Journalist

Joonha Yoo
  • K-pop girl band ITZYs Yuna to roll out solo debut album Ice Cream
    K-pop girl band ITZY's Yuna to roll out solo debut album 'Ice Cream' SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - Yuna, the youngest member of the five-member K-pop girl band ITZY, will make her solo debut with album "Ice Cream," her agency JYP Entertainment said Monday. Ice Cream will consist of four tracks, including the title track of the same name. The album will be released at 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) on March 23 across major music streaming platforms. According to the tracklist released through the official social media accounts, the album will contain four songs: the title track Ice Cream, along with "B-Boy," "Blue Maze" and "Hyper Dream." The 22-year-old will be the second member of ITZY to launch a solo project following leader Yeji. She is the youngest member, widely known for her stage presence and performance skills since the group’s debut in 2019. A trailer for Yuna's upcoming album is ranked No. 2 on YouTube’s "worldwide music video trending chart," reflecting strong anticipation from fans ahead of the release. ITZY debuted in 2019 under JYP Entertainment with hit songs such as "Dalla Dalla," "Wannabe" and "Not Shy." The group drew attention early in its career after earning the nickname super rookies upon debut. The release of Ice Cream will mark Yuna’s first official solo project since her debut with the group. 2026-03-09 14:46:13
  • BTS Comeback D-12: Seoul goes hard on lodging and scalping
    BTS Comeback D-12: Seoul goes hard on lodging and scalping SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - South Korea and its capital city authorities have intensified inspections of accommodations and launched a massive crackdown on ticket scalping as the K-pop legend is preparing for its comeback with a free public concert in central Seoul on March 21. The multi-agency enforcement effort follows the discovery of widespread lodging violations and reports of tickets for the free event being resold for hundreds of thousands of won. The Seoul City said Sunday that 18 lodging facilities near the concert site were caught violating regulations during a campaign aimed at preventing price gouging. Lodging inspections ahead of BTS concert The Special Police Bureau for Citizens' Livelihood and Safety, an investigative unit within the Seoul city government, conducted surprise inspections from February 25 to March 4 at 83 hotels and tourist accommodations around Gwanghwamun Square. The square will serve as the venue for the group's comeback performance on March 21. The inspections were carried out jointly with district authorities in Jongno-gu and Jung-gu, as well as the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The city began monitoring facilities in January after the Korea Heritage Service granted conditional approval for the use of the historic site. Investigators found that 18 establishments failed to post lodging rates or business registration certificates, which are required under the Public Health Control Act. Under the law, accommodation providers must display their business registration certificate inside the premises and clearly post room rates at reception desks, charging customers according to the listed prices. Authorities reported violations including unmanned lodging facilities operating without rate displays and businesses that had never posted rate tables since opening. Operators of the establishments will be referred for investigation. Violations can carry up to six months in prison or fines of up to 5 million won, along with administrative penalties such as business suspension. Whistleblower rewards for lodging violations The city government has established a public reporting system to identify further violations, including unauthorized rentals in officetels and failure to follow posted rates. Reports can be submitted through the Seoul Smart Complaint Reporting app or the city’s civic portal until the day of the concert. Whistleblowers who provide significant evidence of lodging violations may receive rewards of up to 200 million won after a formal review. Byun Kyung-ok, head of the Special Police Bureau for Citizens’ Livelihood and Safety, said the inspections are intended to protect the city's reputation during the high-profile event. "We will continue strong inspections and investigations into illegal lodging operations until the concert to ensure that foreign visitors attending the BTS event do not experience inconvenience during their stay in Seoul," Byun said. Government mobilizes crowd safety measures The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has launched a nationwide crowd-management effort to handle the influx of fans. Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung is scheduled to chair a multi-agency safety meeting on Wednesday involving central government ministries, the Seoul city government, police, fire authorities, and Seoul Metro. A joint government safety inspection team will conduct on-site checks from March 19 to March 20, reviewing potential bottleneck areas and emergency response systems. On the day of the event, the minister is expected to personally inspect high-risk areas including subway stations and narrow pedestrian corridors. Citywide fan festival The concert also marks the centerpiece of "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL," a citywide fan experience project running from March 20 to April 12. The initiative is part of HYBE’s "THE CITY" model, which expands major concerts into urban-scale festivals by linking performances with exhibitions, themed