AJU PRESS - ASIA NEWS HUB

Journalist

Kim Hee-su khs@ajuapress.com

[[K-pop]] Singer-actor Cha Eun-woo begins mandatory military service SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - Cha Eun-woo, a member of the K-pop boy group ASTRO, will begin his mandatory military service on Monday. The 28-year-old is scheduled to enter an Army training center in Nonsan at 2:00 p.m. (0500 GMT), joining others who have been conscripted. Fantagio, the singer-actor's agency, Cha will be assigned to the Army's brass band following three weeks of basic training. Under South Korean law, all able-bodied men are required to serve a minimum of 18 months in the Army. Those who enlist in the Air Force or Navy serve for 21 months and 20 months, respectively. A day before his enlistment, Cha greeted fans in a YouTube livestream, where he revealed his freshly cut soldier-style short hair and shared a brief farewell. "I'll stay healthy and return safely. I wish you the best of luck in everything you do," he said. Cha debuted with ASTRO in 2016 with tracks including "Breathless" and "Confession." He later expanded into acting, appearing in dramas such as "Gangnam Beauty" and "Wonderful World." 2025-07-28 10:36:03
US sanctions more North Korean workers over illicit overseas schemes SEOUL, July 25 (AJP) - More North Korean firms and workers involved in illicit schemes abroad have been sanctioned by the U.S. The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Thursday sanctioned North Korean trading company Sobaeksu and three IT workers as "part of a collaborative effort" with the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and State, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations to counter North Korea's "wide-ranging revenue generation schemes." The U.S. Department of State also said the same day that the federal agencies are "executing coordinated, decisive actions to keep Americans safe from North Korea's malicious and illicit revenue-generation schemes." It also pledged "rewards totaling up to $15 million for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions, in any country," of seven North Koreans including Sim Hyon-sop, who are accused of involvement in the schemes. The fresh joint measures came after a series of similar actions targeting North Korea's illegal activities were taken earlier. Assessing that North Korea "dispatches thousands of IT workers abroad to orchestrate fraudulent IT work, often from Russia and China," it said their criminal schemes ranging from cryptocurrency theft, illegal transfers of counterfeit goods, and smuggling "often target U.S. companies and U.S. citizens to raise funds for North Korea's dangerous and unlawful and ballistic missile programs," in violation of UN sanctions. "The United States will not stand idly by while North Korea profits from criminal activity to fund its destabilizing actions," it vowed, stressing Washington's "commitment to mitigating such threats posed by North Korea to protect U.S. companies, the U.S. financial system, and American citizens." Under such sanctions, all their assets are frozen, and they are barred from doing business in the U.S. 2025-07-25 13:54:01
Heat wave warning issued again in Seoul as unbearable heat persists SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - A heat wave warning was issued in Seoul on Thursday, after this summer's brief monsoon season came to an end last week. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the warning was issued around 10 a.m. for the capital as well as surrounding Gyeonggi Province, as scorching heat continues nationwide with daytime highs soaring up to 36 degrees Celsius. The highest-level warning, first issued this season earlier this month before being temporarily eased to an advisory, returned about less than two weeks later. Such a warning is issued when "feels-like" temperatures remain above 35 degrees Celsius for at least two consecutive days or when severe damage is anticipated due to extreme heat. But the capital is expected to endure even more sweltering temperatures this weekend, with daytime highs soaring up to 38 degrees. The KMA forecasts that unbearably hot and humid weather will persist at least until early next month, with temperatures staying above the seasonal average in most parts of the country. Meanwhile, this summer's unprecedented heat wave is already breaking records. According to the KMA, the average daily temperature for the first 22 days of this month stood at 24.4 degrees, the highest for the period since the country's meteorological observations expanded nationwide in 1973. The average daily highest temperature during the period also set a record at 29.4 degrees. 2025-07-24 16:42:34
