Journalist
Yoo Joonha
joonhayoo94@ajunews.com
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Asian stocks rally ahead of Nvidia earnings; Nikkei hits Record, KOSPI breaks 6,000 SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - Asian equities advanced broadly on Tuesday ahead of Nvidia’s earnings report due at February 26 at 6 a.m. (Korea time), with Japan and South Korea both closing at record levels as technology shares led gains. Nikkei Closes Above 58,000 for First Time Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 2.20 percent, or 1,262.03 points, to close at 58,583.12, decisively surpassing its previous high of 57,650, recorded on Feb. 10 following the lower house election. It marked the first close above the 58,000 level. The broader TOPIX index rose 0.71 percent to 3,843.16. Semiconductor-related shares led gains ahead of Nvidia’s quarterly results. Tokyo Electron rose 4.2 percent to 46,230 yen ($296.73), while Advantest also advanced. Cable manufacturer Fujikura jumped 6.5 percent to 26,825 yen ($172.18) after announcing a stock split, extending recent momentum. The rally gathered further strength around midday after reports that two dovish candidates were nominated to the Bank of Japan’s policy board. Both are viewed as supportive of accommodative monetary policy, dampening expectations for an early rate hike. The Nikkei briefly gained more than 1,500 points throughout the day, approaching the 59,000 level before profit-taking trimmed gains. KOSPI Breaks 6,000 for First Time In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI rose 1.9 percent, or 114.22 points, to finish at 6,083.86, marking its first-ever close above the 6,000 threshold. The index touched high of 6,144.7 and a low of 5,984.3. The milestone comes less than a month after the KOSPI stood at 5,084.85 on Jan. 27, underscoring the strength of the recent rally. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ edged up 0.02 percent to 1,165.3. Institutions Offset Foreign Selling Institutional investors were big buyers with 880.3 billion won ($616 million), on the KOSPI, as well as individuals adding 232.2 billion won. Foreign investors sold 1.29 trillion won. On the KOSDAQ, individuals purchased 392.8 billion won, while foreigners and institutions sold 236.2 billion won and 130 billion won, respectively. The divergence indicates that the rally is being sustained primarily by domestic liquidity rather than foreign inflows. Chips and Autos Lead Korean Gains Heavyweight chipmakers extended gains ahead of Nvidia’s earnings, widely viewed as a bellwether for global AI demand and semiconductor supply chains. Samsung Electronics rose 1.8 percent to close at 203,500 won, while SK hynix gained 1.3 percent to 1,018,000 won. Automakers also surged. Hyundai Motor jumped 9.2 percent to 572,000 won after announcing plans to invest 10 trillion won over the next five years in the Saemangeum region, focusing on data centers and robotics production facilities. The investment signals a strategic expansion into AI-linked industrial infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, reinforcing optimism in export-oriented sectors. LG Energy Solution climbed 3.3 percent, and Samsung Biologics added 0.3 percent. Trade Uncertainty Remains in Focus Market participants also weighed remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump. His state address offered limited immediate signals for Asian markets but underscored lingering uncertainty surrounding trade policy. Separately, Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy set a 2026 export target of $740 billion at its first public-private export strategy meeting of the year. Exports totaled $709.7 billion last year, placing the country among the six economies globally to surpass the $700 billion mark. The government aims to enter the top five global exporters by diversifying products and markets beyond semiconductors and heavy reliance on the United States and China. Eight strategic sectors were designated, including semiconductors, defense, nuclear power, autos, shipbuilding, steel, power equipment and consumer goods. Expanded trade financing measures were also unveiled. While the initiatives are intended to strengthen medium-term competitiveness, their immediate impact on equities appeared limited. Regional Gains Follow Wall Street Advance Elsewhere in Asia, China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.7 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.5 percent. The regional rally followed overnight gains on Wall Street, where the Dow rose 0.8 percent, the Nasdaq climbed 1.1 percent and the S&P 500 advanced 0.8 percent. The Korean won strengthened to 1,430.0 per dollar, gaining 12.5 won, or 0.9 percent, from the previous session. 2026-02-25 17:23:25 -
