BTS reunites this June after nearly two years of service SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - K-pop wonder BTS is on track for a full-group return this June, as the last of the members complete their military service. RM and V are set to be discharged on Jun. 10, followed by Jungkook and Jimin a day later. Suga wraps up his service on Jun. 21. Jin and J-Hope, who finished earlier, are already preparing for the group's long-awaited reunion. The group has been on hiatus since late 2022, when Jin became the first to enlist under South Korea’s mandatory military service law. Over the past two years, no other act has quite filled the void BTS left behind, and fans have been counting the days. Even while serving, members stayed active through pre-recorded content and solo releases. Jungkook’s “3D” and “Standing Next to You,” along with Jimin’s “Like Crazy” and “Who,” were among the most-played songs of 2025, according to the U.S. BMI Pop Awards. “Who” became the longest-charting K-pop solo track in Billboard Hot 100 history, holding on for 33 weeks. RM’s music videos, released before enlistment, also rippled across the world's music scene, winning four honors at the UK’s Shark Music Video Awards, including Best Music Video. However, not all attention was positive. In August, Suga was cited for riding an electric scooter under the influence, drawing criticism at the time. But the group pressed on, and momentum has steadily returned. Jin and J-Hope, the first to reenter the spotlight, have kept busy. Jin is preparing for a solo comeback with “Don’t Say You Love Me,” the lead track from his second mini album Echo, filmed in Singapore. J-Hope launched a solo world tour earlier this year and became the second male K-pop soloist — after Psy — to appear on the cover of Billboard magazine. BTS last performed together in June 2022 with the release of Proof, followed by a concert in Busan that October in support of the city’s World Expo bid. Since then, fans have been waiting. A specific comeback date hasn’t been announced. “No decision has been finalized,” BigHit Music told AJP. But the countdown has begun — and the excitement is already in motion. 2025-05-26 16:31:07

Yoon Suk Yeol appears in court for fifth insurrection trial amid investigation into deleted phone records SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol returned to the Seoul Central District Court on Monday for the fifth hearing in his trial on charges of insurrection and abuse of power. It was his third time entering through the main public entrance. As in previous appearances, he passed reporters in silence, offering no comment on the Dec. 3 martial law declaration or whether he intended to address the public ahead of the Jun. 3 presidential election. The May 26 hearing is the final session scheduled before voters go to the polls. The next hearing is set for Jun. 9. The case is being heard at the Seoul Central District Court. Lee Sang-hyun, commander of the Army’s Special Warfare Command, is expected to take the stand, with testimony focused on military deployments and the command structure in place the night martial law was imposed. Meanwhile, police have launched an investigation into the deletion of encrypted phone records linked to Yoon, former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won, and former Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong-sik. According to investigators, the records were wiped remotely on Dec. 6, three days after the martial law order. The deletion came to light during a forensic review of logs voluntarily submitted by the Presidential Security Service. In total, 19 devices, including Yoon’s own phone, are now under examination. The police said that the deletions were carried out by the security service, but it remains unclear who gave the order. 2025-05-26 16:07:07

OpenAI sets up South Korean subsidiary SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - OpenAI said on Monday that it has established a Korean subsidiary and plans to open its first office in Seoul in the coming months. The move is part of the company’s broader international strategy, dubbed “OpenAI for Countries,” which aims to deepen partnerships and infrastructure investments worldwide. Over the past year, OpenAI has opened offices in 11 cities, including London, Dublin, Brussels and Paris. Seoul will join Tokyo and Singapore as one of the company’s key hubs in Asia. “We see Korea’s comprehensive AI ecosystem as one of the most promising in the world — from silicon to software, and from students to seniors,” Jason Kwon, OpenAI’s chief strategy officer, said in a statement. He emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting the development of “truly Korean AI.” Kwon said the new office would help strengthen ties with South Korean policymakers, businesses, developers and researchers. He has met with officials from both the ruling People Power Party and the opposition Democratic Party to discuss the country's AI infrastructure agenda. Both parties have identified artificial intelligence as a priority ahead of the June 3 presidential election. South Korea has emerged as a key market for OpenAI. The company said the country ranks second globally in paid ChatGPT subscriptions, trailing only the United States. The number of weekly active users in South Korea has surged more than fourfold in the past year, placing it among the top 10 markets by user volume. South Korean developers using OpenAI’s application programming interface (API) also rank among the top 10 globally. Corporate adoption of the company’s paid services places the country in the top five markets worldwide. OpenAI has already forged partnerships with major South Korean firms, including tech giant Kakao, gaming company Krafton and telecom leader SK Telecom. It has also signed a financial cooperation agreement with the state-run Korea Development Bank. Despite OpenAI’s growing presence in the country, the company offered few details about whether it plans to build local data centers. Kwon said the firm has a “strong interest” in expanding AI infrastructure in South Korea, but declined to provide a timeline or scope for any future construction. 2025-05-26 16:05:36

