INTERVIEW: Quebec envoy seeks to deepen ties with South Korea through cultural collaboration SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - As South Korea continues to expand its economic and cultural exchanges with Quebec, the French-speaking province in eastern Canada is also establishing a more independent presence here across various fields. Separate from the Canadian Embassy, it seeks to establish direct relations with Seoul to strengthen its presence and foster deeper collaboration. In an interview with AJP earlier this week, Damien Pereira, the chief representative of the Quebec government office in Seoul, emphasized the unique cultural bond between the two and the growing opportunities for mutual cooperation. "Korea and Quebec have experienced cultural attacks in the past, which have strengthened the bond between our people," Pereira said. "In both our histories, dominant cultures have tried to suppress and replicate our language, culture, and history. However, this has only brought our people closer together." The envoy said that the minority Quebecers, surrounded by a vast number of English speakers, have worked to preserve their language and culture, and this struggle has ultimately strengthened their unity, making cultural preservation a key part of Quebec's identity and society. Quebec, which operates diplomatic missions separate from the Canadian federal government, has been steadily expanding its footprint in South Korea. The province is already a dominant force in Canada-Korea cultural exchanges, with nearly two-thirds of all Canadian cultural engagements in South Korea originating from Quebec. "You see many programmers and artistic directors from South Korea visiting Quebec to bring shows and performances to Korea." Performing arts and digital media have been central to this partnership, and the upcoming International Symposium on Electronic Arts (ISEA) in Seoul is expected to feature 30 Quebecers, including artists. During the interview, he recalled that the 2016 hit South Korean soap "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" was filmed in Quebec, with its stunning landscapes providing a magical backdrop to the romantic drama. He emphasized that attracting a Korean drama production was significant, as the creators saw Quebec as the perfect setting. This became a remarkable opportunity to introduce Quebec to South Korean audiences. Economic collaboration is also on the rise, particularly in the battery industry. "South Korean firms such as EcoPro and POSCO Future M have been ramping up investments in Quebec, drawn by the province's rich deposits of critical minerals essential for battery production," Pereira said. Quebec, in turn, is not just exporting raw materials but developing local processing facilities to move further up the value chain. "We see South Korean companies establishing a strong foothold in Quebec as a gateway to the North American market," Pereira said. "Our economic structures are complementary, making this an ideal partnership." Beyond batteries, Quebec's cooperation with South Korea spans other multiple sectors including aerospace, IT, and agriculture. CAE, a Quebec-based flight simulator manufacturer, operates a major training center near Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul. The cultural connection remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship. Quebec artists are regular participants in the annal Jarasum International Jazz Festival in Gapyeong on the outskirts of Seoul, and Quebecois cuisine and traditions have found a niche among South Korean audiences. Pereira expressed optimism about expanding these exchanges, emphasizing Quebec's commitment to fostering deeper engagement in education, arts, and technology. As Quebec positions itself as a key economic and cultural partner to South Korea, the province's proactive approach signals a broader ambition: to solidify its influence in global markets while expanding its presence here. "Our relationship with South Korea is built on mutual respect and shared values," Pereira said. "As global challenges evolve, our collaboration will only become more critical." 2025-02-28 08:00:59

K-pop thrives in Asia and Europe, while Korean cuisine gains traction in North America: Report SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - K-pop remains the most widely covered Korean cultural export across the world, with Korean cuisine also garnering increasing attention, a recent analysis reveals. According to a report released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliated Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange last week, K-pop attracted the highest media coverage, with 35.4 percent in Asia, 25.1 percent in Europe, and 34.9 percent in Central and South America. In Asia, media coverage mostly highlighted K-pop bands such as BTS and BLACKPINK, while European news outlets extensively covered K-pop artists’ chart performances. In Central and South America, news coverage focused on their visits and world tour schedules. In North America, Korean cuisine led media coverage at 26.7 percent, slightly surpassing K-pop news at 23.5 percent. The surge in interest was particularly remarkable in the U.S. and Canada, where kimchi or fermented cabbage and the popularity of spicy instant noodles drove significant searches and social media engagement. A similar trend was observed in Africa and Oceania, where Korean cuisine made up 38 percent and 30 percent of Korean Wave-related coverage, surpassing K-pop (22.6 percent and 26.7 percent). News coverage in these regions often featured the grand opening of Korean restaurants. By country, India led with the highest number of Korean Wave-related news coverage (905), followed by the U.S. (769), Thailand (461), Türkiye (301), and the Philippines (273). While K-pop dominated news coverage in India (41.0 percent), Thailand (37.5 percent), and the Philippines (32.6 percent), Korean cuisine took the top spot in the U.S. (27.0 percent), and Korean dramas led in Türkiye (29.6 percent). The report also highlighted "Korea House," which served as a venue during the 2024 Paris Olympics to promote Korean culture abroad. BTS member Jin's participation in the Olympic torch relay, which brought together fans with light sticks, was widely covered by foreign media and gained traction on social media. The findings were based on an analysis of around 680,000 news articles and social media posts from over 30 countries between October 2023 and September 2024. 2025-02-25 16:14:15