BTS Comeback D-24 : Less hype over BTS' 'ARIRANG' tour concert live cinema booking SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - The last-resort seats for the first round of BTS comeback concerts are now open, but unlike the stampede over the group’s free open-air performance in central Seoul, the rush has been muted, suggesting many fans still prefer the atmosphere of sharing the same physical space with their idols. Advance bookings for the live cinema screenings of BTS’ “ARIRANG” tour opened Wednesday at 10 a.m. (KST) across South Korea’s three major multiplex chains — CGV, Megabox and Lotte Cinema. The screenings will broadcast two concerts live: the April 11 performance in Goyang and the April 18 show in Tokyo. Each event will run for about 180 minutes, delivering the energy of on-site performances to movie theaters nationwide. Globally, the live viewing is scheduled to take place in more than 3,500 theaters across 75 countries and regions. Some locations will offer delayed broadcasts due to time zone differences, with additional venues expected to be announced. In South Korea, the event will be shown at 26 Megabox theaters, 45 CGV locations and 28 Lotte Cinema sites. Ticket prices are set at 59,000 won per seat, about one-third of the minimum 198,000 won required for in-person attendance at the Goyang concert. By contrast, demand for BTS’ free performance at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21 was overwhelming. More than 100,000 fans rushed to secure 15,000 seats on Feb. 23, selling out the allocation within seconds. Early figures for the cinema screenings, however, point to more moderate interest. As of 10:14 a.m. Wednesday, 243 of 298 seats had been sold for the April 11 screening at the COEX complex. In Mokdong, 45 seats remained available out of 318. Sinchon showed 32 seats unsold, while Sangbong and Hongdae also recorded sizable vacancies. Overseas markets showed a similar pattern. At an AMC Theatres location in Burbank, California, only five tickets had been sold by late afternoon local time. In Malaysia, two TGV Cinemas branches reported minimal or zero early sales for the April 18 broadcast. Industry observers say the figures reflect fans’ continued preference for live, in-person concerts, even as alternative viewing options expand. “With BTS returning as a full group after nearly four years, many fans still place the highest value on being there in person,” a local distributor said. “Cinema screenings are viewed as a secondary choice.” With the April concerts approaching, ticket sales for both on-site performances and theater broadcasts remain ongoing, leaving room for a possible late surge in demand. 2026-02-25 13:54:04 -
New boy band CHASER to release debut album ROUTE 01: Burning Point SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - South Korean boy band CHASER is scheduled to make its official debut on Wednesday with the release of its first mini album. The five-member group, consisting of Kangbin, Caseke, Ren, Yoonsung, and Sihun, will launch ROUTE 01: Burning Point at 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) across global streaming platforms including Spotify and YouTube Music. The album serves as the introductory chapter to the group's planned narrative universe, focusing on themes of energy and ambition. The nine-track record is led by the title track "INVINCIBLE," an uptempo pop-rock song characterized by a heavy guitar riff and prominent bass lines. The track is designed to showcase the group's vocal harmonies and high-intensity performance style. CHASER preceded the launch with a series of promotional materials, including concept photos and a highlight medley of the tracks. A music video teaser for the lead single featured the members in a vintage setting before transitioning to imagery of motorcycles and smoke, intended to reflect the song's themes of resilience. The album explores several genres beyond pop-rock. The tracklist includes "Sweet Like Sugar," a synth-pop song; "Criss Cross," a hip-hop trap track; and "Dreamers," described as a youth anthem. Other songs include the mid-tempo jazz-inspired "Knock Knock," the motivational "MATCH POINT," and "Yagwangun," a track centered on the concepts of growth and hope. The release of ROUTE 01: Burning Point marks the formal entry of the rookie group into the South Korean music industry. 2026-02-25 11:25:04 -
Why The King's Warden reigns over Korea's box office SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - The mix of tragedy and humor, family and community affection, and grass-roots patriotism has long been a reliable formula for box-office success in South Korea. Audiences have found that combination in unusually polished form in The King’s Warden. Korean box office is no longer built for monopolies. Streaming platforms fragment attention. Mid-budget films struggle for screens. Audience loyalty has grown increasingly fickle. And yet, for three weeks running, The King’s Warden has behaved like a film from another era — one that gathers viewers not through spectacle or algorithms, but through the quiet accumulation of trust. The historical drama has topped the domestic box office for three consecutive weeks and has now surpassed 6 million cumulative viewers. As of its 20th day in theaters on Feb. 23, the film had drawn about 6.02 million moviegoers and generated 58.3 billion won ($43 million) in revenue. Over the Feb. 20–22 weekend alone, more than 1.41 million people visited theaters to see the film, accounting for 73 percent of total box office sales. Even as its screen count declined from more than 2,100 to around 1,700, the film has maintained clear market dominance. On Feb. 23, it captured 73.0 percent of total revenue while occupying just 29.6 percent of screens. In most competitive release cycles, revenue share tends to track screen share. The wide gap points to unusually strong demand consolidation around a single title. This is not a seasonal spike. It is