Amorepacific taps Daiso to launch new men's grooming brand SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest cosmetics maker Amorepacific has rolled out Monday a new cosmetics line for men through Daiso, the popular discount chain, aiming to reach younger male consumers who are just beginning to explore skincare and grooming. The cosmetics maker said in a statement that its new brand, called “Prep by B.READY,” is geared toward men in their 20s and 30s. “The brand targets male customers who are new to styling,” the company said in a statement Monday. The lineup of the new male beauty product brand includes all-in-one skincare products, sunscreen, and basic color cosmetics designed for everyday use. The line is now available at Daiso stores across the country and through the retailer’s online platform. Daiso, known for selling most items between 1,000 ($0.7) and 5,000 won, has more than 1,500 locations nationwide and recorded sales of over 3 trillion won in 2024. Its affordability and wide selection have made it a go-to stop for younger shoppers looking for low-cost beauty products. Men’s cosmetics are no longer a niche in South Korea. According to Euromonitor, the male grooming market reached 1.2 trillion won ($878.9 million) last year, growing at an average rate of about 2.5 percent annually. The broader beauty industry remains strong. Data from the Korea Health Industry Development Institute showed the domestic market was worth 17.7 trillion won (approximately 13 billion dollars) in 2024, with expectations that it will climb to 15 billion dollars by 2028. 2025-05-26 15:17:34

Homeplus lease terminations leave small businesses in limbo SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Homeplus, a South Korean retail chain undergoing court-supervised restructuring, has begun notifying landlords of plans to terminate leases at 17 stores, deepening uncertainty for hundreds of small businesses operating within those locations. The potential closures span major metropolitan areas, including Seoul, Incheon, and Busan, and affect stores in Gayang, Ilsan, Siheung, Jamsil, and other key commercial districts. An estimated 200 to 300 small businesses operate across the affected stores, typically with 10 to 30 vendors per location. Roughly half of those vendors are brand franchisees; the remainder are independent operators, many of whom lack the legal protections afforded to traditional retail tenants. As vendors within large discount chains, they occupy a regulatory gray area, leaving them without access to compensation for key money — a standard practice in South Korean commercial leasing. Homeplus entered corporate rehabilitation proceedings last month, a process that has already led to noticeable declines in customer traffic and revenue. Several vendors report sales drops of 20 to 30 percent since the announcement, and many say they are unsure whether they can continue operating. Communication from Homeplus management has been sporadic, according to affected vendors. Some say they learned of the potential closures through media coverage rather than official notice, further fueling frustration and anxiety. At the center of the crisis are protracted negotiations with landlords — primarily real estate investment trusts — over significant rent reductions and lease transfer terms for sub-tenants. Homeplus is reportedly seeking rent cuts of up to 50 percent. The impasse has already delayed key milestones in the company’s rehabilitation timeline, including required reporting to the court. 2025-05-26 14:48:27

Lee Jae-myung calls inter-Korean summit essential but says now is not the time SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung said Monday that while holding a summit with North Korea is something that should happen, current conditions make it unlikely in the near future. “It is something that obviously should happen, but I don’t know whether it will be possible,” Lee told reporters during a visit to Ajou University in Suwon on May 26. “At the moment, it would be extremely difficult.” Lee acknowledged the importance of dialogue with Pyongyang and said Seoul should not hesitate to engage, especially given the frequency of summits South Korea holds with the United States and other neighboring countries. “As we engage in many summits with the U.S. and surrounding nations, there’s no reason not to do the same with North Korea,” he said. “It’s something we should prepare for and work to make possible,” Lee said. He also commented on the potential for a renewed U.S.–North Korea summit, noting that President Donald Trump continues to express interest in meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Lee said South Korea would support such talks and seek to contribute. “If a U.S.–North Korea summit becomes possible, we will support and cooperate to help it succeed,” he said. “There is definitely a role for us in that process.” On the nuclear issue, Lee made clear he does not support South Korea developing its own weapons. “Pursuing nuclear armament is neither realistic nor desirable,” he said. “We should aim to freeze North Korea’s nuclear capabilities as a step toward denuclearization. While the U.S. has a major role, China and Russia also have responsibilities. We must manage relations with all neighboring countries carefully.” 2025-05-26 13:43:32

Subscriber exodus accelerates at SK Telecom following security breach SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest mobile carrier, SK Telecom, has raised device subsidies and sales incentives in an urgent attempt to stem a wave of customer defections triggered by a widespread security breach and logistical failures earlier this month. The telecom provider reportedly increased its official subsidies for Samsung’s Galaxy S25 smartphones to 680,000 won (about $510) and for Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models to 650,000 won. With an additional 15 percent in optional support, total discounts rise to 782,000 won and 747,500 won, respectively. The company also significantly boosted dealer incentives for number portability — sales involving customers switching from rival carriers — raising payouts by more than 300,000 won for premium plans at selected retail outlets. Industry sources described the move as the first such adjustment since SK Telecom halted new customer sign-ups earlier this month. The changes follow a steep decline in SK Telecom’s subscriber base, with the company losing nearly 352,000 customers on a net basis over the past month. Typically, net daily customer losses hover around 100, making the recent exodus equivalent to nearly 10 years’ worth of normal churn, by some estimates. The subscriber losses began after SK Telecom suspended new registrations and number transfers at more than 2,600 T World franchise stores nationwide on May 5, citing a shortage of SIM cards required for onboarding new users. While device upgrades continued at other retail locations, the company has struggled to maintain standard promotional activities amid the ongoing supply chain issue. In a statement, a company spokesperson confirmed the changes, describing them as “minimal measures to respond to other mobile carriers’ subsidy increases and sales incentive policies.” The statement referenced competitor KT’s recent move to raise subsidies for the Galaxy S25 to 700,000 won just one day prior to SK Telecom’s decision. SK Telecom said it has so far completed SIM card replacements for approximately 4.17 million customers, while 4.82 million are still awaiting service — numbers that underscore the scope of the operational crisis. The rare disruption has put pressure on South Korea’s highly competitive telecommunications industry, where customer loyalty is often driven by aggressive promotional offers and seamless service. 2025-05-26 11:20:51

