Kim Seon-tae’s New YouTube Channel Nears 586,000 Subscribers in Two Days Kim Seon-tae, who gained prominence as “Chungju Man,” is drawing explosive attention after launching a new YouTube channel following his retirement. Kim opened the channel, titled “Kim Seon-tae,” on March 2. News of the launch spread more widely on March 3, and subscriber numbers surged after he uploaded his first video. As of 6:45 a.m. on March 4, the channel had about 586,000 subscribers. The figure is notable given that only two days had passed since the launch and the channel had just one video. After Kim signaled his intention to leave public service, speculation circulated about possible offers, including from the Cheong Wa Dae, a move into politics, or recruitment by major companies and entertainment agencies. Kim instead chose to pursue YouTube. In the channel’s first video, he said he had received “more offers than I deserve,” but started YouTube because he wanted to work “a bit more freely.” He also said he “wanted to make more money,” speaking candidly about his decision. The official YouTube channel of Chungju City, his former workplace, drew attention by commenting on the first video, “Seon-tae, my Seon-tae.” After news broke that Kim had submitted his resignation, Chungju City also posted a “chasing” video that became a talking point.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-04 06:54:23

Injury-hit South Korea targets WBC quarterfinals, with Taiwan game looming large Ryu Ji-hyeon’s South Korea national baseball team is aiming for a spot in the quarterfinals at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, seeking to end a run of three straight first-round exits in 2013, 2017 and 2023. The path looks steep. Injuries have sidelined key players, and rivals in Pool C appear stronger than in past tournaments. South Korea will play four Pool C games at the Tokyo Dome, opening March 5 against the Czech Republic, then facing Japan on March 7, Taiwan on March 8 and Australia on March 9. To reach the quarterfinals in Miami, South Korea must finish in the top two of the group. ◆ Injuries put pitching staff under strain; pressure rises on Kwak Bin and Ryu Hyun-jin South Korea’s biggest concern is the loss of core players. Expected starters Moon Dong-ju (Hanwha Eagles) and Won Tae-in (Samsung Lions) were dropped from the roster, and Korean American big leaguer Riley O’Brien (St. Louis Cardinals), slated to close, could not join because of a calf injury. In the field, Kim Ha-seong (Atlanta Braves) and Song Seong-mun (San Diego Padres) are also out. Analysts have assessed the team at about 80% to 85% of full strength. Song Jae-woo, a TVING commentator, said in a Feb. 27 phone interview that most of the injured players were key contributors. “The three pitchers being out feels especially big,” Song said. “The WBC is a tournament where you need to go in at full strength to have a chance. Not being able to do that makes it a tough road.” With the staff thinned, the role of Kwak Bin (Doosan Bears) has grown, with analysts expecting him to start the pivotal game against Taiwan. SPOTV commentator Min Hoon-ki said, “All the ace pitchers are out. Kwak’s role will be big.” Song said South Korea’s best international runs have typically featured a clear No. 1 starter. “In this tournament, Kwak has to fill that role,” Song said. “It’s a really important assignment, and he has to deliver.” Veteran left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha) is also seen as a stabilizing presence. Min said Ryu would be counted on in big moments and could help teammates prepare off the field as well. South Korea is also looking to Korean American players for a boost. Under WBC rules, players may choose a national team based on a parent’s heritage. This roster includes Jermaine Jones (Detroit Tigers), Shay Whitcomb (Houston Astros) and veteran pitcher Dane Dunning (Seattle Mariners). Min described Jones and Whitcomb as right-handed power bats who could help the lineup, particularly against left-handed pitching. Song said Whitcomb’s power could matter when the team needs a big swing. Dunning is expected to work as a flexible option, starting or relieving. Song called him a “joker card,” citing his experience and a sinker that could be useful when South Korea needs ground balls or a double play. ◆ Taiwan game seen as the key hurdle for a quarterfinal berth Analysts say South Korea’s quarterfinal hopes may hinge on Taiwan, assuming it takes care of the Czech Republic and Australia. South Korea is 4-0 against Taiwan in WBC play, but the most recent meeting ended in a painful loss to Taiwan in the group stage of the 2024 WBSC Premier12. Song said Taiwan is “the strongest it has ever been,” noting that it now has five or six pitchers who throw in the mid-to-upper 150 kph range, giving it more flexibility. Min said the old view of Taiwan as a team prone to defensive mistakes no longer applies, calling it roughly equal to South Korea in ability. The schedule is another concern. South Korea plays Japan at 7 p.m. on March 7, then returns less than a day later to face Taiwan at noon on March 8. To limit bullpen wear, analysts said South Korea needs early runs against the Czech Republic to reduce the use of late-inning relievers, then adjust for Japan and Taiwan. “South Korea has to crush the Czech Republic early and build momentum,” Song said. “Save pitchers and face Japan and Taiwan with confidence.” ◆ Against Japan, analysts say South Korea needs a clutch hitter and extra edge South Korea and Japan have played close games in WBC history, with South Korea holding a 4-5 record. But analysts said the gap in overall talent looks wider heading into this tournament. “Objectively, looking at name value, the lineup and how the pitching staff is built, South Korea is behind,” Min said. Song said South Korea would need something beyond its baseline performance in a short tournament. “Because we’re clearly weaker, we have to show something more than our ability,” he said. “In the tight flow of a short series, a ‘problem-solver’ has to emerge to flip the mood in an instant.” Even so, both analysts said rivalry games can turn on factors outside pure talent, including mental toughness. “In Korea-Japan games, variables beyond objective strength often affect the result,” Min said. “When we face them head-on as one team, there’s no rule that says we can’t beat Japan. Our players are mentally prepared.” Song said the best-case scenario would be to stay even through a clutch performance, then steal the win late.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-04 00:03:00