consolidation. What distinguishes The King’s Warden from recent hits is that its success has been built less on marketing saturation than on accumulated credibility. In an industry increasingly driven by opening-weekend numbers and short attention cycles, the film has advanced at an older, steadier pace. Viewers are not rushing in out of fear of missing out, but returning with recommendations. Its dominance reflects not hype, but confidence — the sense that this is a film that can be trusted with time, emotion and attention. “I really enjoyed The Face Reader. In that film, the story revolved mainly around Grand Prince Suyang. This time, the narrative centers on Danjong. It feels connected, yet completely different. After watching the movie, I found myself wanting to learn more about Danjong," said Cho Hyun-chul, a 34-year-old office worker in Seoul. Bae Ji-hoon, a 32-year-old office worker living in Jeju, saw it out of curiosity after the news report about the president praising it. "Honestly? I enjoyed it more than I expected. Historical films often feel repetitive, but this one felt warm like a family movie while still carrying a serious tone.” In a market shaped by streaming algorithms and franchise branding, such patience-driven momentum has become increasingly rare. The film’s commercial trajectory reinforces that reading. After cresting during the Lunar New Year holidays, when daily admissions topped 650,000 on Feb. 17–18, most releases would normally settle into predictable decline. The King’s Warden did not. Weekday attendance stabilized at 200,000 to 260,000 viewers, before rebounding to 581,167 on Feb. 21 and 568,306 on Feb. 22. Even after the holiday period ended, market share remained above 70 percent. Over the Feb. 20–22 weekend, the film generated more than 13.8 billion won in revenue. Its cumulative gross reached 58.3 billion won by its 20th day. Such post-holiday resilience suggests limited substitution toward competing titles — another indicator that audiences are actively choosing the film rather than drifting toward it. Released on Feb. 4, the film reached the 6 million mark in just 20 days and is now widely expected to surpass 10 million viewers in a nation of about 52 million people. On paper, the subject matter looks forbidding. The film revisits the exile and death of King Danjong, dethroned as a teenager after his uncle’s coup in the mid-15th century and sent to remote Yeongwol before being executed. It remains one of the bleakest chapters in Joseon history. Even today, Yeongwol is part of the so-called “BYC” region — Bonghwa, Yeongyang and Yeongwol — regarded as one of the country’s most remote inland areas. Rather than presenting the story as a court thriller, The King’s Warden refuses the usual grammar of palace intrigue. Power remains largely offscreen. The court is distant. Violence is implied rather than staged. Instead, the camera stays in kitchens, fields and small courtyards, where a deposed boy-king learns to live as an anonymous adolescent among villagers. What distinguishes this film from earlier portrayals of Danjong is not new information, but new attention. Rather than presenting him as a national symbol, the screenplay treats him as a teenager navigating isolation, shame and dependence. His relationships with ordinary townspeople form the narrative spine. They feed him. Protect him. Pretend, at times, not to know who he is. In doing so, the film reframes tragedy as intimacy. The drama unfolds through accumulation — shared meals, hesitant conversations, small gestures of loyalty. Humor surfaces quietly, never as release, but as survival. It is this tonal balance — grief without melodrama, warmth without sentimentality — that gives the film its emotional credibility. Cultural critic Kim Heon-sik attributes the film’s success to its cross-generational accessibility and reinterpretation of history. “There have been few films recently that families across generations could watch together,” he said. “During the Lunar New Year, audiences were looking for that kind of option.” Kim noted that the film reshapes Danjong’s image. “He has traditionally symbolized sacrifice and tragedy,” he said. “This film overlays his story with hope and positivity. It adds imagination without distorting historical facts.” He also pointed to the evolution of director Jang Hang-jun. “His trademark wit remains, but this is not merely a comedy,” Kim said. “It is grounded in history and has strong character construction.” With sustained market concentration, post-holiday resilience, broad generational appeal and unusually strong audience loyalty, The King’s Warden has emerged as one of the most closely watched theatrical phenomena of the year that may finally put an end to a yearlong drought in K-movie blockbusters. 2026-02-24 17:42:55 -
