Journalist

Kang Sang Heon
  • Callaway Golf Korea Launches Odyssey S2S Tri Hot SB Zero-Torque Heel-Shaft Putter
    Callaway Golf Korea Launches Odyssey S2S Tri Hot SB Zero-Torque Heel-Shaft Putter Callaway Golf Korea said Wednesday it is officially launching the Odyssey “S2S (Square 2 Square) Tri Hot SB (Single Bend)” putter in South Korea, combining a heel-shaft structure with zero-torque technology. The company said the model targets golfers who feel uncomfortable with center-shaft, zero-torque putters. By using a familiar heel-shaft setup, it aims to keep a comfortable look at address while delivering the stability and consistency associated with zero-torque designs. The putter pairs a single-bend shaft with Odyssey’s Tri Hot multi-material construction. The shaft is positioned toward the heel to support intuitive alignment. The head uses aluminum and steel, along with more than 140 grams of tungsten placed strategically. Callaway said more than 80% of the overall weight is concentrated below the topline to create an ideal center of gravity and reduce unwanted head movement during the stroke. The face features an AI-designed “Ai-DUAL insert,” with a firm inner core and a softer outer layer intended to produce consistent ball speed and a softer feel. It also uses new “FRD (Forward Roll Design)” grooves tilted at 19 degrees to improve straight-line roll immediately after impact. Callaway said it incorporated feedback from tour players, fitting a black PVD-finished SL120 shaft to add weight compared with previous versions and applying a newly designed Pistol Plus grip for a more natural fit in the hands. The lineup includes four mallet models: Rossie, #7, Jailbird and #7 Cruiser. Standard lengths run from 33 to 35 inches, with a 38-inch Cruiser option. The Cruiser model comes with an SL140 shaft and an oversized grip, aimed at golfers who prefer a heavier, more stable putting feel. A Callaway Golf Korea official said the S2S Tri Hot SB “delivers both the comfort of a heel-shaft putter and the stability of a zero-torque putter,” adding that it offers an alternative for golfers uneasy with center-shaft models and is designed to provide more consistent putting performance.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 14:29:41
  • Nol Universe to Fully Refund Ticketing Fees for Involuntary Flight Cancellations
    Nol Universe to Fully Refund Ticketing Fees for Involuntary Flight Cancellations Nol Universe, led by CEO Lee Cheol-woong, said Wednesday it will fully refund ticketing fees when an airline ticket is canceled for reasons not attributable to the customer. The policy applies to cancellations that occurred on or after April 6. If a flight is canceled due to airline circumstances such as natural disasters or war, the company said it will automatically refund the full amount paid, including the ticketing fee, without requiring a separate request from the customer. Nol Universe currently charges ticketing fees for booking services of 1,000 won per person for domestic flights and 10,000 won per person for international flights. Customers have repeatedly complained that the fee was not refunded even in involuntary cancellations. Last year, flight cancellations totaled about 1,700 cases, including about 700 international and about 1,000 domestic, the company said. It expects cancellations to rise further this year due to external factors such as a surge in oil prices and the war in the Middle East. Nol Universe described the change as a proactive step to prevent broader customer losses and as an example of putting its “Yanolja 3.0” vision of “sincerity toward customers” into practice. Kim Jong-min, head of Nol Universe’s Business Support Group, said the company empathizes with customers who faced “double inconvenience” when travel plans were disrupted by airline fault and then compounded by disputes over ticketing-fee refunds. “This decision is a first step in putting sincerity for customers into action,” Kim said, adding that the company will continue to lead service improvements that address inconvenience from the customer’s perspective first. 2026-04-23 08:45:55
  • Culture Ministry Launches ‘Sports for Everyone’ Campaign to Boost Daily Participation