Cuban jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríguez to perform in Seoul next month SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - Cuban jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríguez will visit Seoul next month for a concert celebrating the first anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba. According to the concert's organizers, he will take the stage on March 21 at Seongsu Art Hall in Seoul's trendy district frequented by young people and fashion-savvy individuals. Rodríguez is renowned for his innovative approach to blending traditional Cuban sounds with modern influences. He gained international recognition after legendary composer Quincy Jones invited him to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 2006. The collaboration eventually led Rodriguez to move to the U.S., where he later became a naturalized citizen. The pianist last performed here in 2013 as a special guest at Quincy Jones' concert and returned the following year for a solo performance. His achievements include composing the official theme song for the Expo 2010 Shanghai China and earning a Grammy nomination in 2014 for his arrangement of the Cuban folk classic Guantanamera. The concert will be held in a trio format, with Rodríguez joined by drummer Michael Olivera and bassist Swaeli Mbappé. He recently appeared on "Tiny Desk," a popular concert series on NPR. 2025-02-25 14:23:23

Rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts debuts with 'The Chase' SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts made their debut on Monday with their single "The Chase." The eight-member band became SM Entertainment's first girl group in nearly five years, following the debut of aespa in 2020. Hearts2Hearts is a multinational girl group composed of six South Koreans, one member with dual nationality from South Korea and Canada, and another from Indonesia. The members’ ages range from 14 to 18 years old. During their debut showcase in Seoul's Gwangjin district, the members expressed their excitement. "We are so happy and excited about our debut, and it’s even more special and an honor for the eight of us to debut as Hearts2Hearts on SM's 30th anniversary." SM described Hearts2Hearts as possessing a broad appeal and significant untapped potential, highlighting that the group will unveil their unique style, refined through the company’s decades of experience in developing K-pop talent. 2025-02-24 17:44:21

South Korea discusses defense industry collaboration with UAE, Egypt SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - South Korea discussed ways to strengthen defense ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on Monday. According to the South Korean arms procurement agency, DAPA chief Seok Jong-geon visited the UAE and Egypt from Feb. 17 to 21 to promote defense exports. During his visit to Abu Dhabi, Seok attended IDEX, the largest defense exhibition in the Middle East, where he met with senior defense officials from various countries. The week-long event showcased 1,350 defense companies from 65 nations and attracted over 130,000 defense officials. He held discussions with key UAE defense acquisition figures, including Minister of State for Defense Affairs Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei and Chief of Staff Issa Al Mazrouei, regarding the participation of Korean defense companies in the UAE's arms procurement projects. Seok also met with representatives from Saudi Arabia attending IDEX, signing a memorandum of understanding on mutual acceptance of government quality assurance for military supplies and services. This agreement allows South Korea's Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) to guarantee the quality of Korean military products exported to Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Saudi government. In Egypt, Seok met with officials from Korean defense companies, including Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Aerospace, to discuss export plans for the TAipers anti-tank missile and the FA-50 fighter jet. During a meeting with Egypt's Air Force commander Mahmoud Fouad Abdel-Gawad, Seok assured that comprehensive support, including follow-up logistics, would be provided if Egypt selects the FA-50. 2025-02-24 15:03:09

Seoul to provide Korean language programs for students with non-native parents SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - In a bid to support students struggling with the Korean language due to their parents' immigrant background, Seoul will offer Korean language programs at universities starting in March. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced Sunday that the language courses will serve as alternative education programs, offering accredited academic credits, with attendance and curriculum reflected in the students’ home schools. Certified teachers with Korean language teaching qualifications will instruct middle and high school students across Seoul. Classes will be small, with no more than 15 students per group, allowing for personalized learning. The programs will also leverage various resources available within two universities—Sookmyung Women's University and Dongyang Mirae University. Over the past decade, the number of students with at least one immigrant parent has increased by nearly 2.7 times, with the number of foreign students rising by 8.6 times, according to the municipal education office. While the total student population in Seoul decreased by 11.52 percent from 2019 to 2024, the number of students from immigrant families grew by 18.7 percent. The growth rate of students with at least one immigrant parent in middle and high schools, at 173.7 percent, was significantly higher than that of elementary students, at 85.74 percent. "We will continually monitor and strive to provide strong support to both students with at least one immigrant parent and school communities in areas with high concentrations of these students," said Seoul's education superintendent Jeong Geun-sik. 2025-02-24 10:58:44

