Journalist

Kim Hee-su
  • Fractured NewJeans as Danielle and ADOR head toward legal standoff
    Fractured NewJeans as Danielle and ADOR head toward legal standoff SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The future of NewJeans as a full five-member act has been thrown into doubt after agency ADOR unilaterally notified member Danielle of the termination of her exclusive contract, raising concerns that the group could remain divided amid ongoing uncertainty over another member's return. With Danielle effectively ruled out of future activities under ADOR and Minji's status still undecided, prospects for NewJeans resuming activities as a complete lineup appear increasingly uncertain, industry observers say. Danielle now faces the possibility of substantial legal liability, as ADOR has indicated it will pursue legal action seeking contractual penalties and damages over alleged violations of the exclusive agreement. If the claims are upheld, the financial burden could amount to hundreds of billions of won. ADOR confirmed the termination of Danielle's contract on Monday, citing alleged breaches of contractual obligations. The agency said the violations may include entering into conflicting contracts, engaging in independent entertainment activities, and actions that undermine the credibility of the company or the group. ADOR did not disclose specific details regarding Danielle's alleged misconduct. The agency also said it plans to pursue legal action against one of Danielle's family members, believed to be her mother, as well as former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, whom it holds partly responsible for triggering the dispute and delaying the group’s return. An ADOR official told AJP, "The termination notice leaves little room for a future settlement, and Danielle's return to the group is now considered highly unlikely." At the same time, ADOR confirmed that member Hanni has decided to return to the agency. Minji, however, remains in talks with the company. "No final decision has been made" regarding her return, an ADOR official said. NewJeans' fandom, known as "Bunnies," then issued a strongly worded statement condemning ADOR's handling of the situation. The fan group said in a statement released Monday that HYBE and ADOR had notified the termination of only one member's contract, despite all members having expressed their intention to return together. The fandom further criticized ADOR CEO Lee Do-kyung, who has led the label since August following Min's dismissal, questioning whether the legal battle to retain NewJeans was ultimately intended "to fracture the group rather than preserve it." The group also accused HYBE, ADOR's largest shareholder, and its founder Bang Si-hyuk of exercising excessive influence over the decision. ADOR, meanwhile, said the members had been exposed over an extended period to what it described as "distorted and one-sided information," leading to misconceptions about the company, and said it would provide further explanations regarding the controversy at a later date. NewJeans first announced in November 2024 that it would seek to terminate its contracts with ADOR, citing the agency's alleged failure to fulfill its obligations. After months of legal proceedings, a court in October once again ruled in favor of ADOR in its lawsuit seeking confirmation of the contracts' validity. Last month, ADOR said members Haerin and Hyein had expressed their intention to return. 2025-12-30 10:44:17
  • South Korea races toward a cashless society, leaving many elderly behind
    South Korea races toward a cashless society, leaving many elderly behind SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - In South Korea, wallets are fast becoming relics, as most people now pay with a swipe of their phones. Cash use has fallen sharply over the past decade, reflecting the country's rapid embrace of digital payments — a shift that is transforming daily life but also exposing a growing divide between the digitally fluent and those being left behind. This year, individuals spent an average of 324,000 won ($226) a month in cash, less than half the 808,000 won recorded a decade ago, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). Cash now accounts for just 17.4 percent of monthly spending, down from 21.6 percent four years earlier. The transformation has been accelerated by rising minimum wages and the rapid spread of kiosks and automation across restaurants, cafés and service businesses. In many parts of Seoul, ordering and payment are now completed without human interaction, with staff limited largely to preparing food and drinks. According to the National Information Society Agency, the number of kiosks nationwide surged from 210,033 in 2021 to 536,602 in 2023 — an increase of more than 300,000 units in just three years. Most cafés in central Seoul now operate two to three kiosks, while fast-food outlets often have five or more. "I don't carry a wallet anymore," said Kim Sang-deuk, a 57-year-old