South Korea launches $29 billion battery storage initiative SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - South Korea has launched its most ambitious energy storage initiative yet, opening the door to what officials estimate could become a $29 billion market by 2038 — offering a much-needed boost to domestic battery manufacturers grappling with a global slowdown in electric vehicle demand. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy unveiled plans for a nationwide tender to install 540 megawatts of battery energy storage systems (BESS), marking the country's first major government-led deployment of its kind. The project is part of a broader effort to modernize South Korea’s power grid and support the transition to renewable energy. South Korea’s battery makers, including LG Energy Solution and SK On, have been squeezed by waning EV subsidies and shifting demand, prompting a strategic pivot toward North America, where demand for grid storage is accelerating. Under the terms of the government tender, operators will be required to construct battery storage facilities by 2026 and operate them for 15 years, managing the systems in coordination with the Korea Power Exchange. The installations must meet a combined storage capacity of 3,240 megawatt-hours — enough to power approximately 40,000 electric vehicles equipped with 80-kilowatt-hour batteries. The total investment is estimated at around 1 trillion won, or $731 million. The initiative is closely tied to South Korea’s 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, which outlines an aggressive ramp-up in renewables. The plan aims to boost the share of green energy from 8.4 percent of the national energy mix in 2023 to 29.2 percent by 2038. Solar and wind generation capacity is expected to quadruple — from 30 gigawatts to 121.9 gigawatts—necessitating large-scale energy storage to stabilize supply amid fluctuating output. But South Korea’s battery industry faces mounting pressure from China, whose manufacturers, led by CATL, currently account for nearly 90 percent of global energy storage battery capacity. CATL expanded its footprint in January by establishing a South Korean subsidiary, signaling an aggressive push into the local market. CATL also dominated the global EV battery market last year with a 37.9 percent share, far outpacing LG Energy Solution’s 10.8 percent, according to industry data. In an effort to shield domestic producers and encourage local development, the South Korean government is introducing selection criteria for the BESS project that go beyond price. Bidders will be scored on a 100-point scale, with 24 points allocated for domestic industrial contribution and job creation. Authorities will also evaluate the sourcing of critical battery materials such as cathodes, anodes and electrolytes. “Energy storage systems are essential for integrating renewables, which are inherently volatile,” said Yoo Seung-hoon, a professor of future energy convergence at Seoul National University of Science and Technology. “The right policies must incentivize companies to use domestically produced secondary batteries.” 2025-05-26 11:15:11

Chung Soon-mi becomes first overseas Korean awarded top Norwegian medal SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Musician Chung Soon-mi has become the first overseas Korean to receive Norway’s highest state honor, the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, the South Korean Embassy in Norway said on Saturday. Chung was awarded the Knight First Class medal of the prestigious Order on Sunday in recognition of her significant contributions to Norwegian arts and culture. Established in 1847 by King Oscar I of Norway, the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav is the country’s most distinguished decoration, bestowed upon individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Norwegian society. Chung studied at esteemed institutions including the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Since 1981, she has been a professor at the Barratt Due Institute of Music, Norway’s premier music education institution, training generations of musicians. Her previous honors include the City of Oslo Culture Award, the Lindeman Prize, the Anders Jahre Culture Prize, and the Norwegian Arts Council Award of Merit. 2025-05-26 11:04:51

North Korea begins repairs on damaged destroyer after failed launch SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - North Korea has begun restoring a newly developed warship that was severely damaged during its launch ceremony last week, according to a report by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Sunday. The 5,000-ton-class destroyer sustained major damage on May 21 at the northeastern port of Chongjin. During the launch event, attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the warship’s stern reportedly detached from its transport cradle and tipped to one side, partially submerging in seawater. Kim was said to have reacted with visible anger, calling the failed launch a critical and unacceptable accident. He reportedly ordered military authorities to complete full restoration of the vessel by the end of June. KCNA stated that restoration work is underway “according to schedule” under the technical guidance of a team of experts, with efforts currently focused on stabilizing the ship’s balance. The report also noted that Ri Hyong-son, vice department director of the Munitions Industry Department of the ruling Workers’ Party, has been summoned and detained in connection with the incident. 2025-05-26 11:02:36