attractions and tourism programs across the host city. The concept was first introduced in Las Vegas in 2022 during "BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE THE CITY – LAS VEGAS," when the entire city hosted BTS-themed attractions. These included a special Bellagio fountain show set to BTS music, photo exhibitions documenting the group’s concerts and rehearsals, and large-scale pop-up stores. HYBE also partnered with MGM Resorts International to operate BTS-themed hotel rooms across 11 MGM properties, offering fans welcome cards written by members and exclusive merchandise. Restaurants joined the program as well, offering a themed dining event called "Cafe in the City," where Korean dishes favored by BTS, including bibim noodles, tteokbokki, kimbap and fried chicken, were served as a curated tasting course. In Seoul, the upcoming edition will be held under the official title BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL. The citywide project is expected to be officially unveiled on March 20 through BTS’ official social media channels and HYBE’s fan platform Weverse. Scheduled to run from March 20 to April 12, the program will transform parts of Seoul into a large-scale fan experience zone linked to BTS' comeback. It will feature media-facade installations at landmarks such as Sungnyemun Gate and N Seoul Tower, along with fan lounge programs at Yeouido Hangang Park and urban media-art displays inspired by BTS song lyrics. Byun Kyung-ok, head of the Special Police Bureau for Citizens’ Livelihood and Safety, said inspections would continue until the day of the concert. "We will continue strong inspections and investigations into illegal lodging operations until the concert to ensure that foreign visitors attending the BTS event do not experience inconvenience during their stay in Seoul," Byun said. Authorities said inspections and monitoring efforts will remain in place as Seoul prepares for an influx of domestic and international visitors ahead of the concert. Nationwide crackdown on ticket scalping The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has designated the upcoming BTS performance as a model case for a new public-private crackdown on ticket scalping. Although the Gwanghwamun Square concert is a free event, authorities have detected cases of tickets being resold for up to 1.5 million won on secondhand trading platforms. Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young announced the launch of a public-private consultative body on March 5 to eradicate illegal ticket resales. The body includes the Fair Trade Commission, the National Police Agency, and major ticketing and secondhand platforms. Under recently passed amendments to the Public Performance Act, those found using automated "macro" programs to purchase tickets or reselling tickets at prices exceeding face value can face fines of up to 50 times the transaction amount. While the full weight of the new law takes effect in August, Minister Chae said the government would use all available tools to disrupt illegal sales immediately. Authorities are currently monitoring platforms for suspected proxy-booking and ID transfer schemes. The government has warned fans that any ticket identified as a scalped transaction will be canceled, and attendees may be denied entry following on-site identity verification. 2026-03-09 13:47:16
  • World AI Film Festival Seoul highlights how AI can expand filmmaking
    World AI Film Festival Seoul highlights how AI can expand filmmaking SEOUL, March 07 (AJP) - From scripts written with algorithms to films rendered entirely with digital tools, the World AI Film Festival in Seoul offered a glimpse of cinema’s next frontier — one where artificial intelligence works alongside human storytellers rather than replacing them. The festival, founded in Nice, France last year, brought its third edition to Seoul, a city widely seen as a global hub of high technology and the Korean cultural wave. The finale event on Friday at Lotte Concert Hall gathered filmmakers, technology companies, creators and audiences to explore how AI tools are reshaping storytelling and film production. More than 2,000 entries were submitted to this year’s competition, up from 1,500 for the inaugural festival in Nice, reflecting rapidly growing global interest in AI-assisted filmmaking. The concert hall was filled with attendees eager to witness the emerging field of AI cinema. The evening featured a purple-carpet reception, an awards ceremony and live performances, including a celebratory stage by Korean singer Insooni that drew enthusiastic applause from the audience. Several cultural figures also attended the event. Actress Hwang Seok-jeong highlighted how new technologies are opening creative opportunities for storytellers. “Anyone can now express their ideas and stories through visual media,” she said. “Events like this show how storytelling will evolve in the AI era.” The program began with a purple-carpet reception, followed by opening remarks, panel presentations and the awards ceremony. Festival founder Marko Landi said artificial intelligence is helping democratize filmmaking by lowering barriers to entry. “AI gives young creators the opportunity to make films faster and at lower cost,” he said. “One of the major objectives of this festival is to discover new talent, protect their rights and reward their creativity.” During a panel discussion, the Cheif AI Officer at the Blue House Ha Jung-woo emphasized that artificial intelligence should be seen as a creative partner rather than a replacement for filmmakers. “AI is not here to replace human creativity,” he said. “It