office worker. "Everything works with Samsung Pay, so there's no need for cash." Coins quietly disappearing Physical currency, especially coins, is steadily vanishing from everyday use. This year, the BOK for the first time placed no orders for new circulation coins with the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp., reflecting sharply declining demand. Traditionally, the central bank forecasts annual demand by denomination and orders coins for both circulation and commemorative use. The absence of any circulation order underscores how rarely coins are now used in daily transactions. "Coffee costs 4,500 or 6,700 won, and there's nowhere to put the change," said Lee Sung-jin, a 28-year-old office worker. "It's just easier to pay by card." Convenience for some, exclusion for others Yet the shift toward a cashless economy is uneven. Older people and low-income households remain far more dependent on cash. People aged 70 and older still use cash for 32.4 percent of their spending, while households earning less than 1 million won a month rely on cash for 59.4 percent of expenditures, according to the BOK. As South Korea enters a super-aged society — with those aged 65 and older now accounting for more than 20 percent of the population — the idea of going fully cashless remains contentious. A recent survey found that 45.8 percent of respondents oppose a cashless society, while only 17.7 percent support it. The most common concern, cited by 39.1 percent, was the risk of excluding financially vulnerable groups. The challenge is visible on the ground. At a café in central Seoul, a foreign customer and a middle-aged woman struggled for several minutes to place orders at a kiosk, eventually requiring staff assistance. "It's become too troublesome just to eat out," the woman said afterward. A growing digital divide A 2023 survey by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs found that only about 18 percent of older adults were able to place orders independently using kiosks. In practice, more than eight in ten elderly people experience difficulty using such machines. Experts say the problem lies not only in digital literacy but also in design. "Kiosks are designed from the supplier's perspective, not the consumer's," said Hur Jun-soo, a professor at Soongsil University's School of Social Welfare. "The icons, fonts and interfaces are not tailored to older users." Hur added that although digital education programs for seniors have expanded, they often fail to reach people where help is most needed. "Support should go beyond senior welfare centers and community halls," he said. "It needs to extend to the places where older people actually live and carry out their daily activities." 2025-12-29 16:42:43
  • NewJeans full comeback ruled out after Danielles exit
    NewJeans full comeback ruled out after Danielle's exit SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - ADOR confirmed Monday that K-pop girl group NewJeans members Minji and Hanni will resume activities under the agency, while Danielle has been notified of the termination of her exclusive contract, to finalize a four-member return for the K-pop sensation. According to the agency, “Hanni recently visited Korea with her family and had extensive talks with ADOR, during which she had time to review the events leading up to the dispute.” Following what the company described as candid and in-depth discussions, Hanni decided to accept the court’s ruling and continue working with ADOR. ADOR added that “Minji is also in ongoing talks with the company, as both sides seek to reach a mutual understanding of the situation. The agency, however, said it had concluded that continuing its relationship with Danielle would be difficult and notified her of the termination of her exclusive contract. ADOR also stated that “it plans to seek legal accountability from one of Danielle’s family members and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, whom the company says bear significant responsibility for triggering the dispute and delaying the group’s return.” ADOR said its recent discussions revealed that the members had been exposed over a long period to “distorted and one-sided information,” which led to misunderstandings about the company and ultimately escalated into a legal conflict. The agency added that both ADOR and the artists plan to address the controversies that arose during the conflict at a later date, with details on timing and format still under discussion. “ADOR will do its utmost to resolve the matter amicably and ensure that NewJeans can return to fans as soon as possible,” the company said. NewJeans announced in November 2024 that it would seek to terminate its contracts with ADOR, citing the agency’s alleged failure to fulfill its obligations. After months of legal proceedings, a court in October once again ruled in favor of ADOR in its lawsuit seeking confirmation of the contracts’ validity. Last month, ADOR said members Haerin and Hyein had also expressed their intention to return. 2025-12-29 11:37:48