Shinhan Financial Nominates Park Jong-bok and Professor Lim Seung-yeon as Outside Directors Shinhan Financial Group has nominated Park Jong-bok, former CEO of SC First Bank, and Lim Seung-yeon, a professor at Kookmin University, as new outside directors. Shinhan’s board on Tuesday approved the nominations at a meeting of its Outside Director and Audit Committee Candidate Recommendation Committee. Park, a former deputy head of retail banking at SC First Bank, was recommended as a financial expert. Shinhan said he led growth and improved profitability during more than a decade as SC First Bank CEO and successfully pushed new businesses including digital initiatives. It said his retail experience would support consumer-focused management. Shinhan also said Park’s governance experience at a global financial group would allow him to provide practical advice aligned with global standards. It added that, alongside director Choi Young-kwon’s capital-markets expertise, Park’s appointment would help the board offer balanced guidance spanning banking and capital markets. Lim is a U.S. certified public accountant and has served as dean of Kookmin University’s business school. If Lim is approved and directors Kim Jo-seol, Song Seong-ju and Jeon Myo-sang are all reappointed at the shareholders meeting, Shinhan is expected to maintain four female outside directors. Shinhan described Lim as a candidate with academic achievements in accounting and a deep understanding of governance through experience as an outside director and audit committee member at other companies. It said it nominated a female accounting expert to maintain expertise and diversity after the term of Yoon Jae-won, a finance and accounting specialist, expires. Shinhan said it expects Lim to advise on internal controls and play an oversight role as the board’s responsibilities for internal control and auditing grow. The board also recommended the reappointment of five outside directors whose terms expire in March: Kwak Soo-geun (emeritus professor at Seoul National University’s business school), Kim Jo-seol (professor at Osaka University of Commerce), Bae Hoon (attorney at Orbis law firm), Song Seong-ju (professor of statistics at Korea University) and Choi Young-kwon (former CEO of Woori Asset Management). It recommended Kwak and Lim as outside directors who would serve as audit committee members, and nominated Bae and Choi as audit committee candidates, reflecting revisions to the Commercial Act. The nominees will be finalized after approval at this month’s annual shareholders meeting. Separately, Yoon Jae-won, whose term ends under regulations, and Lee Yong-guk, who has said he intends to resign, are expected to step down after this month’s annual shareholders meeting.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 18:12:00