    Culture Ministry Launches ‘Sports for Everyone’ Campaign to Boost Daily Participation The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is launching a “Sports for Everyone” campaign to encourage people to take part in sports as part of daily life. Kim Dae-hyeon, the ministry’s second vice minister, will visit the Jongno Culture and Sports Center in Seoul’s Jongno district on the afternoon of the 23rd to kick off a participation relay campaign and review on-the-ground issues in the sports sector. The campaign was organized to coincide with Sports Week, set for April 27 to May 3 under the Basic Sports Act. The ministry said the effort aims to create conditions in which anyone can enjoy sports without gaps by region, gender or age, in line with government policy tasks. As the first participant, Kim will film himself playing table tennis with local residents and post the video on the ministry’s social media to promote everyday sports participation. He named Ha Hyeong-ju, chairman of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation; Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee; and Jeong Jin-wan, president of the Korea Paralympic Committee, as the next participants, the ministry said. Alongside the campaign, the ministry said it will expand benefits people can feel in daily life. The Jongno center Kim will visit is a certified facility for the Sports Activity Incentive program, known as Ttunteun Money, which awards points for 30 minutes of exercise. A center official said members refer to the program’s end when its budget runs out as “sold out.” The official said some members missed out on points last year after the budget was exhausted, and expectations are high this year because more members are expected to receive benefits. In a supplementary budget, the ministry increased funding for Ttunteun Money by 4 billion won and expanded support for vouchers for sports classes for people with disabilities by 6.2 billion won. It also boosted funding for building youth sports foundations by 9.5 billion won, creating training facilities for winter sports such as air mats by 3 billion won, and rewards for reporting ticket scalping by 500 million won, it said. “Regular sports activity not only improves individual health but is also an important factor in preventing chronic disease and reducing social medical costs,” Kim said. He said the supplementary budget will expand support such as Ttunteun Money and sports class vouchers so more people can exercise at nearby facilities without 부담 and directly benefit from the programs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 08:41:00
  • Airbnb to Unveil CORTIS ‘Secret Seoul Space’ With Special Stay and Fan Experiences
    Airbnb to Unveil CORTIS ‘Secret Seoul Space’ With Special Stay and Fan Experiences 글로벌 숙박 공유 플랫폼 에어비앤비가 K-팝 그룹 코르티스(CORTIS)와 손잡고 팬들을 위한 특별한 공간을 선보인다. 에어비앤비는 코르티스의 미니 2집 앨범 'GREENGREEN'의 타이틀곡 'REDRED' 발매를 기념해 '코르티스의 서울 비밀공간'을 단독 공개한다고 21일 밝혔다. 에어비앤비 자체 조사에 따르면 한국을 방문했거나 계획 중인 여행객의 94%가 K-컬처의 영향을 받은 것으로 나타났다. 에어비앤비는 글로벌 팬덤의 수요를 실제 여행과 경험으로 연결하기 위해 이번 프로젝트를 기획했다고 밝혔다. 코르티스는 “코어(COER·팬덤명)분들을 코르티스의 서울 비밀공간으로 초대하게 돼 매우 뜻깊게 생각한다”며 “미니 2집 타이틀곡 ‘REDRED’는 우리 자신을 발견하는 과정, 즉 무엇을 추구하고 경계하는지 탐색하는 과정을 보여주며 한층 또렷해진 우리의 음악적 취향도 담았다. 에어비앤비와 함께 준비한 이번 공간에서 팬들도 자신만의 색을 발견하고 그 순간을 우리와 직접 나눌 수 있기를 기대한다”고 말했다. 에어비앤비는 이번 체험을 세 가지 방식으로 운영한다고 밝혔다. 모든 프로그램은 선착순 무료 예약으로 진행되며, 각 신청 페이지를 통해 참여할 수 있다. 오는 28일 서울에서 열리는 오리지널 체험에서는 최대 30명이 코르티스 멤버들을 직접 만날 수 있다. 공간에는 블록 쌓기 게임, 페인트 존, UV 단서 찾기, 메일룸 빙고 등 참여형 활동이 마련되며, 한정판 키캡과 기념품도 제공된다. 단 한 팀(예약자 1명 및 동반인 1명)에게는 오는 29일부터 30일까지 해당 공간에서 1박 2일간 머물 수 있는 프라이빗 숙박 기회가 주어진다. 숙박 게스트는 체험에 포함된 모든 활동을 자유롭게 즐길 수 있으며, 숙박객 전용 인형과 기념품이 제공된다. 체험과 숙박에 참여하지 못한 팬들을 위해 5월 1일부터 7일까지는 팝업 공간이 운영된다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 18:03:41
  • Si Woo Kim Rises to No. 26 in World Golf Ranking, Matching Career High
    Si Woo Kim Rises to No. 26 in World Golf Ranking, Matching Career High Si Woo Kim climbed to No. 26 in the men’s world golf ranking after finishing third at the PGA Tour signature event RBC Heritage, which had a $20 million purse. In the rankings released on the 20th (Korean time), Kim rose four spots from No. 30 last week. Kim posted a 16-under 268 total at the RBC Heritage, which ended on the 20th, finishing behind winner Matt Fitzpatrick of England and runner-up Scottie Scheffler of the United States, who both finished at 18-under 266. It was Kim’s third top-five finish and fifth top-10 result of the season. He matched his career-best world ranking of No. 26, a mark he first reached in February, returning to that position two months later. Kim is the only South Korean player inside the top 50. Im Sung-jae is No. 76, Kim Seong-hyeon No. 137 and Kim Ju-hyeong No. 139. The top two were unchanged, with Scheffler at No. 1 and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland at No. 2. Fitzpatrick jumped to No. 3 from No. 7 last week.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 17:51:02