[[K-Film]] South Korean coming-of-age drama to compete at Toronto film fest this fall SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - Director Yoon Ga-eun's film has been invited to the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to be held in Canada this fall. According to the film's distributor on Thursday, "The World of Love" has been selected to compete along with nine other films in the "Platform" section, the TIFF's only juried competition, which "spotlights films with high artistic merit and strong directorial vision." Organizers of the festival described Yoon's film as a "powerful, emotionally layered drama" in which "a spirited teenager confronts buried pain, while explores the quiet resilience it takes to own one's story — and future." Since making her directorial debut with "The Taste of Salvia," a 19-minute short film, in 2019, the up-and-coming director has mostly directed youth-oriented films that explore the emotional complexities and challenges of coming of age among adolescents. "The World of Love" is set for release here in the second half of this year, after getting its world premiere at the TIFF, which runs from Sept. 4 to 14 in the largest Canadian city. 2025-07-24 11:28:20
G-Dragon to promote upcoming APEC Summit in Gyeongju SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - G-Dragon, a member of the K-pop boy band Big Bang, will promote the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which is scheduled to be held in the historic southern city of Gyeongju this fall. In a message on Facebook on Wednesday, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who has been heading preparations for the two-day summit to be held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, revealed that the flamboyant rapper has been named promotional ambassador, adding that his huge global popularity would help the country successfully host the multilateral gathering of some 21 member countries. "With just 100 days left until the summit, we expect great synergy with his help," Kim said. Later in the day on Instagram, G-Dragon, who will participate in making promotional videos and other activities, expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to lend a hand for the summit. Meanwhile, another round of the third Senior Officials' Meeting and Related Meetings (SOM3), a preparatory session for the summit, is set to be held in Incheon, west of Seoul, for three days starting from Saturday. 2025-07-23 16:48:34
[[K-film]] Park Chan-wook's latest film to compete at Venice Film Festival next month SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - Director Park Chan-wook's latest film has been invited to compete at this year's Venice International Film Festival next month. According to organizers of the prestigious annual festival in a livestreamed event on Tuesday, "No Other Choice" will vie for the top prize along with 20 other films, becoming the first South Korean film invited to the main competition section in over a decade, since the late director Kim Ki-duk's "Pietà," which won the Golden Lion in 2012. Based on American writer Donald E. Westlake's novel "The Ax," the thriller revolves around an office worker, played by actor Lee Byung-hun, who struggles to support his family as a breadwinner after suddenly losing his job. It is Park's second film to be invited to the festival, following "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" in 2005, marking his return to the international spotlight after his critically-acclaimed "Decision to Leave," which earned him the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022. The veteran filmmaker also took home the Grand Prix award with "Oldboy" in 2004 and the Jury Prize with "Thirst" in 2009. During a press event held in Seoul in January this year before filming began, Park recalled that he started writing the script some 17 years ago, and said "Completing it after such a long period of struggle made me realize I was right not to give up on this project." "No Other Choice," his 12th feature, is slated for release here this fall, after being screed at the festival, which runs for about two weeks in the Italian city from Aug. 27. 2025-07-23 14:12:15
Court postpones another of Lee's trials indefinitely, bringing all his cases to halt SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - A district court on Tuesday decided to postpone President Lee Jae-myung's trial over alleged illegal money transfers to North Korea. The Suwon District Court in Gyeonggi Province said it made the decision in consideration of his status as president. "In order to ensure that the defendant (Lee) can fulfill his official duties guaranteed by the Constitution, we decided to postpone the trial to a later date for the sake of continuity in state affairs," the court explained. Lee has been accused of arranging the illegal transfer of US$8 million to North Korea between 2019 and 2020 to facilitate cross-border projects during his time as governor of Gyeonggi Province. Tuesday's decision comes after similar postponements of his four other separate trials, which include accusations of making false statements, soliciting perjury, improperly using a corporate credit card, and helping a private developer reap huge profits from a land development project in Seongnam, south of Seoul, in 2015, when he was mayor there, causing massive losses to the city. Now that all five of Lee's pending trials have been suspended indefinitely following his inauguration early last month, controversies remain over the trials of other defendants and alleged accomplices, which are scheduled to proceed. There have also been disputes within legal circles over the scope of prosecution. Although the Constitution grants a sitting president immunity from criminal charges, except for those of insurrection or treason, all the allegations against Lee stem from incidents that occurred before his election on June 4. 2025-07-22 15:57:54
