K-pop shares going "Up, Up, Up" in their "Golden" moment SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - K-pop stocks are on a roll, humming along to the chart-topping "up, up, up" tune of "Golden" from Netflix's animated blockbuster "KPop Demon Hunters." The four household K-pop agencies have been riding on the Sony film's surprise success and its soundtrack. Shares of YG Entertainment have more than tripled from 32,300 won ($23.38) a year ago to 97,600 won this month. Those of SM Entertainment soared from 58,100 won to 141,600 won (+144 percent), HYBE advanced from 164,000 won to 286,500 won (+75 percent), and JYP Entertainment increased from 45,200 won to 76,100 won (+68 percent). The unexpected blowout of "KPop Demon Hunters" acted as a game changer. Against June 16, just before the film was released on June 20, shares of YG gained 12 percent from 87,200 won to 97,600 won (+11.9 percent). The label is associated with Teddy, the longtime YG producer and CEO of the Black Label, who joined the creation of "KPop Demon Hunters" OST. Shares of SM added a modest 4.5 percent while those of JYP remained unchanged. Shares of HYBE lost 4.5 percent during the same period. "'KPop Demon Hunters' is more than a box-office hit," said Meritz Securities media analyst Kim Min-young. "The film and OST are acting as an amplifier in the spread of Korean content." Underscoring the fad over K-pop, assets under management for the ACE Kpop Focus ETF topped 200 billion won ($150 million), nearly seven times greater than 30.2 billion at the end of December, according to the fund’s seller, Korea Investment Management. Launched in January 2024, the fund allocates 90 percent of its weighting to the four K-pop agencies. Its performance has outshone broader bullish markets. ACE Kpop Focus ETF has returned 57.4 percent so far this year, outperforming the KOSPI (34.4 percent) and Nasdaq 100 (13.5 percent). "The global K-pop fandom continues to expand steadily, stretching beyond Asia to the Americas, Europe, and emerging markets," noted Nam Yong-soo, head of ETF management at Korea Investment Management. He expected further room to grow, pointing to major events such as BLACKPINK's upcoming full-group album and world tour this year and BTS's scheduled return to group activities next year. Analysts agree K-pop stocks will bask in the "golden moment" that will lift them "up, up, up." 2025-09-16 17:32:06

Park Chan-wook's latest film wins award at Toronto film fest SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - Director Park Chan-wook's latest film "No Other Choice" received an award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which wrapped up on Sunday. The thriller, an adaptation of American writer Donald E. Westlake's novel "The Ax," won the inaugural International People's Choice Award, a prize given to the most popular international film at the festival as voted by audiences. The feat came after the film's lead actor Lee Byung-hun was honored with the Tribute Award last week, which is presented to recognize individuals with "distinguished achievements in filmmaking." The top prize, the People's Choice Award, at this year's TIFF, which does not have a jury-led competition section and is also decided by audiences' votes, went to "Hamnet" by Chinese-born director Chloé Zhao. Park's 12th feature, which revolves around a man who believes he has achieved everything in life until he is suddenly laid off and must find a new job to support his family, is set for release here next week. It will also serve as the curtain-raiser for this year's Busan International Film Festival in the southern port city, which opens later this week and runs until Sept. 26. 2025-09-15 17:35:56

[[K-Pop]] Soundtrack from Netflix' K-pop anime tops Billboard 200 albums chart SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - The soundtrack of Netflix's hit South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" topped the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart this week. According to the American music chart on Sunday, the soundtrack claimed the top spot on the Billboard 200, overtaking American singer Sabrina Carpenter's "Man's Best Friend." After debuting at No. 8 on June 20, the album remained at No. 2 for seven nonconsecutive weeks before reaching the top. "Golden," one of the main theme songs from the anime, has also held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for a cumulative four weeks, simultaneously dominating both of Billboard's main charts. Billboard said, "'KPop Demon Hunters' rise to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 was preceded by four top 10-charted hits on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart – the most from a soundtrack in nearly 30 years, with the soundtrack the first ever with four simultaneous top 10s." It attributed the soundtrack's success to the huge popularity of the anime's "sing-along" screenings in the U.S., which led to the upcoming release of additional versions including instrumental and acappella tracks, slated for next month. 2025-09-15 14:09:42