is a tool that expands what creators can imagine and produce. The future of cinema will come from collaboration between human storytelling and intelligent technology.” Screenwriter David Bendi, who presented the screenplay award, also underscored the enduring importance of storytelling in filmmaking. “A story is the beginning of everything,” he said. “You can have all the tools in the world, but without a powerful story nothing truly happens.” Several awards recognizing AI-assisted filmmaking were presented during the ceremony. Director Kim Won-kyung won the grand prize in the AI short film category for “Known or Unknown.” The excellence award went to director Lim Da-young for “Losing,” a film that explores the emotional tension before saying goodbye to a loved one through the perspective of a mother. The encouragement award was presented to “The Dog, the Octopus and Me,” produced by AI content studio AI Revolution. The whimsical film depicts the unusual coexistence of a human, a dog and an octopus after the sea creature escapes being cooked. Jessie Yang of MiniMax, who announced the Youth Film Award, praised the creativity of emerging filmmakers. “The works submitted by young creators exceeded our expectations and showed remarkable individuality and potential,” she said. Another standout entry, “We Looked Away,” centers on a mysterious door on a mountainside that a village community silently agrees to ignore. Through the villagers’ shared silence, the story explores themes of moral responsibility, collective denial and the choices people make when confronted with uncomfortable truths. Accepting the award, filmmaker WK Kim said he had not expected the recognition. “I flew in from Seogwipo in Jeju this morning hoping to attend the festival,” he said. “I had only used AI as a work tool before, and this was the first time I tried creating content with it.” He added that the experience felt like “the beginning of a second chapter” in his life as a creator. Organizers said the festival illustrates how AI technology is rapidly transforming the filmmaking landscape, opening new opportunities for independent creators while redefining the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. 2026-03-07 11:31:16
  • The Kings Warden breaks Korean film drought with 10-mln crossing
    The King's Warden breaks Korean film drought with 10-mln crossing SEOUL, March 07 (AJP) - In the arithmetic of the Korean film industry, there are hits — and then there are “ten-million films.” Crossing the 10-million-admissions threshold in a country of roughly 52 million people bears significance beyond a commercial milestone. It means a film has escaped the gravity of niche audiences and become something closer to a shared national experience. With more than 10 million moviegoers now through theater doors, The King’s Warden has quietly joined that club — becoming the first Korean film to reach the milestone in about two years, after a prolonged blockbuster drought in local cinemas. For director Jang Hang-jun, it marks a breakthrough that took 24 years to arrive. For star Yoo Hae-jin, it represents a different kind of achievement — the fifth time he has been part of a ten-million blockbuster. In an industry increasingly fragmented by streaming platforms and shortened attention cycles, that double milestone says something larger about how Korean audiences still choose their cinema heroes. For much of his career, Jang Hang-jun was known less as a box-office director than as one of Korean television’s most versatile storytellers. He entered the industry in the early 1990s and made his directorial debut with the comedy “Break Out the Lighter” in 2002. The film drew notice for its quirky humor and sharp dialogue but never hinted at blockbuster credentials. The projects that followed — including romantic comedy “Spring Breeze” and sports drama “Battlefield Heroes” — struggled to find audiences. For years afterward, Jang’s filmography thinned. He wrote television dramas such as Sign and The King of Dramas, became a familiar face on talk shows and variety programs, and developed a reputation for quick wit and effortless storytelling. For much of the public, he was better known as the genial television personality — and as the husband of star screenwriter Kim Eun-hee, creator of hit series Signal and Kingdom. The success of The King’s Warden changes that narrative almost overnight. What once looked like a career of diversions now resembles a long apprenticeship in storytelling. Jang’s television instincts — dialogue timing, character warmth and narrative rhythm — became the film’s quiet engine. Critics note that his biggest strength lies not in spectacle but in orchestrating performances. The film’s ensemble — from Yoo Hae-jin’s grounded humor to Yoo Ji-tae’s unexpectedly imposing interpretation of historical power broker Han Myeong-hoe — feels calibrated rather than imposed. In Korean cinema terms, the industry sometimes calls this stage “the director just before becoming a master.” If Jang’s success arrives as a breakthrough, Yoo Hae-jin’s milestone feels more like confirmation. The veteran actor has now appeared in five films that surpassed 10 million admissions, joining a small group of performers who have repeatedly anchored major hits, including The King and the Clown (2005), Veteran (2015), A Taxi Driver (2017), and Exhuma (2024). Few Korean actors have navigated so seamlessly between supporting roles, comic relief and leading performances. He has brought the texture of everyday life into historical epics and genre films alike. In The King’s Warden, Yoo plays village chief Eom Heung-do, the man tasked with