  • NYT: K-pop global peak raises questions about what comes next
    NYT: K-pop global peak raises questions about what comes next SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -K-pop has never been more visible on the global stage, but its very success is now forcing a reckoning over where the genre goes next. A recent New York Times analysis argues that while K-pop has reached a new peak of cultural influence, it is also confronting structural limits that could shape its future trajectory. The paper points to the runaway success of KPop Demon Hunters, a Netflix animated film built around rival idol groups, as a symbol of K-pop’s full entry into the global mainstream. The film became one of the platform’s most-watched titles, with its soundtrack topping charts worldwide. For the Times, the phenomenon shows that K-pop has evolved from a niche export into a shared global cultural language. Yet the article quickly pivots from celebration to caution. Beneath the surface, it argues, K-pop is grappling with the constraints of the very system that made it successful. The genre’s highly centralized, top-down production model — long praised for efficiency and polish — now risks limiting creativity at a time when novelty has become harder to sustain. This tension is most clearly illustrated by the ongoing dispute involving NewJeans, which the Times describes as the most innovative K-pop group of recent years. The group’s conflict with its label, Ador, over creative control and workplace issues has effectively stalled its activities, even after a court upheld the validity of its contract. The episode has become a symbol of the broader dilemma facing the industry: how to reconcile artistic originality with corporate control. The article suggests that K-pop has entered a phase of saturation. Major groups continue to thrive commercially, but their musical frameworks are increasingly familiar. The industry’s ability to scale success remains intact, yet its capacity to surprise audiences is under strain. In this sense, K-pop resembles other mature global genres that must reinvent themselves to avoid stagnation. At the same time, the Times highlights emerging signs of transformation. New hybrid projects such as Katseye — formed through a partnership between Hybe and Geffen Records — point to a future in which K-pop functions less as a fixed genre and more as a flexible template. These groups borrow the training systems and visual language of K-pop while loosening its stylistic and linguistic boundaries. Beyond the mainstream, innovation is increasingly occurring outside the idol system. Independent and experimental Korean artists, often influenced by digital subcultures and hyperpop, are reworking K-pop’s aesthetics in more fragmented and unconventional ways. This shift suggests that creativity is migrating to the margins, even as the center remains commercially dominant. Ultimately, the New York Times frames K-pop as standing at a crossroads. Its global triumph is undeniable, but the next phase will depend on whether the industry can balance scale with experimentation, and control with creative freedom. The question is no longer whether K-pop can conquer the world — but whether it can reinvent itself after having done so. 2025-12-26 07:52:28
  • BLACKPINKs Rosés APT. tops TikTok music chart, named Apple Musics song of the year
    BLACKPINK's Rosé's 'APT.' tops TikTok music chart, named Apple Music's song of the year SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - Rosé of BLACKPINK has once again demonstrated the global staying power of her hit single "APT.", following a string of major achievements across international charts. According to The Black Label, Rosé and Bruno Mars's duet "APT." was named Song of the Year by Apple Music, while also ranking No. 1 on Billboard's Global 200 and No. 9 on the Hot 100 year-end charts for 2025. The song also performed strongly on TikTok, topping its 2025 Year in Music chart for Korea and placing sixth globally, further underscoring its worldwide popularity. Released in October last year as the pre-release single from Rosé's first full-length album "rosie," "APT." quickly gained global recognition. The song remained on Billboard's Hot 100 for 45 consecutive weeks, setting a new record for the longest-charting K-pop song. Its music video has also surpassed 2.2 billion views on YouTube. She became the first K-pop artist to win Song of the Year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards with "APT." in September. The song has also received nominations at the Grammy Awards next February for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, marking the first time a K-pop act has been nominated in two major categories. Meanwhile, Rosé is currently on the road on BLACKPINK's "Deadline" world tour, with Tokyo and Hong Kong as the next stops. 2025-12-25 16:55:58
  • Presidential office to raise its phoenix flag at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday
    Presidential office to raise its phoenix flag at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - The presidential office said it will raise its phoenix flag at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, returning to the site after three years and seven months. It said the flag, featuring South Korea's national flower mugunghwa at the center and two phoenixes facing each other, will be lowered at the Yongsan presidential office at midnight on Dec. 29 and simultaneously raised at Cheong Wa Dae. "The official name of the presidential office will be changed to Cheong Wa Dae starting on Dec. 29," the office said. The flag is flown at the location where the president is working or residing to indicate the seat of executive authority. President Lee Jae Myung is expected to begin duties at Cheong Wa Dae, marking the reopening of the "Cheong Wa Dae era" about 44 months after former president Yoon Suk Yeol relocated the presidential office in May 2022. The site ceased to function as the presidential office after Yoon moved operations to Yongsan, citing a desire to break away from what it described as the image of a secluded power center. However, following Yoon's impeachment after his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, the Lee administration moved forward with restoring Cheong Wa Dae, fulfilling one of Lee's campaign pledges. The decision was also based on concerns that the Yongsan office was structurally vulnerable to surveillance and security risks. While the presidential office will return to Cheong Wa Dae, the official residence there is scheduled to undergo repairs through the first half of next year, as it is still severely damaged. Lee is expected to commute from the existing Hannam-dong residence to Cheong Wa Dae for the time being. The history of Cheong Wa Dae dates back to the Japanese colonial period. Built in 1927 as the residence of the Japanese Governor-General of Korea, it later served as the residence of Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge, head of the U.S. Army Military Government in Korea, following the country's liberation in 1945. With the founding of the First Republic in 1948, the site became President Rhee Syngman's office and residence under the name "Gyeongmudae." In 1960, then-president Yun Posun renamed it Cheong Wa Dae, inspired by the blue tiles of the main building, as "cheong" means blue in Korean. Cheong Wa Dae served as the office and residence of South Korean presidents from Park Chung-hee through Moon Jae-in until 2022. 2025-12-25 15:17:18
  • Android malware Wonderland steals OTPs, enables real-time financial fraud
    Android malware 'Wonderland' steals OTPs, enables real-time financial fraud SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - A new Android malware dubbed "Wonderland" is being actively distributed, enabling attackers to steal one-time passwords (OTPs) and remotely control infected devices to carry out real-time financial fraud, according to cybersecurity researchers. An analysis released on Thursday by Group-IB said Wonderland initially infiltrates devices through a "dropper" disguised as a legitimate application, which then installs malicious components. Unlike typical trojanized APK files that begin malicious activity immediately upon installation, Wonderland masquerades as a normal app before executing its malicious payload within the user's environment. This technique allows the malware to be installed without a network connection and helps it evade initial security checks and static analysis. It also enables two-way communication, allowing attackers to issue commands in real time. Once activated, Wonderland can intercept text messages (SMS) and OTPs, trigger USSD codes, steal contacts and phone numbers, hide notifications, and send additional SMS messages, the research said. As a result, attackers are able to bypass financial authentication procedures to steal funds and use infected devices as secondary launch points for further attacks. Researchers also found that Wonderland operators rely heavily on Telegram as a core part of their infrastructure. When users grant permissions, attackers can hijack Telegram accounts using the victim's phone number and then use the compromised accounts to spread malicious apps to chat histories and contact lists. Stolen Telegram accounts are currently being traded on the dark web and reused in subsequent attacks, the research added. Wonderland is not the only threat targeting Android users. Other malware strains, including Nexus Root and Frogblight, have also been detected recently, often disguising themselves as legitimate apps, prompting heightened caution among users. 2025-12-25 13:43:57
  • ​​Pyongyang ups naval and air saber-rattling over Seouls nuclear-submarine plan