Chinese account for big portion of foreign engineering students with PhD degrees in South Korea SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - The number of foreign engineers with PhD degrees from South Korean universities has nearly doubled in recent years, with Chinese making up a significant portion, an analysis reveals. According to a report released earlier this week by the Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP), Chinese students accounted for three out of every ten foreign engineering PhD graduates here as of 2023. China's share of foreign PhD graduates in engineering has been growing steadily, rising from 21.4 percent in 2017 to 30 percent in 2023. The institute analyzed trends by examining the overall number of foreign PhD holders, changes in their majors, and their countries of origin during the period between 2016 and 2023. The findings showed that the number of foreign PhD graduates in engineering rose from 423 in 2016 to 813 in 2023, nearly doubling over seven years. Their proportion also grew from 13.1 percent in 2016 to 17.8 percent in 2023. KISTEP also found that while the number of South Korean PhD holders has slowed and even begun to decline recently, the continued rise in foreign graduates has helped maintain the offering of PhD programs in the field of engineering studies. It added that attracting foreign talent will be crucial for sustaining graduate programs as South Korea faces a shrinking student population. The report also highlighted that most of them came from Asia. In 2023, students from 51 countries earned PhDs in engineering in South Korea, with 23 of them coming from Asian countries. Of the overall 813 foreign graduates across all fields of study, 737 — or 90.7 percent—were from Asian countries. Students from China, India, Pakistan and Viet Nam accounted for over 70 percent of all foreign students with PhDs in engineering. While the rankings among these four countries saw changes over the years, they consistently held the top spots. KISTEP emphasized the importance of diversifying foreign students, suggesting that universities should go beyond personal networks and establish accessible channels to attract and retain a wider range of international students. 2025-02-21 11:48:37

Girl group IVE to headline music festivals in Berlin and Paris this summer SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - K-pop girl group IVE will meet global fans through performances at Lollapalooza in Berlin and Paris this summer. According to their agency Starship Entertainment, IVE will take the stage as a headliner at Lollapalooza Berlin held at the Olympiastadion in the German capital on July 12-13. Lollapalooza, a large-scale music festival that started in the U.S. in 1991, is now held in various locations around the world including France and Germany. This year's Lollapalooza Berlin will take place at a venue with a capacity of about 74,000 people. The sextet will perform alongside other headliners such as boy band BTS' J-Hope and American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake. IVE members will also perform at Lollapalooza Paris about a week later at the Longchamp Racecourse in the French capital scheduled for July 20. These upcoming engagements will make IVE the first K-pop girl group to appear at Lollapalooza three times, having already performed at Lollapalooza Chicago in August last year. They released their third mini-album "Ive Empathy" early this month, with the pre-release track "Rebel Heart" topping major online music-streaming charts here such as Melon and Genie. 2025-02-21 09:59:08

South Korea condemns North Korea's troop deployment to Ukraine SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - The Ministry of Defense here condemned North Korea's alleged deployment of troops to Russia to assist its war in Ukraine, describing it as "deceptive and inhumane" during a press briefing on Thursday. "We strongly denounce the actions of the regime and urge the immediate stop of any additional troop deployments," said the ministry's spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyu, when asked about a recent interview with two North Korean prisoners of war by a South Korean daily, which was released the previous day. One of the soldiers, captured by Ukrainian forces and identified only by his surname Ri, told Chosun Ilbo that he was a member of North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau. He recounted that he left his country in October last year and underwent about three months of training in Vladivostok before being deployed to the battlefield in Kursk, a region near Ukraine's eastern front. He added that he was told he had fought against South Korean troops. Ri also revealed that each battalion of about 500 North Korean soldiers had one or two intelligence officers assigned to monitor their "ideological soundness." The young soldier in his 20s, said he wanted to seek asylum in South Korea. Regarding this, the Foreign Ministry here said the previous day that the country is willing to help if these North Korean soldiers wish to come to the South. However, it remains to be seen as it would need to go through a review under the Geneva Conventions, which stipulate rules for how prisoners of war (POWs) should be treated. North Korea is believed to have sent over 10,000 soldiers to Russia, though neither Pyongyang nor Moscow have confirmed or denied their presence. 2025-02-20 17:13:05

Yoo Ah-in's scenes deleted from the upcoming film's trailer due to drug scandal SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - Sports drama film "The Match" starring actors Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in will meet movie fans next month as it finally set a release date. According to the film's distributor BY4M Studio, the much-awaited film directed by Kim Hyung-joo will hit local theaters on March 26, ending its prolonged delay caused by Yoo's drug-related scandal that emerged in 2023. The biopic, based on a real-life story, revolves around board game Go, known as baduk in Korean. It portrays a fateful clash between two legendary Go players — Cho Hun-hyun, played by Lee Byung-hun, and Lee Chang-ho, played by Yoo Ah-in. The film was originally planned for release on Netflix, but after the scandal led to an indefinite hold on its streaming, it was eventually picked up by a new distributor for a theatrical release. In the trailer, Yoo appears only briefly, with his back turned or shown from a distance. With Yoo's name also omitted from the synopsis, the distributor said that the disgraced star would not participate in any promotional activities for the film. "Yoo will not participate in any upcoming movie premieres, press conferences, interviews, or promotional events, and there are no plans for related promotional activities," BY4M Studio said in a statement. Yoo was accused of regularly taking the knockout sedative propofol and other substances at hospitals in Seoul between September 2020 and March 2022, claiming they were for cosmetic procedures, with a total of 181 instances. On Tuesday, an appellate court sentenced Yoo to one year in prison, suspended for two years, along with a two million won ($1,391) fine. He had been sentenced to one year in prison at his first trial and had been detained. 2025-02-20 15:23:19