guarding the exiled teenage king Danjong. The character is neither hero nor villain — simply a pragmatic villager trying to survive the politics of the Joseon court. Yoo’s performance moves easily between humor and melancholy, embodying the film’s central tone: ordinary humanity in the shadow of history. The film’s success carries broader significance for the industry. In recent years, Korean theaters have struggled to reproduce the blockbuster momentum that once defined the market. Streaming services have fragmented audiences, and mid-budget films often disappear quickly from screens. Against that backdrop, The King’s Warden represents something increasingly rare: a word-of-mouth blockbuster built on emotional trust rather than spectacle. Instead of palace intrigue, the film focuses on a dethroned boy-king living among villagers — a shift that reframes tragedy through intimacy rather than grandeur. The result is a historical drama that families can watch together, bridging generations in a way few modern releases manage. It reminds of the rule of thumb: even in an era dominated by algorithms and streaming platforms, a well-told story can still draw an entire nation to the big screen. 2026-03-07 08:31:18
  • Day 7 Middle East War: Why shockwaves hit Seoul markets hardest 
    Day 7 Middle East War: Why shockwaves hit Seoul markets hardest  As the war triggered by U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran enters its first week, AJP examines how the conflict began and evolved, the emerging power vacuum in Tehran and its implications for Iran and the Gulf states, and the broader impact on global energy routes, financial markets and the international order. SEOUL, March 06 (AJP) - South Korea’s stock market entered 2026 in a euphoric rally. The benchmark KOSPI surged nearly 50 percent in the first two months of the year, pushing past the 6,300 level after an extraordinary 76 percent gain in 2025, making it one of the world’s strongest equity markets. The mood reversed abruptly when investors returned from a long holiday weekend to the shocking news of U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran that killed the country’s supreme leader and senior military officials. Within days, the Korean equity market experienced one of the most dramatic swings in its history. The first week of the Middle East war triggered a historic whipsaw in Seoul, sending the KOSPI plunging 12 percent in a single session — the worst crash on record — before rebounding nearly 10 percent the next day as oil prices, the Korean won and foreign investor positioning repriced simultaneously. By the end of the first week of March, the market was still roughly 10 percent lower than before the war began. On Wednesday — the second trading day after the weekend strikes — the KOSPI collapsed 12 percent. The index then surged back the following day in a near mirror-image rebound. The tug-of-war continued through Friday as retail investors and foreign funds battled for control of the market, producing one of the most volatile trading weeks in decades. “This market is not for the faint of heart,” veteran investor Jim Bianco wrote on X. Part of the turbulence reflected timing. Korea’s market had been closed for a three-day holiday from Feb. 28 to March 2, compressing the geopolitical shock into the first two trading sessions of March. But the magnitude of the swings also revealed how quickly risk premiums can be repriced in Korea — a market where oil prices, the currency and foreign investor flows often move together. Hormuz shock ripples across Asia The war’s financial shock spread quickly across Asia, a region heavily dependent on Middle Eastern energy shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Although the strait was not formally closed, Iranian threats against vessels and heightened military tensions effectively slowed shipping traffic and increased the perceived risk of disruption. For global markets, the mere possibility of disruption was enough. Even without a full blockade, the risk feeds into energy costs through multiple channels: higher war-risk insurance premiums, tanker rerouting, delivery delays and rising freight rates. Those costs ultimately raise the landed price of oil and industrial inputs. For Korea, those risks translate directly into market volatility. The country imports about 70.7 percent of its crude oil and roughly 20.4 percent of its liquefied natural gas from the Middle East, leaving it unusually exposed to geopolitical disruptions in the Gulf. When global investors move into risk-off mode, those structural vulnerabilities quickly become an equity story. Energy is priced in dollars. When oil rises while the Korean won weakens, the import bill increases twice — lifting inflation risks and squeezing corporate margins. That dynamic was visible throughout the week. The dollar-won exchange rate climbed from 1,439.8 before the war to 1,480.6 by Thursday, briefly touching 1,506.7, a level widely seen by investors as a psychological stress threshold. Meanwhile Brent crude jumped from $72.48 to $84.31, reaching an intraday high of $86.27. For Korea, oil and foreign exchange tend to reinforce each other. When both move at once, the market typically reprices risk more aggressively than peers with lower energy exposure or weaker FX sensitivity. Foreign selling amplifies the drop Foreign investor flows amplified the volatility. Korea’s equity market has one of the highest foreign participation rates among major markets, meaning global portfolio shifts can move the index rapidly. Foreign investors had already been trimming positions after Korea’s extraordinary rally. Data