    ​​Pyongyang ups naval and air saber-rattling over Seoul's nuclear-submarine plan SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) -North Korea on Thursday warned that U.S. and South Korean moves involving nuclear-powered submarines would destabilize the Korean Peninsula, as Pyongyang combined sharp rhetoric with fresh disclosures of naval and air-defense weapons development. North's leader Kim Jong-un condemned South Korea’s plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines during what appeared to be a deliberately choreographed visit to a submarine construction site, according to the Korean Central News Agency. Kim made the remarks while inspecting the construction of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided-missile submarine, calling Seoul’s submarine plan—agreed with Washington at South Korea’s request—an “aggressive act” that would worsen instability on the Korean Peninsula and violate North Korea’s security and maritime sovereignty. He said the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) - North Korea - would not alter its national security policy or principles for countering what it calls hostile forces, warning that any attempt to infringe on the country’s “strategic sovereign security” would be met with “merciless retaliatory attacks.” Kim also reaffirmed Pyongyang’s commitment to strengthening its nuclear deterrent, describing the submarine project as an “epoch-making” upgrade that would significantly raise the level of war deterrence. He said North Korea would continue pushing the “nuclear armament of the navy,” signaling a drive to build a sea-based nuclear strike capability. KCNA’s repeated references to a “nuclear-powered strategic guided-missile submarine” underscore Pyongyang’s claim that it is developing a nuclear-fueled submarine equipped with strategic missiles, a project first disclosed in March following a decision at the 8th Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party. Kim said newly built attack destroyers and nuclear-powered submarines would sharply boost the combat capabilities of North Korea’s fleet. During the inspection, he also reviewed research on new underwater weapons and outlined plans to reorganize naval forces and establish new units, KCNA said. The escalation in rhetoric coincided with a separate statement from North Korea’s defense ministry condemning the recent entry of the USS Greeneville, a U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarine, into a naval base in Busan earlier this week. The visit was aimed at replenishing supplies and providing rest for crew members, according to the Republic of Korea Navy. In a statement dated Wednesday, the North’s defense ministry accused Washington of embedding a “grave nuclear instability element” into the region’s security environment. It said the repeated deployment of U.S. strategic assets was escalating military tensions and pushing the U.S.–South Korea alliance toward what it described as a “nuclear confrontation bloc.” The ministry also criticized Washington’s reaffirmation of extended deterrence for Seoul and its support for South Korea’s nuclear-submarine ambitions, saying the moves confirmed U.S. intentions to pursue a “nuclear-to-nuclear collision structure” with the DPRK. It warned of unspecified countermeasures in response to what it called U.S. “nuclear muscle-flexing.” Adding to the display of military capability, North Korea disclosed on Thursday that it had conducted a test launch of a new high-altitude, long-range surface-to-air missile over the East Sea on Christmas Eve, with Kim observing. KCNA said the test, carried out by the Missile General Bureau, was the first launch intended to assess the tactical and technical performance of the air-defense system under development. The missiles struck and destroyed a simulated high-altitude target at a range of 200 kilometers, the report said, describing the test as part of routine efforts to upgrade national air-defense capabilities. Kim was quoted as congratulating those involved. South Korea’s military said it had detected the launch. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had been monitoring signs of a missile launch in advance and tracked what appeared to be multiple surface-to-air missiles fired from the Seondeok area in South Hamgyong Province toward the East Sea at around 5 p.m. Wednesday. The JCS said detailed specifications were under joint analysis by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities, adding that the allies remain on high alert and maintain the capability to respond decisively to any provocation under a robust combined defense posture. 2025-12-25 10:24:18
  • President Lee pledges warmth and hope for all in first Christmas message