TWICE's world tour kicks off with immersive panoramic stage performances SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - K-pop girl group TWICE will fly to Osaka, Japan this weekend for concerts as part of the first leg of their world tour, their agency JYP Entertainment said on Monday. Kicking off the tour with concerts in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province over the weekend, the nine members are set to perform in Osaka on Saturday and Sunday, before heading to other Japanese cities such as Fukuoka and Tokyo in September. They will also travel to Macau, the Philippines, and Singapore in October, followed by Sydney and Melbourne in November, and then Bangkok, Hong Kong and Taiwan in December, with more stops to be added later. Notably, they will perform on a 360-degree stage throughout the tour, which would allow fans to have more immersive and interactive experiences, just like at the concerts held here last week, where the girls showcased their latest song, "This Is For," for the first time just a day after its release. Meanwhile, they also teased their concert film celebrating the 10th anniversary of their debut, scheduled for release in late October. 2025-07-21 17:46:01
Gov't begins handing out cash vouchers to all South Koreans SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Starting Monday, all South Koreans are entitled to receive a handout ranging from 150,000 won to 550,000 won (US$108–$395), depending on their income brackets. Each eligible person can apply by Sept. 12 to receive 150,000 won in the form of cash vouchers, credit card points, or other gift options valid at local stores for three months, followed by an additional 100,000 won this fall, though the top 10 percent of earners will be excluded from the second round of payments. Additional support ranging from 30,000 won to 300,000 won may be provided to the underprivileged, the socially vulnerable, single-parent households and those living in certain rural areas, making some recipients eligible for up to 550,000 won in total. The vouchers can be used until Nov. 30 at most small neighborhood businesses such as local supermarkets, restaurants, convenience stores, and cafés, but they cannot be used at department stores, large supermarket chains, or other chain stores. Earlier President Lee Jae-myung said the handouts are part of efforts to boost consumption and revive the economy deteriorated in the wake of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law debacle last year. But some have criticized the universal, one-off payment as a politically motivated populist move, coming just shortly after Lee took office early last month. 2025-07-21 14:18:48
[[K-Culture]] Kim Hye-soon becomes first Asian poet to win German literature prize SEOUL, July 18 (AJP) - South Korean poet Kim Hye-soon has been awarded the International Prize for Literature by Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) in Germany for the German translation of her poetry collection "Autobiography of Death" on Thursday. HKW announced Kim as the winner from a shortlist of six authors, including Turkey’s Dogan Akhanli, Canada’s Sarah Bernstein, Ukraine’s Anna Melikova, France’s Neige Sinno, and the U.S.'s Jesmyn Ward. The jury unanimously selected Kim, saying that her poetry reveals meaning “precisely in the enigmatic,” adding, “The texts open up as we follow their rhythm and read them over and over again, the images reveal themselves like directions that only become visible when the right direction has already been taken.” Jury member and German writer Deniz Utlu praised the collection as “translations from death’s native language,” describing it as “miraculously opening up the possibility of listening to this language as it sounds on the threshold of the afterlife.” Kim did not attend the ceremony in person but delivered her remarks via video call, expressing gratitude to translators Park Sul and Uljana Wolf, the jury, HKW, her publisher S. Fischer, and all those involved in organizing the event. The award, established in 2009, honors outstanding contemporary works translated into German and is jointly presented to both the author and the translators. "Autobiography of Death" was originally published in Korean in 2016 and translated into German earlier this year. The poems, inspired by Kim’s collapse in a subway station in 2015, reflect on national tragedies such as the MERS outbreak and the Sewol ferry disaster. The collection comprises 49 poems exploring the boundary between life and death. Kim is the first Asian and the first poet to receive the HKW prize. South Korean Nobel laureate Han Kang was also a finalist for the award in 2017 with the German translation of her novel "The Vegetarian." 2025-07-18 13:49:51