from the Korea Exchange show foreign investors sold 26.1 trillion won worth of shares in the benchmark market this year as of March 3. The selling was concentrated in the large-cap stocks that had led the rally — particularly Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the backbone of the KOSPI. Foreign investors sold 22 trillion won worth of Samsung Electronics shares and 10.5 trillion won of SK Hynix, while also trimming positions in Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Mobis. Retail investors moved aggressively in the opposite direction. Individuals bought 12.8 trillion won of Samsung Electronics and 6.7 trillion won of SK Hynix, absorbing much of the foreign selling pressure. According to Noh Dong-gil, a researcher at Shinhan Securities, foreign investors were not abandoning Korea entirely but were rebalancing their portfolios. “They reduced exposure to semiconductors — the key driver of KOSPI volatility — while adding defensive or policy-related stocks,” he said. “The problem was the scale and speed of the selling, which amplified the market’s decline.” Base case vs. Stress case For strategists, the week’s violent swings reflected a rapid shift between base-case and stress-case geopolitical scenarios. Kim Do-un, a senior analyst at Hana Securities, described the whipsaw as a market briefly pricing in an extreme energy shock. Historically, he said, Middle East crises often create buying opportunities — provided the conflict does not escalate into a prolonged oil shock. “If the conflict doesn’t escalate into an all-out regional war and oil does not move into the $100 to $120 range, then the pullback at these levels can be interpreted as a healthy correction,” Kim said. “What we saw was the market’s center of gravity shifting — at least temporarily — from the base scenario toward the worst-case scenario.” Kim mapped those scenarios into index levels. “If the conflict remains contained within roughly two months and the currency stabilizes, the KOSPI’s lower bound would likely be around 5,600,” he said. “But if Hormuz disruption intensifies, the won breaks above 1,500 again and oil approaches $120, then a move toward 5,000 becomes plausible.” 2026-03-06 16:02:53
  • Asian markets ending the first war week muddled 
    Asian markets ending the first war week muddled  SEOUL, March 06 (AJP) - Asian markets finishing the first week of a new war became muddled Friday amid mixed messages from Washington and the battlefields in the Middle East about how long the conflict could continue and how large the impact on the global economy. Overnight, U.S. equities returned to declines as geopolitical risks surrounding the Iran conflict weighed on investor confidence. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.61 percent to 47,954.74, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.56 percent to 6,830.71. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.26 percent to 22,748.99. Security concerns around one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes also weighed on sentiment. Reports of tanker attacks near the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears about the safety of oil shipments through the Gulf, where hundreds of vessels carrying crude oil and liquefied natural gas are reportedly waiting for safe passage. Political uncertainty in Iran added to investor caution. Reports indicated that clerics responsible for selecting the country’s next supreme leader are considering Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as a potential successor, raising questions about the direction of Iran’s leadership following the conflict. Across Asia, markets showed diverging performances. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.8 percent to around 54,860, while China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.6 percent to 4,108.6 as investors selectively bought recently weakened technology shares. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI briefly rebounded around 9:23 a.m. before turning lower again from about 9:30 a.m. As of 10:30 a.m., the index was down 2.6 percent at 5,437.1. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ also reversed early gains, falling 0.8 percent to 1,107.3 after touching an intraday high of 1,118.01 at around 10:16 a.m. Trading activity remained brisk, with turnover reaching about 14.3 trillion won ($9.7 billion) on the KOSPI and 7.1 trillion won on the KOSDAQ. Investor flows showed strong retail buying against persistent foreign selling pressure. On the main board, individual investors purchased 1.96 trillion won worth of shares, while institutions and foreigners sold 639.5 billion won and 1.34 trillion won, respectively. On the KOSDAQ, individuals and institutions were net buyers of 82.7 billion won and 93.3 billion won, while foreigners sold 176.7 billion won. Major blue chips traded lower. Samsung Electronics fell 4.9 percent to 182,200 won, while SK Hynix dropped 5.3 percent to 892,000 won. Automakers also declined, with Hyundai Motor down 2.6 percent at 534,000 won and Kia falling 2.5 percent to 162,300 won. Battery maker LG Energy Solution slipped 1.5 percent to 366,000 won, while biotech heavyweight Samsung Biologics declined 2.9 percent to 1.6 million won. Defense-related shares bucked the broader market trend on expectations of sustained global demand amid geopolitical tensions. LIG Nex1 surged 10 percent to 834,000 won, while Hanwha Systems gained 7.2 percent to 161,300 won and Hanwha Aerospace advanced 3.3 percent to 1,428,000 won. The dollar weakened globally, trading at 1,473.30 won. 2026-03-06 11:43:35
  • KOSPI stages sharp rebound to lead Asian recovery