South Koreans detained in US immigration raid set to return home after delay SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Hundreds of South Koreans detained in a sweeping immigration raid in Georgia in the U.S. are expected to return home at last after their scheduled departure was unexpectedly delayed earlier this week. According to the Foreign Ministry, 316 South Koreans, along with about a dozen foreign workers, are set to board a chartered flight in Atlanta and arrive at Incheon International Airport on Friday. The ministry added that one South Korean chose to remain in the U.S. They were workers who were swept up in the largest single-site workplace raid in U.S. history by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Folkston, Georgia about a week ago. They had been working at a construction site for an electric vehicle battery plant being jointly built by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution. The raid last Thursday targeted about 475 workers, including around 300 South Koreans, mostly LG Energy staff, who were allegedly working at the site without valid work permits after entering the U.S. under either the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or short-term B1 business visas. Having been detained at an ICE facility, they were scheduled to return earlier this week after agreeing to leave the U.S. voluntarily rather than face deportation. But their departure was suddenly delayed due to what the ministry explained were "U.S. circumstances." Some speculate that the U.S. required them to wear handcuffs on their way to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to board the flight, a common U.S. practice for those facing deportation, which would provoke anger here. The ministry also gave some baffling explanations that U.S. President Donald Trump urged these mostly "high-skilled workers" not to leave so they could train local staff. After talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who is in Washington to resolve the matter, asked the U.S. to allow the South Korean detainees to return home swiftly without "physical restraints" and arranged for their departure to be rescheduled. He added that he requested that the U.S. ensure they would not face any disadvantages with future reentry into the U.S. The two also discussed increasing visa quotas for South Korean workers or creating new visa types, along with other measures to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents, which Cho warned could cause "serious delays and disruptions" in South Korean businesses' U.S. projects involving massive investment. 2025-09-11 16:12:17

South Korea bets on return of Chinese visitors to fuel tourism boom SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - South Korea is riding a banner year in tourism, fueled by the surging global popularity of K-pop, and expects further momentum from a visa-waiver program for Chinese travelers set to begin at the end of this month. As part of efforts to boost the tourism industry, the program will take effect on Sept 29, allowing short-term visa-free entry for Chinese travelers until June next year, following China's similar move in November last year, coinciding with China's "Golden Week" holiday, which begins early next month and falls just ahead of Chuseok, the country's biggest holiday of the year here. The last such waiver was offered during the 2018 Winter Olympics in the country's alpine city of Pyeongchang in Gangwon Province. Chinese group tourists, better known as "youke" in Chinese and known for their splurge at duty-free shops, once formed the backbone of South Korea's tourism industry. Before an unofficial boycott onouth Korean products over the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery from the U.S. in 2017, Chinese visitors who accounted for nearly half of all foreign arrivals here, sharply dropped. With relations easing, Seoul and Beijing have been steadily rolling back visa restrictions. The resumption of Chinese group travel is expected to boost South Korea's tourism rebound, already buoyed by the global popularity of K-pop and South Korean drams and shows including Netflix's latest hit anime "KPop Demon Hunters." The country's tourism industry is growing increasingly dependent on Chinese visitors, who account for about half of all foreign arrivals here. The number of Chinese visitors, which plummeted due to travel restrictions with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, has been gradually recovering, reaching about 4.6 million last year after peaking at 8.07 million in 2016. According to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), about 602,000 Chinse came in July, well ahead of those from Japan (300,000), Taiwan (199,000), the U.S. (132,000), and Hong Kong (64,000). The state-run tourism organization expects the program, along with other promotional measures such as K-pop-themed events, cultural performances, and shopping discounts, to attract even more travelers from China. Tourist numbers have also been surging. Foreign arrivals surpassed 10 million by July, up 23.1 percent from a year earlier and nearly 120 percent higher than in July 2019, before the pandemic. Seoul welcomed a record 1.36 million foreign visitors in July alone, pushing the total tally for the first seven months of this year to an all-time high of 8.28 million. The visa waiver for Chinese group tourists could help South Korea reach its target of 18.5 million foreign arrivals in the second half of the year, although it remains to be seen. "It is still difficult to predict whether the number of Chinese tourists will rise during China's upcoming holiday," Seo Ho-seok, a KTO official, told AJP on Wednesday. "But we hope to attract more Chinese travelers and return to pre-pandemic levels with the visa-waiver program and other government-led efforts to boost tourism." Duty-free retailers are among the most hopeful after years of weak traffic and spending by Chinese tourists. Hyundai, Lotte, Shilla, and Shinsegae all posted losses in 2024, hit by the downturn in Chinese group travel and changes in foreign travelers' shopping patterns. Industry officials expect an increase in Chinese group arrivals from the third quarter to boost the industry. Local travel agencies, hotels, and other lodging businesses are already gearing up for an influx of Chinese visitors. They are busy preparing Chinese-language flyers, arranging interpreters and other staff to assist Chinese customers, and trying to meet their changing tastes and shopping patterns. Chinese visitors often flocked to Seoul's shopping district of Myeong-dong, spending most of their money there, but with an increase in repeat visitors, they are now exploring other popular areas and trendy neighborhoods such as Seongsu-dong, known for its fashion boutiques and eateries. 2025-09-10 18:00:02

