “BTS Comeback Live: Arirang” concert held at Gwanghwamun in Seoul, providing continuous updates from the event. The newspaper also detailed the atmosphere among fans in the Gwanghwamun area, safety measures put in place, and reactions from nearby businesses. AFP, in a breaking news alert, described the event as the start of a “massive comeback concert” by “K-pop powerhouse BTS,” reporting that the South Korean megastar group took the stage for the first time in about four years and thrilled large crowds in Seoul. Foreign outlets also focused on reactions from ARMY, BTS’ global fan base. The New York Times cited interviews with fans of various nationalities, including a woman who traveled from Brazil, while emphasizing the group’s global reach. In addition, reports noted that BTS members fulfilled mandatory military service, described what security steps the Seoul city government took for the concert, and highlighted the historical backdrop of Gwanghwamun, the venue for the performance. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-21 21:09:15
  • More Than 30,000 Gather Near Gwanghwamun Ahead of BTS Comeback Show
    More Than 30,000 Gather Near Gwanghwamun Ahead of BTS Comeback Show Standing-room entry began at 5 p.m. Saturday ahead of BTS’ comeback concert scheduled for 8 p.m. Fans known as ARMY streamed in from around the world, and some foreign fans were seen wearing hanbok. The Seoul city government said more than 30,000 people had gathered near Gwanghwamun as of 6 p.m. It rated crowding as “slightly busy,” adding that the number was rising quickly as entry to the area began. Entry is set to close at 7 p.m. Organizers prepared 22,000 official seats for the show, with additional standing areas and reserved seating nearby. Others can watch from around the plaza. Police estimated the crowd could reach up to 260,000 around the stage, though some projections said the turnout as of 6 p.m. could fall short of that figure. Yonhap News reported that people who failed to get tickets were competing for “best spots” around the plaza. In front of the KT building, where there is no place to sit, fans have been standing for hours while waiting for the concert to start. Authorities set up near-complete barriers in the area as an anti-terror measure. Barricades and police buses formed a perimeter to block vehicle-ramming attempts, and access routes to the stage were sealed off with multiple layers of fencing. In some standing zones, reports said bringing in newspapers, including a special BTS edition, was banned, prompting complaints. Officials cited the risk of flammable material. To prevent accidents — including blocking detours, rooftop viewing and falls — access to 31 nearby buildings was restricted. The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History closed temporarily, and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts canceled its events for the day. 2026-03-21 19:09:19
  • Val Kilmer to Appear in New Film Using AI a Year After His Death
    Val Kilmer to Appear in New Film Using AI a Year After His Death Actor Val Kilmer is set to return to the screen in a new film, recreated through artificial intelligence technology. On March 18 (local time), The Associated Press reported that Kilmer will appear via AI in the independent film “As Deep as the Grave,” due for release this year. The report said it comes a year after his death. According to AP, the film’s producers said Kilmer had signed on before he died, but health problems prevented him from taking part. After his death, his family approved a digital replica of the actor, the producers said, and the family is being compensated for its use. In a statement, Kilmer’s daughter said her father had long viewed new technology as a tool that could expand the possibilities of storytelling, and she expressed hope that the film would respect that potential through his role. Kilmer had previously used AI assistance during his lifetime. Before dying of pneumonia, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent a tracheotomy that left him without his voice. In his final film, “Top Gun: Maverick,” AI was used to recreate his voice. Still, the use of AI in Hollywood has become one of the industry’s most contentious issues. One of the main drivers of the 2023 U.S. actors union strike was concern over AI, after studios proposed digitally scanning background and minor performers and reusing those images across productions. That dispute eased after post-strike negotiations between the actors union and producers led to contract language requiring performers’ consent and appropriate compensation. The agreement, however, did not bar digital scanning itself. The prospect of seeing a globally popular star in new work even after death is now a reality. But Kilmer’s AI-assisted return is also a reminder that audiences, like the industry, are being pressed to decide how far they are willing to accept AI-generated stand-ins for human performers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-19 15:24:38