Middle East Tensions Lift Demand for South Korea’s Cheongung-II Air Defense System U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have heightened security concerns across the Middle East, driving up demand for air defense weapons. South Korea’s Cheongung-II, which has expanded its export footprint in the region over the past two to three years, has now been deployed in combat, drawing attention as a lower-cost option with faster delivery.  The defense industry said Tuesday that the United Arab Emirates used the South Korean-made medium-range surface-to-air guided weapon system to intercept multiple Iranian missiles. With forecasts that Iran could fire ballistic missiles toward countries near U.S. forces, the UAE fielded Cheongung-II and it was used operationally, the industry said. The UAE’s air defense network is known to include the U.S.-made Patriot, Israel’s Arrow and South Korea’s Cheongung-II. The UAE military said its overall interception rate across its air defense systems was above 90%. Often described as a Korean version of the Patriot, Cheongung-II is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system jointly produced by LIG Nex1, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems. If wartime demand accelerates local deployment, related sales are expected to be reflected starting this year. Cheongung-II entered mass production in 2024, and some units have been delivered to the UAE since last year. LIG Nex1, the lead contractor, has signed deals with the UAE (about $3.5 billion in January 2022), Saudi Arabia (about $3.5 billion in November 2023) and Iraq (about $2.5 billion in September 2024), securing a Middle East order backlog of about $9.5 billion (10.2 trillion won) tied to Cheongung-II. The system is a so-called “K-one team” project involving major South Korean defense firms. LIG Nex1 handles system integration and the operations control center; Hanwha Systems supplies the multifunction radar; Hanwha Aerospace provides launchers and munitions. Kia supplies the vehicle platform. Cheongung-II is widely seen as costing about half as much as the U.S. Patriot, helping it gain traction in the Middle East, where demand for guided weapons is high. The push by some countries to reduce reliance on a single supplier has also supported broader interest in South Korean defense exports. Chae Un-saem, an analyst at Hana Securities, said Lockheed Martin’s Patriot PAC-3 surface-to-air missiles have an annual production capacity of about 600 rounds despite plans to increase output. “The unit price is also very high at $4 million, making it more than twice as expensive as Korea’s Cheongung,” Chae said. South Korea recently signed a $35 billion memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation with the UAE, adding to expectations of further exports. Details were not disclosed, but forecasts have pointed to additional contracts for medium- and long-range weapons to build a layered air defense network. Experts said continued instability in the region could keep export momentum going for South Korean defense companies. Nam Myeong-ryeol, head of Korea University’s K-Defense Industry Center, said tensions are rising as Iran attacks not only Israel but also multiple areas where U.S. forces are stationed. “More Middle Eastern countries are likely to seek South Korean weapons that combine performance and price competitiveness, fast delivery, and the ability to operate and sustain the systems,” he said. 2026-03-03 18:04:48

Tanker Charter Rates Double After Iran Strikes, Raising South Korea Energy Security Fears U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran have sent global oil prices surging, and tanker freight rates have more than doubled, raising alarms over South Korea’s energy security. With heavy reliance on Middle Eastern energy, South Korea could face a shock comparable to the 1970s oil crisis if the conflict drags on, industry officials warned. According to the industry on Tuesday, the attacks pushed up international crude prices and natural gas prices in Asia and Europe. On ICE Futures, Brent crude for May delivery settled at $77.74 a barrel, up 6.7% from the previous session. Brent briefly climbed 13% intraday to $82.37, its highest level in more than a year since January last year. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, WTI for April delivery settled at $71.23 a barrel, up 6.3%. WTI also rose as much as 12% intraday to $75.33, the highest since June last year. Shipping costs jumped alongside crude. A VLCC (very large crude carrier) rate indicator for the Middle East-to-East Asia (MEG–China) route obtained by Ajou Economy showed the Worldscale (WS) index at 410.44 as of March 2. The corresponding daily time charter equivalent (TCE) was calculated at $423,736. That was nearly double the level just before the war on Feb. 27 (WS 224.72; TCE $218,154) and more than five times January’s level (WS 96.12; TCE $78,793) in about a month. Worldscale is the standard benchmark used to settle international tanker freight. A reading below 100 is generally seen as weak and above 100 as strong. Against that yardstick, a move above WS 400 is viewed as an extreme level reflecting war risk, not just a strong market. The market is increasingly concerned that tanker freight could rise more than tenfold from prewar levels as Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has effectively become a reality. Marine insurance, a major component of shipping costs, has continued to climb sharply, the report said. Experts said the fallout for South Korea could be significant because the country depends on the Middle East — where the Strait of Hormuz is located — for about 70% of its imported crude and up to 30% of its natural gas. If higher crude prices are compounded by rising transport costs, refiners’ import costs would jump, likely feeding into higher prices for petroleum and petrochemical products and higher power-generation costs, squeezing profitability across industries. The government plans to respond by releasing stockpiled oil and securing alternative supplies. It says it holds about 208 days’ worth of crude reserves, enough to manage short-term disruptions. But a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could change the picture. As the war lengthens, releasing reserves alone may not fully ease supply anxiety. The Korea International Trade Association said using detours instead of the strait could lift shipping costs by an additional 50% to 80% from current levels. Transit time and customs procedures could also add up to five days, and in past conflicts in the region, war-risk insurance premiums have been marked up as much as sevenfold. Oh Hyun-seok, a professor of international trade at Keimyung University, said, “The government says it still has room with its stockpiles, but it is not time to be optimistic.” He added, “If the strait is blocked, South Korea needs to diversify oil imports, and in the short term it needs tax adjustments, such as easing fuel taxes, to reduce the burden on companies and consumers.” 2026-03-03 18:03:25