    KOSPI stages sharp rebound to lead Asian recovery SEOUL, March 05 (AJP) - Korean stocks led Asia’s rebound Thursday, with the benchmark KOSPI surging nearly 10 percent in a sharp reversal from the previous session’s record plunge, as bargain hunting and program buying drove a broad-based rally in heavyweight shares. The KOSPI closed at 5,583.9, up 490.4 points, or 9.6 percent, after swinging between an intraday low of 5,248.13 and a high of 5,715.3. Turnover reached 44.81 trillion won. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ outperformed, jumping 14.1 percent to 1,116.4. After a stunning flop on the previous two sessions, Korea marched far ahead of regional peers, with the KOSPI’s 9.6 percent gain dwarfing Japan’s Nikkei 225 rise of 1.9 percent and China’s Shanghai Composite advance of 0.6 percent. Buying was driven largely by retail investors on the main board, who snapped up 1.7964 trillion won ($1.23 billion) worth of shares on a net basis. Foreign investors, by contrast, sold 144.5 billion won, while institutions offloaded 1.7187 trillion won. On the KOSDAQ, the pattern flipped, with foreigners and institutions emerging as heavy buyers — purchasing 831.8 billion won and 741.5 billion won, respectively — as retail investors turned net sellers of 1.5528 trillion won. Large-cap leaders anchored the rebound. Samsung Electronics rose 11.3 percent to 191,600 won, while SK hynix gained 11 percent to 941,000 won, keeping semiconductors at the center of the rally. Hyundai Motor climbed 9.4 percent to 548,000 won, while LG Energy Solution added 6.9 percent to 371,500 won. Samsung Biologics jumped 8.6 percent to 1,647,000 won, and Hanwha Aerospace rose 4.4 percent to 1,381,000 won. Despite the strong finish, it was a roller-coaster ride. A buy-side sidecar was triggered shortly after the opening bell on both the KOSPI and KOSDAQ as program buying accelerated. Sidecars temporarily halt program-trading orders when index moves breach preset thresholds, a mechanism aimed at cooling abrupt swings. Elsewhere in the region, investors weighed policy signals out of China after Premier Li Qiang unveiled a 2026 growth target range of 4.5 to 5 percent at the opening of the National People’s Congress, stepping down from the “around 5 percent” goal maintained in recent years. China’s Shanghai Composite ended 0.6 percent higher, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.5 percent. Japan also joined the rebound. The Nikkei 225 gained 1.9 percent, with the index bouncing sharply in early trade as bargain hunting followed three sessions of losses tied to Middle East tensions. The Nikkei briefly climbed into the 56,600 range, recouping much of the previous day’s decline, while roughly 90 percent of stocks on the TSE Prime market traded higher. Semiconductor-linked and financial shares rebounded as well, with Advantest jumping about 7 percent at one point and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group rising around 5 percent. The Korean won which hovered near 1,480 came down to 1,460 range amid broad easing in the greenback and oil prices. The dollar was 1,469.40. 2026-03-05 17:54:12
  • BTS Comeback D-16: BTS teaser sparks global buzz ahead of ARIRANG comeback
    BTS Comeback D-16: BTS teaser sparks global buzz ahead of 'ARIRANG' comeback SEOUL, March 05 (AJP) - BTS ignited massive online buzz Thursday after releasing a teaser for its upcoming comeback performance "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE : ARIRANG," sending anticipation among global fans soaring ahead of the group’s long-awaited return. The K-pop sensation unveiled the trailer across its major social media platforms, quickly drawing millions of views and reactions from fans worldwide. The video opens with the roar of ARMY, BTS’ global fanbase, echoing from past concerts. The familiar sound sets the tone for what many fans view as a symbolic reunion between the band and its supporters. Scenes of Gyeongbokgung Palace — one of Seoul’s most iconic historic landmarks — appear throughout the teaser, blending traditional Korean imagery with BTS’ modern global identity. At the center of the trailer is a message from leader RM: "We promised our fans that we’d be back." The screen then flashes bold phrases such as "THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BAND IS BACK" and "WITNESS THE HOMECOMING," underscoring the scale and symbolism of the group’s return. The teaser rapidly gained traction online shortly after its release. On YouTube, the video garnered more than 32,000 views, 6,100 likes and 496 comments as of 4:30 p.m. (0730 GMT), seven hours after the initial upload. Engagement was even stronger across social media platforms. The teaser post on X generated about 4.1 million views, 211,000 likes, 141,000 reposts and roughly 8,600 comments. On Instagram, it collected more than 2.03 million likes and over 77,000 comments, highlighting the group’s massive global reach. Fans flooded comment sections with messages celebrating the group’s return, "Not everyone will understand why this feels so emotional. But if you’ve been here for years, you know this isn’t just a trailer. BTS don’t just release music, they release memories, healing, and pieces of our lives. Years later they still give the same feeling, excitement, pride, and little bit of tears," the YouTube comment posted by "Anusha15-1" gained over 4.1 thousand likes in five hours, with many noting that a performance in Seoul’s historic center adds symbolic weight to the comeback. "THE SHOT OF THEM WALKING WITH LIGHTED LAMPS IN THEIR HANDS LOOKED SO COOL!!" said "berryberryblueberryy" on YouTube. A teaser poster