South Korea maintains top spot in higher education among OECD countries SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - More than half of South Koreans hold college or higher degrees, according to a report released by the Ministry of Education on Tuesday. About 56.2 percent of adults aged 25 to 64 in the country had completed higher education, maintaining the top spot for 17 consecutive years among the 38 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), whose average stood at 41.9 percent. The gap becomes even more pronounced among those aged 25 to 34, with the rate reaching 70.6 percent, the highest among OECD members and 11 other countries surveyed. Canada came in second at 68.86 percent, followed by Ireland at 66.19 percent. Although South Korea has been among the top-ranked countries in terms of the proportion of university graduates since 2008, many of them struggle to find jobs, suggesting that higher education increasingly fails to pay off and that the skills of advanced-degree holders are being wasted. Meanwhile, educational spending per student amounted to $19,805 as of 2022, up 24.9 percent from the previous year, slightly above the OECD average of $15,023. The figure includes all expenditures on education by the government and private sectors, excluding what parents spend on private crammers for their children. 2025-09-09 17:53:00

[[K-Pop]] Soundtrack from K-pop anime remains atop Billboard Hot 100 SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - One of the main theme songs from Netflix's hit South Korean anime has remained atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week. According to Billboard on Monday, "Golden" from the soundtrack of "KPop Demon Hunters" took the No. 1 spot on the chart for the second consecutive week and its fourth week overall, since its release in late June. Alongside "Golden," other songs from the soundtrack such as "How It's Done," "Soda Pop," and "Your Idol" also made the top 10 chart. The American music chart hailed that the 100-minute animation "has also become the first soundtrack to generate four simultaneous Hot 100 top 10s over the chart's 67-year history." The catchy song, by South Korean-American singer-songwriter Ejae along with American singers Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, went viral thanks to the popularity of the anime, which tells the story of fictional K-pop superstars with "secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats." With the latest feat, "Golden" surpassed K-pop juggernaut BTS' megahit "Dynamite," which spent three weeks at the top in 2020. It remains to be seen whether the song will break the record set by the septet's another hit song "Butter," which held the top spot for 10 nonconsecutive weeks at the time of its release in 2021. 2025-09-09 15:45:40