South Korea’s 5 Automakers’ February Sales Fall 4.6% From a Year Earlier South Korea’s five automakers posted lower sales in February, returning to a decline as the Lunar New Year holiday reduced the number of business days. Hyundai Motor, Kia, GM Korea, Renault Korea and KG Mobility (KGM) said on Tuesday they sold a combined 602,689 vehicles last month — 95,702 in South Korea and 506,987 overseas. That was down 4.6% from a year earlier. Hyundai’s global sales totaled 306,528 vehicles, down 5.1% year over year. Kia sold 247,401 vehicles, a 2.8% decline. The companies cited fewer selling days during the holiday period, along with weaker electric-vehicle sales in global markets. Combined domestic sales for the five automakers fell 14.8% from a year earlier. KGM was the only company to post growth, up 38.3%, helped by demand for its new Musso pickup. The others reported declines: Hyundai down 17.8%, Kia down 8.6%, GM Korea down 37.4% and Renault Korea down 59.0%. Overseas sales slipped 2.3%; Renault Korea rose 55.4%, while the other four companies posted year-over-year decreases. In South Korea, the best-selling model in February was Kia’s Sorento with 7,693 units. It was followed by Hyundai’s Porter (4,634), Hyundai’s Sonata (4,436), Kia’s PV5 (3,967) and Hyundai’s Grandeur (3,933). 2026-03-03 17:51:47

Park Bom Deletes Post Alleging Sandara Park Drug Use After Backlash, Citing Health Issues Singer Park Bom raised allegations that Sandara Park, who promoted with her in the same group, used drugs, but later quietly deleted the post after criticism.  At about 5:40 p.m. on the 3rd, the post targeting Sandara Park was no longer visible on Park Bom’s social media account.  Earlier that day, Park Bom wrote, “Park Sandara got caught for drugs, and to cover that up they made Park Bom into a drug addict,” adding that she only has attention deficit disorder (ADD).  She also wrote, “YG Entertainment and Yang Hyun-suk, Teddy Park and Lee Chae-rin (CL), please don’t do the kind of thing where you report to the country that Park Bom used more than the prescribed amount of drugs that none of you have used for nearly 30 years.”  A person close to Park Bom told OSEN, “I just became aware of the content,” and said it happened because “Park Bom’s health is unstable.”  2026-03-03 17:51:15

Elementary school greets new students through spring entrance ceremony SEOUL, March 03 (AJP) - First-grade students wearing paper crowns attend their entrance ceremony for the 2026 academic year at Wonchon Elementary School in Seocho District, Seoul, on Monday. The new students took commemorative photos with their families at a designated photo zone before touring their classrooms and school grounds where they will spend the coming years. Instead of delivering a traditional welcome speech, the school principal read aloud the children’s book “We Are the Most Popular First Graders,” drawing the students’ focused attention as they listened with bright, curious expressions. A total of 186 students enrolled at Wonchon Elementary School this year. Following the ceremony, students gathered in their respective classrooms for their first greetings with homeroom teachers and classmates. As the new semester begins, elementary schools across the city marked another fresh start amid the early signs of spring. 2026-03-03 17:46:03

Iran Women’s Volleyball Coach Lee Do-hee Returning to South Korea Amid War Fallout Lee Do-hee, who leads Iran’s women’s national volleyball team, is returning to South Korea amid fallout from the war between the United States and Iran. Volleyball officials said Tuesday that Lee is scheduled to arrive via Incheon International Airport on March 5. Lee has coached Iran’s under-23 women’s national team since the summer of 2024. Last month, she guided Iran’s Foolad MS (FMS) to the title at the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Women’s Club Championship. This year, she was set to lead the squad at the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Nations Cup, the Asian Championship and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Iran’s state broadcaster Al Mayadeen reported Tuesday that an airstrike targeting a gym in Lamerd village in Iran’s southern Fars province killed 20 Iranian women volleyball players. The outlet said most of those killed were young prospects and that children were also inside the gym at the time. In a statement on the war, the International Volleyball Federation said that “a number of Iran’s young volleyball players have died amid the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and nearby areas.” It said it formed a special task force to work with governments and other relevant bodies, calling it an urgent priority to ensure the safety of all volleyball players, coaches and staff who live in, are visiting, or are now caught up in the conflict.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 17:42:00