released alongside the video shows the silhouettes of all seven members standing before Gwanghwamun, reinforcing the theme of reunion. BTS is expected to release its fifth studio album "ARIRANG" on March 20. The following evening, the group will hold a major comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. The concert will be streamed worldwide through Netflix, making it one of the platform’s most high-profile live music broadcasts. The show will be directed by Hamish Hamilton, known for staging global events such as the 2012 London Olympic opening ceremony and the Super Bowl halftime show since 2010. The album’s title track, "SWIM," reflects on moving forward through life’s waves rather than being swept away by them. RM participated in writing the song, adding a personal narrative to the project. For BTS, the teaser signals more than the release of new music. It marks the beginning of a long-awaited reunion with fans around the world. 2026-03-05 16:33:55
  • Middle East Crisis: Away from the front lines, Iran and Israel wage a war of words in Seoul 
    Middle East Crisis: Away from the front lines, Iran and Israel wage a war of words in Seoul  SEOUL, March 05 (AJP) - The Iranian and Israeli embassies in Seoul held back-to-back press briefings Thursday, trading starkly opposing narratives over the escalating war in the Middle East as both sides sought to shape international opinion. The unusual diplomatic exchange unfolded within hours of each other in central Seoul, with the Iranian ambassador accusing the United States and Israel of launching an illegal war and the Israeli envoy defending the military campaign as a necessary step to stop Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. The dueling briefings underscored how the widening conflict — sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran — is rapidly becoming a global information battle as well as a military confrontation. Iran: “Illegal aggression” and war crimes Speaking at the Iranian Embassy in Yongsan, Ambassador Saeed Koozechi blamed Washington and Israel for triggering the conflict. “The responsibility for the current crisis in West Asia lies with the United States and the Zionist regime of Israel,” Koozechi said. “Today’s war did not originate from Iran’s actions, but from the deliberate decision of the United States and Israel to abandon diplomacy and choose military aggression.” The ambassador said Iran had engaged in negotiations with Washington twice in the past nine months over its nuclear program, arguing that the attacks during ongoing diplomacy demonstrated that the talks were used as a cover for military action. He accused Israel of violating international law and targeting civilians, citing an alleged strike on a girls’ elementary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab. “The attack killed 165 students and seriously injured dozens more. Such acts are clear war crimes and blatant violations of international humanitarian law,” he said. Iran, he added, would continue exercising its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter until the attacks stop. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to defend itself. Our response is not revenge but legitimate self-defense,” Koozechi said. The ambassador also rejected accusations that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, calling them “fabricated claims and disinformation.” “The country possessing nuclear weapons in the region is not Iran but Israel,” he said, noting that Israel is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Israel: Preventing a nuclear threat Roughly an hour later in a separate venue in central Seoul, Israeli Ambassador Rafael Harpaz offered a sharply different account. According to Harpaz, the military operation was aimed at preventing Iran from completing a nuclear weapons capability and halting the expansion of its ballistic missile arsenal. “Iran was approaching the final stage of nuclear weapon capability,” Harpaz said. “If we did not act now, we might not have another opportunity to prevent it.” He argued that years of diplomatic efforts had failed to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “Iran has been explaining its nuclear program for decades and promising that it is peaceful,” he said. “But each time, the negotiations simply bought them more time to advance their program.” Harpaz also pointed to Iran’s financial support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, estimating that Tehran has provided the group with $2 billion to $3 billion in funding. The ambassador framed the operation as a defensive measure for Israel’s security. “When you imagine a one-ton warhead mounted on a ballistic missile hitting a densely populated Israeli city, the threat becomes very clear,” he said. Dispute over civilian casualties The two ambassadors clashed sharply over allegations that Israeli strikes hit civilian facilities. Iran said attacks on schools and hospitals represented clear violations of international humanitarian law. Israel denied intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure and warned that misinformation was circulating widely. “There is a lot of fake news coming out of Iran,” Harpaz said. “Israel has never intentionally targeted civilian facilities.” He added that Israel operates under a system of free media and urged journalists to verify claims carefully. Competing visions of the conflict The diplomatic clash in Seoul reflected a broader divide over the goals and legitimacy of the war. Iran framed the conflict as an unlawful act of aggression aimed at undermining its sovereignty and destabilizing the region. Israel, by contrast, presented the campaign as a preemptive effort to neutralize a nuclear and missile threat that could endanger its survival. Both ambassadors acknowledged the risk of a prolonged conflict but expressed confidence in their respective positions. “Iran has faced many invasions in its history and will continue to resist aggression,” Koozechi said. Harpaz said Israel believes the military campaign will not become an endless war. “We trust our capabilities and the support of our allies,” he said The rare diplomatic confrontation in Seoul highlighted how the Middle East conflict is being fought not only on battlefields but also in global capitals. 2026-03-05 15:08:39