YG Plus to open BLACKPINK 'Deadline' pop-up in Seoul SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - YG Plus announced that it will operate pop-up stores themed around BLACKPINK’s upcoming release “Deadline” from Feb. 28 to March 8 at Musinsa Store Myeongdong and Musinsa Standard Seongsu. The pop-up will unveil a range of official merchandises commemorating the new album. Items include apparel and lifestyle products reflecting the album’s concept, as well as limited-edition exclusive goods will be available at the pop-up. Following the kick off in Seoul, the “Deadline” pop-up is scheduled to expand sequentially to major global cities, including Hong Kong and Macau. YG Plus said “It is a pop-up designed to allow fans to experience BLACKPINK’s global influence in an offline space." adding "It will provide a special opportunity for fans around the world to directly experience the message and mood of ‘Deadline.’” The four-member K-pop heavyweight girl group BLACKPINK — Rosé, Jisoo, Jennie and Lisa — recently surpassed 100 million subscribers on its official YouTube channel, becoming the first artist in YouTube history to reach the milestone with an official artist channel. 2026-02-24 15:49:46 -
KOSPI extends rally despite global headwinds and profit-taking SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Korean stocks extended their upward momentum Tuesday despite a choppy start, shrugging off overnight losses on Wall Street driven by tariff uncertainty and rising Middle East tensions. Seoul’s benchmark KOSPI advanced 1.42 percent to a fresh all-time high of 5,929.14 as of 11:15 a.m., while the KOSPI 200 gained 1.66 percent to 880.21. Overnight in the United States, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.7 percent, the Nasdaq dropped 1.1 percent and the S&P 500 declined 1.0 percent, reflecting caution over trade frictions and concerns about AI-driven industry disruption. Despite the pullback, most Asian markets remained resilient. Institutional investors led the rally, piling into large-cap shares as foreign and domestic investment banks raised their targets for the main index. Nomura Securities recently projected the KOSPI could climb to 8,000. Domestic institutions bought more than 1 trillion won worth of shares, offsetting net retail selling of 945.2 billion won. Semiconductor heavyweights remained firm. Samsung Electronics rose 0.7 percent to 194,400 won, while SK hynix advanced 2.1 percent to 971,000 won, sustaining momentum in memory-related stocks. Sector performance was mixed. Telecommunications equipment led gains, climbing 5.8 percent. Hanwha Vision surged 23.9 percent on expectations that its semiconductor equipment subsidiary would benefit from continued high-bandwidth memory investment. CJ ENM also gained 5.75 percent. In contrast, petrochemical shares weakened. Hanwha Solutions fell 2.3 percent amid uncertainty over the government’s upcoming restructuring package for the sector. Risk-off sentiment was evident in commodities. Gold jumped 2.84 percent to $5,225.6 per ounce, while silver climbed 5.13 percent to $86.6, reflecting safe-haven demand following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed deadline to Iran over its nuclear program. In currency markets, the won weakened slightly, with the dollar up 0.5 won to 1,446.5 won. Across Asia, markets were mixed. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.6 percent, while China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.7 percent. Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.6 percent. 2026-02-24 11:29:41 -
Kbank draws $7.3 bn in pre-IPO deposits ahead of planned KOSPI debut SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Kbank, South Korea’s first internet-only lender, has attracted more than $7 billion in pre-initial public offering deposits as it prepares to become the first major IPO of 2026 on the KOSPI, the world’s best-performing equity market this year. The bank wrapped up a three-day pre-IPO offering to retail investors on Monday, posting a subscription competition ratio of 136 to 1. About 9.85 trillion won ($7.3 billion) in deposits were raised, with 836,599 subscription accounts recorded. Kbank priced its shares at 8,300 won, the lower end of its indicative range of up to 9,500 won during institutional bookbuilding. The band was lowered by about 20 percent from the 12,000 won level set during its second failed IPO attempt in September last year. The listing is being led by NH Investment & Securities and Samsung Securities, with Shinhan Securities participating as a co-underwriter. Under agreements with its financial investors tied to a capital increase, Kbank is required to go public by July at the latest. Failure to do so would trigger put option clauses, exposing the bank to potential repurchase obligations. Kbank’s long-term performance remains uncertain despite the heated demand on the main bourse. Concerns center on potential share dilution by major shareholders and the bank’s heavy dependence on Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit, whose exclusive partnership with Kbank expires in October. More than 90 percent of Kbank’s loan portfolio is concentrated in household lending, reinforcing criticism that the bank remains largely confined to a “non-face-to-face retail lender” model. Its earnings structure also remains vulnerable. About 84 percent of operating revenue in 2024 came from net interest income, reflecting heavy reliance on lending margins. Fee-based income — a key pillar of non-interest revenue — remains weak, with around 35 percent generated through its partnership with Upbit and its operator Dunamu. Investor sentiment has also been dampened by the weak performance of industry peer KakaoBank. Brokerage firms have recently lowered their target prices for KakaoBank. Daishin Securities, for instance, cut its target to 26,000 won, reflecting a more cautious outlook for the sector. Market analysts warn that the sluggish performance of the industry’s flagship player is undermining the broader appeal of internet-only banks. KakaoBank shares closed Monday at 28,250 won, up about 29 percent so far this year, underperforming gains of roughly 37 percent for banking heavyweight KB Financial Group and about 40 percent for the benchmark KOSPI over the same period. 2026-02-24 09:57:37 -