  • Kim Sei-young Rises to No. 9 in Women’s Golf World Ranking After LA Championship Runner-Up
    Kim Sei-young Rises to No. 9 in Women’s Golf World Ranking After LA Championship Runner-Up Kim Sei-young, who finished second at the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship (total purse $3.75 million), moved up one spot in the women’s world rankings. In the rankings released April 21 (Korea time), Kim rose to No. 9 from No. 10 a week earlier. Kim led through the final day of the LA Championship, which ended April 20, but after finishing tied she lost in a playoff to Hannah Green of Australia. Im Jin-hee, who also went to the playoff and finished tied for second with Kim and Green, jumped eight places to No. 32. Yoon Ina, who posted her best finish since her LPGA Tour debut by placing fourth at the event, climbed 15 spots to No. 53. The top four were unchanged from last week: No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, No. 2 Nelly Korda of the United States, No. 3 Kim Hyo-joo and No. 4 Charley Hull of England. Green, the LA Championship winner, moved up to No. 5 from No. 8. Kim Min-sun, who won the KLPGA Tour’s Nexen·SaintNine Masters on April 19, jumped 29 places to No. 87. 2026-04-21 15:47:32
  • Survey: 34% of South Korean travelers say food is a main reason to travel; searches rise for spring destinations
    Survey: 34% of South Korean travelers say food is a main reason to travel; searches rise for spring destinations Food is increasingly a primary reason for travel, and South Korea ranked third in a survey of Asian travelers on “food trips.” Demand is also rising at home this spring for travel tied to seasonal ingredients. Agoda, a digital travel platform, said Tuesday that its “2026 Travel Outlook Report” survey across eight Asian markets found Taiwan had the highest share of respondents citing food as a main travel purpose, at 47%. Vietnam followed at 35% and South Korea at 34%. Malaysia was at 33%, Japan 32%, Indonesia 31%, Thailand 20% and India 8%. South Korea’s figure was above the Asia average of 31%. Korean travelers are also seeking regional seasonal specialties. Agoda said its analysis of domestic lodging searches from January through March showed year-on-year increases across major spring ingredient-producing areas. Changwon, which accounts for about 70% of Korea’s production of sea squirt, saw lodging searches rise 34%. Seocheon, known for webfoot octopus, and Gwangyang, known for corbicula clams, rose 30% and 28%, respectively. Jindo, a spring blue crab producing area, increased 23%, and searches by domestic travelers surged 357% amid anticipation for the Jindo Blue Crab Festival, scheduled for May 1-3. Nonsan, the country’s largest strawberry-producing area, posted an 18% increase. The Nonsan Strawberry Festival, held March 26-29, drew about 670,000 visitors and sold a total of 150 tons of strawberries. “Among travelers recently, the trend of wanting to experience local food culture is becoming clear,” said Lee Jun-hwan, Agoda’s Northeast Asia head. “South Korea offers distinctive seasonal foods by region, from Changwon’s sea squirt to Nonsan’s strawberry desserts.” He said Agoda will continue supporting travelers with competitively priced flights, lodging and activities so they can experience local cuisine in each area.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 14:34:07
  • Korea Tourism Organization Names Min Byeong-seon as Tourism Industry Division Head
    Korea Tourism Organization Names Min Byeong-seon as Tourism Industry Division Head Korea Tourism Organization said on 21 it appointed Min Byeong-seon, former chairman of the Suwon Convention Center, as its new executive director and head of the Tourism Industry Division. Born in 1972, Min graduated from Chungju High School and earned a sociology degree from Sungkyunkwan University. He began his career in 2000 as a reporter at The Korea Times and later worked as a reporter at The Dong-A Ilbo. He also served as a media adviser in the Gyeonggi Province spokesperson’s office, a public relations and cooperation officer at Gyeonggi Housing & Urban Corporation, and chairman of the Suwon Convention Center. The following is the list of personnel appointments. ◇Korea Tourism Organization △Appointments ▷Min Byeong-seon, head of the Tourism Industry Division (executive director) ▷Kim Young-mi, head of the Tourism AI Innovation Division (executive director) △Promotions and transfers <Division heads> ▷Park Yoon-sook, head of the Management Innovation Division ▷Yang Kyung-soo, head of the International Tourism Division ▷Park Jung-woong, head of the Domestic Tourism Division <Office directors> ▷Kim Kyung-ju, director of the ESG Management Office ▷Kim Kwan-mi, director of the Tourism Business Support Office ▷Lee Young-geun, head of the Jeju branch <Team heads> ▷Lee Jun-ho, budget team head 2026-04-21 14:08:47