  • Asian markets in second rout while Seoul bourses suffer worst collapse
    Asian markets in second rout while Seoul bourses suffer worst collapse SEOUL, March 04 (AJP) - The spiraling war in the Middle East sent shockwaves across Asian markets Wednesday, triggering a historic collapse on the Seoul bourse. Global energy markets remained volatile as tensions centered on the Strait of Hormuz — a critical artery for global oil shipments — fueled fears of supply disruptions and renewed inflation pressure. The narrow waterway carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne crude and serves as a key route for energy supplies bound for Asia. U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was prepared to intervene to protect shipping lanes in the region. “If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said, adding that the government would also provide political risk insurance for maritime trade to ensure the “free flow of energy to the world.” The war abruptly ended this year’s fastest and steepest rally in Korean equities, sending stocks tumbling for a second consecutive session in one of the sharpest market collapses in decades. The benchmark KOSPI plunged 12.06 percent, or 698.37 points, to close at 5,093.54, after already falling 7.24 percent the previous day. The two-day slide wiped out nearly 19 percent of the index’s value. The index briefly dropped to an intraday low of 5,059.45 before closing near session lows, pushing the market back toward levels seen earlier this year. The scale of the decline was extraordinary by historical standards. The drop surpassed the 12.02 percent plunge recorded on Sept. 12, 2001, in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, when the KOSPI fell 64.97 points to close at 475.64. The latest selloff therefore ranks among the steepest single-day declines in the history of the Korean stock market. Selling pressure intensified shortly after the open. The index began the session 3.44 percent lower at 5,592.59, before losses rapidly accelerated across the board. According to the Korea Exchange, circuit breakers were triggered as the selloff deepened. Trading was halted on the KOSDAQ at 11:16:33 a.m., followed by the KOSPI at 11:19:12 a.m., after both indices fell more than 8 percent from the previous close. The mechanism halted trading for 20 minutes in an effort to curb panic selling. It marked the seventh circuit breaker in KOSPI history and the eleventh for the KOSDAQ, and the first such halt since Aug. 5, 2024. Trading activity surged as volatility intensified. Turnover on the KOSPI jumped to about 62.6 trillion won ($42.6 billion), sharply higher than 52.8 trillion won the previous day. Losses were widespread across the Korean market, with major exporters and technology firms leading the decline. Samsung Electronics dropped 11.74 percent to 172,200 won, while SK hynix fell 9.58 percent to 848,000 won, extending losses from the previous session. Automakers and industrial stocks also suffered steep declines. Hyundai Motor plunged 15.8 percent, Kia slid 14.04 percent, and LG Energy Solution fell 11.58 percent. Heavy industry and shipbuilding shares were similarly hit, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries dropping 13.39 percent. Even defense stocks — which had surged a day earlier amid rising geopolitical tensions — reversed sharply. Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, and Hanwha Systems all posted significant losses. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ also recorded a historic decline. The index plunged 14 percent, or 159.26 points, to 978.44, breaking below the psychologically important 1,000 level after opening at 1,112.08. Major growth stocks fell sharply across the board, including EcoPro, Alteogen, EcoPro BM, Samchundang Pharm, and Rainbow Robotics, all posting double-digit losses. Elsewhere in Asia, markets also declined as investors moved away from risk assets, though the scale of losses was far less severe than in Korea. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 3.6 percent to 54,245.5, while the broader TOPIX dropped 3.7 percent. In Greater China, declines were more moderate. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 2.3 percent, while the Shanghai Composite slipped 1 percent. The comparison underscored the magnitude of Korea’s selloff, which far exceeded declines across other major Asian markets. Currency markets also reflected growing risk aversion. The Korean won traded near crisis-era levels at 1,476.2 per dollar, highlighting investor concerns about capital outflows and rising energy costs. With tensions in the Middle East unresolved and energy markets highly sensitive to developments around the Strait of Hormuz, volatility across global markets is likely to remain elevated. Market watchers note that after surging nearly 50 percent this year as of last week, the KOSPI may still face further downside risks if geopolitical tensions persist. 2026-03-04 17:47:01