KOSPI briefly tops 5,900 as individuals offset foreign selloff SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - Korean stocks closed higher Monday after briefly touching the 5,900 mark for the first time, although heavy foreign selling erased much of the early advance. The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.7 percent to finish at 5,846.1, after surging 2.1 percent in early trade to hit an all-time high of 5,931.9. The index later slipped down to 5,846.1 before the trading session ended. The KOSPI 200 gained 0.7 percent to 865.5. Volatility intensified as foreign investors dumped 1.10 trillion won, ($763.6 million) while institutions also sold 144.0 billion won. Individuals stepped in aggressively, purchasing 1.08 trillion won and effectively defending the 5,800 level. The rally was initially fueled by relief after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy was unlawful, easing trade uncertainty. However, renewed geopolitical tension in the Middle East — after Trump reportedly set a deadline for Iran’s nuclear rollback — tempered risk appetite during the session. Among large-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 1.5 percent to 193,000 won, extending its momentum above the 190,000 threshold. SK hynix edged up 0.2 percent to 951,000 won after earlier approaching the symbolic 1 million-won level. Software stocks outperformed sharply, with the sector climbing more than 8 percent, as artificial intelligence–related investment momentum broadened across technology names. MLCC maker Samwha Capacitor surged 30 percent on expectations of price hikes in AI server components following similar signals from Japan’s Murata Manufacturing. Automakers also drew strong interest. Hyundai Motor gained 2.8 percent to 523,000 won after reports that the group plans to invest roughly 10 trillion won in Saemangeum to build AI, hydrogen and robotics industrial clusters. Defense and aerospace names advanced amid rising geopolitical risk. Hanwha Aerospace climbed 8.1 percent, while Korean Air rose 5.2 percent ahead of the upcoming Drone Show Korea exhibition in Busan. In contrast, shipbuilding shares were mixed. Hanwha Ocean fell 1.8 percent despite expectations of potential LNG dual-fuel container ship orders from Japan’s ONE shipping group. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ slipped 0.2 percent to 1,152.0. Foreign investors bought 180.5 billion won, while institutions sold 362.3 billion won. Individuals added 218.8 billion won. Korean won strengthened 0.5 percent to 1,440.8 per dollar. Precious metals rallied, with gold rising to $5,080.9 per ounce and silver climbing to $82.3. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose than 2.4 percent, led by financial and technology shares. The Tokyo exchange was closed for the Emperor's birthday and the Shanghai market is set to resume trading on Tuesday after a holiday closure. 2026-02-23 17:47:22 -
BTS Comeback D-26: Jimin — from charts to cultural reference Editor’s Note — As BTS prepares to return as a full seven-member act with a new album set for March 20 and an open-stage performance at Gwanghwamun on March 21, following a near four-year hiatus for rotational military service, AJP revisits the group’s 13-year trajectory. This series reexamines BTS’s history, music, performance identity and enduring appeal. The sixth installment traces the roots and growth of Jimin. SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - BTS member Jimin has surpassed 2.3 billion cumulative streams on Spotify with his solo track “Who,” according to the platform’s chart dated Feb. 19. The milestone came 581 days after the song’s release on July 19, 2024, making him the first Asian solo artist without a Western collaboration to reach the figure. Even 19 months after release, “Who” continues to chart — ranking No. 54 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart and No. 1 in South Korea. His second solo album “Muse” has also crossed 3.8 billion cumulative streams, becoming the fastest Korean-language album to do so and the first Korean solo album to exceed that threshold. In the United States, “Who” spent 33 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, the longest run for a K-pop male soloist, while “Muse” remained on the Billboard 200 for 34 weeks. The numbers suggest durability. The backstory suggests design. Born in 1995, Jimin (Park Jimin) entered Busan Arts High School as the top-ranked student in its modern dance department despite having trained in contemporary dance for less than a year. In 2012, he passed Big Hit Entertainment’s regional audition as its sole successful candidate from Busan and moved to Seoul. After a six-month trainee period — the shortest among BTS members — he debuted as the group’s final addition. Dance remains foundational to his identity. His control of line, balance and breath — visible in solo stages such as “Lie,” “Filter” and major award-show performances — reflects formal training rarely emphasized in