[[K-Pop]] BLACKPINK's Rosé wins award for her viral hit at this year's MTV VMAs SEOUL, September 8 (AJP) - Rosé, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK took home an award at this year's MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in the U.S. on Sunday. At the awards ceremony in New York, she accepted the "Song of the Year" award for her global hit song "APT." Inspired by a South Korean drinking game, the catchy song in collaboration with pop star Bruno Mars went viral shortly after its release in October last year. In her acceptance speech, Rosé reflected on her younger self "who dreamed" of becoming a star and expressed gratitude to "everyone who has watched me grow into the artist I am today." Meanwhile, BLACKPINK claimed the award given to the best group for a second time, having previously received the honor in 2023. Lisa, another member of the quartet, won the "Best K-pop" gong for her track "Born Again," a collaboration with American rapper Doja Cat and British singer-songwriter Raye. The night's top honor went to American singer-songwriter and actress Ariana Grande, who claimed "Video of the Year" with "Brighter Days Ahead." 2025-09-08 14:25:57

South Korea, Italy reaffirm economic ties as 'complementary commons' SEOUL, September 5 (AJP) - South Korea and Italy reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation at the first business forum in Seoul on Friday, with a focus on advanced technology as both countries face resource constraints and aging populations. The forum, co-hosted by the Italian Embassy in South Korea, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), along with Confindustria, the General Confederation of Italian Industry, brought together more than 300 representatives from both countries, including government officials and business leaders from the manufacturing, energy, and technology sectors. Italian Ambassador to South Korea Emilia Gatto opened the event, highlighting that around 80 Italian companies and 150 Korean companies had gathered, stressing that the two nations are not only strong trade partners but are also increasingly cooperating in innovation and research. She said, "This event marks the beginning of a new chapter in economic relations, grounded in the dynamism and innovative capabilities of both countries." South Korea's Deputy Trade Minister Park Jong-won emphasized that the two countries share a history of overcoming resource constraints through industrial innovation. He said, "Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1884, our two countries have deepened our engagement in politics, economy, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. As peninsular nations with limited resources, both countries have achieved significant growth by overcoming historic hardships and challenges." Italian Vice Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Valentino Valentini echoed these views, saying that South Korea and Italy face similar challenges as resource-limited economies with aging populations. He asked attendees, "Are we competitors or are we complementary commons?" He added, "Our industrial system generates 1.5 trillion euros ($1.75 trillion) in turnover, with SMEs contributing 45 percent to national exports. This flexibility needs to integrate the digital revolution and AI while maintaining our innovative production edge," saying that South Korea has similarly transcended the middle-technology phase while leading in semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI). Valentini also touched on cultural aspects, saying, "South Korea has also become a global creative and cultural powerhouse, from K-pop to cinema, from design to digital arts. While Italy continues our Renaissance legacy through fashion, architecture, and industrial design, together we represent a unique fusion where Eastern innovation meets Western craftsmanship, creating synergies across entertainment, technology, and luxury markets." Since the implementation of the South Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2012, bilateral trade between the two countries has shown consistent growth. Total trade volume increased from $8.08 billion in 2012 to $12.6 billion in 2024, marking a growth rate of 55.9 percent. South Korean imports of Italian products grew from $4.8 billion to $7.7 billion (60.4 percent), while exports to Italy rose from $3.2 billion to $4.9 billion (53.1 percent). South Korea is now the largest consumer of "Made in Italy" products per capita in Asia, with more than half of Italy's exports to South Korea concentrated in the fashion and luxury goods sectors. 2025-09-05 17:25:01

Two South Koreans dead in Lisbon funicular crash SEOUL, September 5 (AJP) - Two South Koreans were killed and another seriously injured in a funicular crash in Lisbon on Wednesday (local time), Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday. The ministry confirmed that a South Korean man and woman died in the crash, while another woman underwent surgery at a local hospital and is still in intensive care. "Our embassy is working closely with Portuguese authorities to provide consular support, including assistance for the injured and contacting the families of the victims," the ministry said in a statement. The accident occurred on the Gloria line connecting Restauradores Square to the Bairro Alto hilltop, killing 16 people in total. The funicular, which carries more than 3.5 million passengers annually, is one of Lisbon's most popular tourist spots. Local media in Portugal suggested possible cable damage or brake failure as the cause of the crash, though authorities have not yet given an official explanation. The Portuguese government declared Sept. 4, a day after the incident, a national day of mourning and has begun an investigation. 2025-09-05 11:08:16