  • South Korea Elevates National Tourism Strategy Council to Presidential Level
    South Korea Elevates National Tourism Strategy Council to Presidential Level South Korea will move its top tourism policy body, the National Tourism Strategy Council, from the prime minister’s office to the president’s office, a step aimed at developing tourism as a national strategic industry. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said April 21 that the Cabinet approved revisions to the Tourism Promotion Act reflecting the change. With the amendment, the council will be formally run under a president-led system, strengthening its standing. Its mandate will also expand beyond drafting tourism promotion plans to include evaluating implementation results and feeding those findings back into policy. The ministry said the goal is to review tourism performance across ministries and reinforce interagency coordination and policy effectiveness. In February, at the 11th National Tourism Strategy Council meeting, the president attended in person and stressed tourism as a key driver of the national economy and regional development. As the first follow-up step to the overhaul, the ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization will hold a public contest for tourism policy proposals from April 22 through May 12. The contest will collect ideas in eight areas centered on measures announced at the 11th council meeting under the theme, “A major shift in inbound tourism, a major leap in regional tourism.” Participants can submit proposals through the event page on the Korea Tourism Organization’s “VisitKorea” website. After reviews by experts and private-sector committee members, 20 proposals will be selected. One top prize winner will receive 1 million won, two excellence award winners will receive 500,000 won each, and 17 encouragement award winners will receive 100,000 won each. Results will be announced May 26, and selected proposals are to be reflected in tourism policy. Kang Jeong-won, director general for tourism policy, said the upgrade to a presidential body has strengthened the system’s execution and coordination functions. He urged broad public interest and participation in the contest so the government can identify policies needed in the field.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 11:48:28
  • Lee urges shift from Seoul-centric tourism as 80% of foreign visitors cluster in capital
    Lee urges shift from Seoul-centric tourism as 80% of foreign visitors cluster in capital President Lee Jae-myung said on the 24th that South Korea must move beyond an imbalance in which 80% of foreign tourists concentrate in Seoul, calling for a major shift toward locally led, region-centered tourism. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting he chaired at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee said that, boosted by the global boom in “K-culture,” the number of overseas visitors last year came close to 19 million, setting a new all-time high. He added that foreigner spending at duty-free shops and department stores surged during the Lunar New Year holiday period. Lee said the trend should be used as a springboard for a qualitative leap in the tourism industry. Pointing to the heavy concentration of visitors in the greater Seoul area, he urged officials to focus policy efforts on developing region-tailored tourism products and addressing long-standing inconveniences across transportation, lodging, shopping and payments. He also called for rooting out “anachronistic practices” such as price gouging and excessive street solicitation. Lee asked for active cooperation and communication among the central and local governments, as well as the private and public sectors, to build what he called a “K-tourism powerhouse” created by the entire country.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 10:54:27