idol narratives. His 2019 solo performance at the Melon Music Awards later inspired visual artworks exhibited at the Seoul Arts Center, while international figure skaters incorporated his choreography into competitive and touring programs. From performance to authorship Jimin participated in writing and composing every track on his first solo album “Face,” released in March 2023. For “Muse,” released in July 2024, he contributed to the majority of the tracks. His 2018 self-composed song “Promise” set a Guinness World Record for the most-streamed track within 24 hours on SoundCloud at the time, and he later became the fastest Korean solo artist to surpass one billion Spotify streams. Beyond charts and credits, his influence has extended outside music. Filmmaker Gus Van Sant once cited Jimin as a potential collaborator, noting his “peaceful” presence. His impact has also reached professional sport. Japanese Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu referenced Jimin’s movements from BTS’s “Dynamite” during a 2021 ice show and later said he studied his choreography. At the international Star on Ice tour, ice dancers Misato Komatsubara and Tim Koleto performed to “Filter,” incorporating elements of his styling and gestures. Fashion media have highlighted his gender-neutral styling and blend of traditionally masculine and soft aesthetics as reflective of shifting global beauty standards. Luxury houses have also taken notice. Jimin was named a global ambassador for Dior, while The Business of Fashion included him in its “BoF 500” list in 2019. Jimin enlisted for mandatory military service in December 2023 and was discharged in June 2025. Yet his streaming figures did not decline during his absence. Instead, they largely stabilized. Behind his 2.3 billion Spotify streams lies a path that runs from a dance studio in Busan to global arenas, competitive ice rinks and algorithm-driven charts. As BTS approaches reunion activities, his solo career appears less like a side project and more like a parallel axis — built on technique, authorship and a presence that moves fluidly across disciplines. The next installment will focus on V. 2026-02-23 16:36:44 -
BTS Comeback D-26: After Gwanghwamun, book cinema seats for 'ARIRANG' concerts SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - Global K-pop powerhouse BTS is taking an unconventional, fan-first approach to its long-awaited comeback, blending free outdoor performances, livestreaming, and cinema screenings to reach audiences worldwide. Livestreaming to living rooms and screening concerts on silver screens — both free and paid — mark a departure from traditional commercial touring models, as the group reconnects with fans who have waited nearly four years for a full reunion. Alongside the free outdoor show at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21, which will also stream on Netflix, BTS will bring its sold-out stadium tour to movie theaters at affordable prices. Concerts scheduled for April 11 in Goyang, South Korea, and April 18 in Tokyo, Japan, will be broadcast live in more than 3,500 theaters across 75 countries. In some regions, screenings will be delayed because of time zone differences. Live cinema viewing allows fans to gather for real-time broadcasts of concerts and major events. In South Korea, screenings will be available at the country’s three major multiplex chains — CGV, Lotte Cinema, and Megabox — with tickets going on sale at 10 a.m. on March 25. Largest world tour to date BTS is set to launch its biggest-ever world tour, spanning 82 shows in 34 cities beginning in Goyang. The group will become the first Korean act to hold standalone concerts at several major stadiums, including Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Stanford Stadium, Gillette Stadium, M&T Bank Stadium, AT&T Stadium, King Baudouin Stadium, and Allianz Arena. The group is also expected to set a single-show attendance record at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. BTS will release its fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” on March 20. From the album’s release through April 12, an immersive citywide project titled “BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL” will unfold across Seoul, featuring media installations, pop-up experiences and interactive events. Tickets for “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG,” the group’s first-ever performance at Gwanghwamun Square, will open Monday at 8 p.m. via NOL Ticket. Available sections include standing areas on the far right facing the main stage and reserved seating extending toward the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin Statue. Purchases are limited to one ticket per person. Some sections may have partially obstructed views because of stage structures and safety installations, with large on-site screens provided. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Park Jeong-bo said authorities will intensify monitoring of potential crimes linked to the event, including proxy ticket purchases, resale at inflated prices, cyberattacks targeting ticketing platforms, and accommodation-related fraud near the venue. With outdoor stages, global cinema broadcasts and a record-setting stadium tour, BTS’s “ARIRANG” era is shaping up as one of the most expansive and accessible comeback projects in K-pop history. 2026-02-23 15:24:32