Middle East Crisis: Brewing oil shock sparks tantrum across Seoul markets SEOUL, Mar 03 (AJP) - Oil supply disruption following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — the critical artery through which most Middle Eastern crude flows to Asia — is raising fears of another wave of currency volatility and fuel-driven inflation, analysts warned. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared the waterway shut, threatening to “set on fire” vessels entering waters bordering Iran. The strait handles roughly 20 percent of global oil supplies and about 80 percent of crude bound for Asia, including South Korea. East Asia remains heavily dependent on Middle Eastern crude. South Korea, alongside Japan, stands out for its high concentration risk and limited import diversification. According to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), crude imports from five countries — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iraq — accounted for 69 percent of South Korea’s total oil imports in January. Saudi Arabia alone represented nearly half of that volume. Compounding tensions, Iran launched a drone attack on Saudi Aramco’s largest refinery in Ras Tanura. Although Saudi forces intercepted the drones and prevented severe structural damage, fires in the vicinity forced a temporary suspension of operations. Markets reacted immediately. While the UAE suspended Dubai crude trading, Brent crude futures — the global benchmark substitute — surged 8.11 percent on Sunday to $78.36 per barrel. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, Brent climbed further to $81.24, nearly 30 percent above the $60 range where prices hovered at the start of the year. Oil prices exert a defining influence on consumer inflation. When Dubai crude surpassed $100 per barrel during the Arab Spring uprisings, South Korea’s inflation rate climbed toward 4 percent. Fuel prices are already responding. Gasoline prices in Seoul, which stood at 1,749.65 won ($1.20) per liter last Saturday, rose to 1,768.38 won by March 2 — an increase of more than 1 percent in just three days. Given the typical lag in retail price adjustments, further increases are widely expected. “A 10 percent rise in international oil prices is estimated to lift South Korea’s CPI growth by approximately 0.22 percentage points,” said Kwon Hee-jin, a researcher at KB Securities. Kwon also warned of prolonged instability, noting that unlike Venezuela’s internal collapse, Iran retains strong hardline political and military backing — raising the risk of sustained conflict. Seoul markets suffered one of their steepest declines in recent years. The KOSPI plunged 452.22 points, or 7.24 percent, to close at 5,791.91 — marking one of its sharpest single-day losses. The stock and bond markets both endured heavy selling despite Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eog-weon’s pledge Sunday to deploy more than 100 trillion won in market stabilization funds. The Korean won slid 2.9 percent from Friday’s close to 1,467.50 per U.S. dollar on Tuesday, reflecting intensifying capital outflows. The bond market also turned volatile. The three-year government bond yield surged 13.9 basis points to 3.180 percent, while the 10-year yield climbed 14.8 basis points to 3.594 percent — the largest increase since Jan. 20, when yields spiked following President Lee Jae Myung’s signal of a supplementary budget. The sharper rise in short-term yields relative to long-term rates suggests heightened sensitivity to inflation and exchange-rate risks, while also signaling that expectations for further Bank of Korea rate cuts are fading. Safe-haven dynamics were mixed. Gold prices surged past $5,400 per troy ounce as of Sunday, while the Dollar Index rose for three consecutive sessions to 98.42. Yet U.S. Treasury yields moved higher instead of falling, with the 10-year yield jumping 9.3 basis points to 4.036 percent overnight — reflecting investor bets that surging oil prices will reignite inflation. The Bank of Korea’s New York office noted that the likelihood of a near-term Federal Reserve rate cut has “virtually disappeared,” limiting room for the BOK to pursue its own easing cycle. “With short-term inflation expected to rise, it will be difficult for the Fed to maintain accommodative policies,” the BOK’s New York desk said, pointing to unusual weakness in U.S. Treasuries. Meritz Securities researcher Lee Seung-hoon warned that the upper bound for the U.S. 10-year yield could extend toward 4.5 percent, with Korea’s 10-year yield potentially approaching 4 percent. “Bond investors are selling on inflation sensitivity rather than rotating into safe havens,” Lee said. Some analysts, however, remain skeptical that the crisis will become protracted. “If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for an extended period, pressure from China — one of Iran’s key economic partners — will intensify,” Lee said, predicting Iran may ultimately de-escalate. Ahn Hyun-kook, a researcher at Hanwha Investment & Securities, drew parallels to last year’s tariff escalation. “During the tariff war, President Trump stepped back when market reactions exceeded expectations,” Ahn said. “While Trump may hold leverage on tariffs, he does not control oil prices in the same way.” The Bank of Korea’s London office also assessed that high-intensity combat could conclude within one to two weeks, citing constraints on ammunition reserves on both sides — shorter than earlier projections of four to five weeks. 2026-03-03 17:34:55