    President Lee pledges warmth and hope for all in first Christmas message SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday expressed hope that the coming year would bring warmth and hope to the daily lives of all people in his first Christmas message since taking office. In a Christmas Day post on Facebook, Lee said, "This is a day that comes around every year, but I hope it brings you a little more happiness, and that you can spend joyful moments smiling with your loved ones." Reflecting on the meaning of Christmas, the president said he was reminded of Jesus Christ, "who was born in the lowest and darkest place and spent his life alongside those who were suffering and in pain." "His life, I believe, represents the true meaning of Christmas that we should remember," Lee wrote. He ended by expressing hope that the holiday would offer comfort to some, rest to others, and the courage to face tomorrow to those in need, adding that he was praying earnestly for such a Christmas. 2025-12-25 10:14:48
  • Korean mukbang gets Ingenious — and a little unhinged — to keep its crown
    Korean mukbang gets Ingenious — and a little unhinged — to keep its crown SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and nowhere is that crown greasier, spicier or more relentlessly filmed than in South Korea's food universe. Once again this year, the surprise breakout star from Korea's global content pipeline is not a pop idol or a prestige drama, but food — turbocharged by its cameo-laden role in Netflix's most-watched-ever series, "KPOP Demon Hunters," and freshly canonized as culture by the Wall Street Journal, which named Korean cup noodles among its "objects that defined 2025." K-food, having conquered the world, now faces the more perilous task: staying interesting. Korea, after all, invented mukbang — the performance art of eating too much, too loudly, and preferably on camera. The country learned early that food no longer just needs to taste good. It needs to perform. Today, food companies don't merely test recipes; they beta-test reactions, scroll-stopping potential and how a dish behaves under a ring light. Across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, mukbang creators have become food directors, staging meals less for flavor than for visual payoff: the slurp, the stretch, the snap, the slow reveal. The most successful dishes don't whisper comfort. They demand attention. Take one of this year's most improbable hits: buldak ramen meets seaweed soup. On paper, it sounds like culinary couples therapy — the volcanic heat of buldak sauce softened by miyeokguk, a mild, briny soup traditionally eaten by postpartum mothers. On screen, it works because contrast always does. Fire meets calm. Chaos meets nurture. Add the choreography — noodles lifted high, slurped whole, never cut — and suddenly the dish feels less like dinner and more like a suspense sequence. Desserts, too, have been recruited into performance duty. Enter the towel cake: a crepe cake folded and rolled to resemble a freshly laundered towel. The dessert, which originated in China, went viral not because of taste — cream and crepes rarely shock — but because of the reveal. The unfolding. The moment of disbelief when fabric turns edible. In Korea, convenience stores like CU and GS25 democratized the trend, while home bakers turned the cake into social-media origami. Then there is honey rice-cake cereal — tteok, the chewy backbone of Korean tradition, dropped into cold milk as it belongs there. The concept startled foreign viewers, who compared it to bubble tea for breakfast and marveled that the rice cakes didn't harden on contact with cold dairy. It's traditional food wearing a Halloween costume of Western breakfast culture, and it works precisely because it shouldn't. Some dishes lean even harder into the uncanny. Salmon kkakdugi swaps fermented radish for raw, cubed salmon, tossed in spicy, creamy dressing and often wrapped in gim. It is kimchi's cousin who studied abroad and came back wearing athleisure. Lemon boneless chicken feet take a bar-snack staple and splash it with citrus, earning reviews like "tteokbokki with a lemon highball" — a phrase that could only exist in 2025. Global trends are absorbed, then exaggerated. Dubai chocolate — the pistachio-filled confection that took over the internet with its dramatic cross-sections — was swiftly localized in Korea: sweeter, richer, more obscene in its abundance. Optimized not for eating, but for the slow-motion bite shot. This visual arms race coincides with a broader explosion of food-centered storytelling. Competitive cooking shows like "Culinary Class Wars," now in its second season, frame technique and plating as a gladiatorial sport. Scripted dramas such as" Bon Appétit, Your Majesty" deploy food as a narrative device, lingering lovingly on close-ups that echo mukbang's sensory appeal. "It relates to what is often described as autonomous sensory meridian response," said Lee Seul-ki, a director at the Tourism Industry Data Analytics Lab. Watching someone eat, he explained, taps into something primal. Comfort by proxy. Pleasure without calories. In 2025, many of Korea's most talked-about foods were consumed more through screens than at tables. The question is no longer whether a dish is delicious, authentic or even sensible. The question is simpler — and stranger: Does it stop the scroll? And if it makes you slightly uncomfortable while doing so, all the better. 2025-12-24 17:01:45