Innocean Tops South Korea in Campaign Brief Asia 2025 Creative Rankings, No. 6 in Asia Hyundai Motor Group affiliate Innocean said it has again demonstrated top-tier advertising production capabilities on the global stage.   Innocean said Monday it was ranked No. 1 in South Korea and No. 6 in Asia in Campaign Brief Asia’s “2025 Creative Rankings.” The rankings compile major international advertising award results earned by agencies across Asia over the past two years, covering the period from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2025. Campaign Brief Asia weighted wins across 12 major global awards, including Cannes Lions, the New York Festivals and the Clio Awards, based on each competition’s standing. Innocean placed first among South Korean agencies and finished sixth overall in Asia. Campaign Brief Asia said Innocean posted the strongest award performance over the two-year period, citing a run of top prizes at leading global competitions. In individual rankings, Innocean CEO and chief creative officer Kim Jeong-a ranked first among South Korean creative directors based on award results. Copywriter Yang Do-yu, art director Oh Eun-ha and creative director Moon Na-ri tied for first in South Korea in the creative category for the most awards won. Kim also ranked sixth across Asia. The individual creative rankings covered 2,885 people, including copywriters, art directors and creative directors. The “Night Fishing” campaign with Hyundai Motor Co. was among works that received high marks, Innocean said.   Innocean previously ranked first in the “Indonesia Creative Rankings,” giving the company top spots in both its South Korean headquarters and an overseas unit. In Indonesia, it held the No. 1 position for a second straight year, it said. “From late last year to early this year, we were named ‘Agency of the Year’ three times in a row by leading overseas organizations, which is very meaningful and gratifying,” Kim said. “This achievement goes beyond awards, serving as an important opportunity to raise the standing of Korean creativity in the global market while also helping drive client growth,” she said.  * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 09:04:04

Air Premia Marks Washington, D.C., Launch With Up to 30% Fare Discounts Air Premia said Sunday it will run a promotion offering up to 30% off to mark its planned launch of service to Washington, D.C., in April. From Sunday through Feb. 26, the airline will release a first-come, first-served discount code each day for 30% off fares on its Washington route. The 30% code will be posted daily at 10 a.m. and will end once the allotment is gone. Customers can find the code on the event page of the airline’s website and mobile app, and the code will change each day. Customers who miss the 30% offer can still get 20% off fares by entering the code “IADNEW20” from Feb. 27 through March 2. Air Premia will begin scheduled service between Incheon and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) on April 24, operating four times a week. The airline said the launch is a strategic move to diversify its U.S. route portfolio and expand its demand base. Washington, D.C., is an administrative and diplomatic hub where demand for business travel remains steady, including visits to public agencies, defense-related organizations and research institutions. Northern Virginia nearby is home to clusters of defense and technology industries and research facilities, which the airline said supports stable corporate and institutional demand. The airline also cited Washington’s cultural and historical attractions — including the Smithsonian museums, the National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial — as drivers of steady leisure travel demand, noting that free admission at major museums can help keep travel costs relatively low. Dulles is a key gateway for the Washington metropolitan area, with strong access to government agencies and a transfer network to major U.S. cities, the airline said, adding that it expects convenient connections within the Eastern U.S. “Washington is a market shaped by both demand for visits to public, diplomatic and research institutions and demand for cultural tourism,” an Air Premia official said. “As this launch is a strategic expansion to diversify our U.S. route portfolio and stabilize our revenue base, we will focus on securing early demand and establishing the route in the market.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 09:03:16

Hyundai Launches Pokemon Display Themes for In-Car Screens Hyundai Motor is bringing Pokemon characters to in-car displays, offering drivers a new way to personalize the cabin experience. The automaker said Sunday it is releasing two new display themes developed with Pokemon Korea: the “Pokemon Pikachu Thunderbolt Theme” and the “Pokemon Ditto World Theme.” Drivers can apply Pokemon-inspired colors and graphics to the infotainment and cluster displays, along with navigation driving information and startup and shutdown animations. Hyundai said the Pokemon-themed displays are expected to create an emotional connection and shared interest between parents and children. The themes can be purchased through Hyundai’s Bluelink Store after registering a primary vehicle in the MyHyundai app. Eligible models are the All-New Palisade, Ioniq 9, All-New Nexo, The New Ioniq 6, 2026 Sonata The Edge and The New Staria. Hyundai said it plans to expand compatibility through OTA (over-the-air) software updates. “This collaboration with Pokemon Korea reflects customer demand to decorate and express their own style through their vehicle,” a Hyundai official said. “In step with the connected-car era, we will continue to raise the value of the experience customers can have in their vehicles.” 2026-02-23 08:57:19

Nexen Tire Opens Winter Tire Test Center in Finland to Boost R&D Nexen Tire said it has begun full operations of its new winter and all-weather tire test center in Ivalo, Finland, after holding an opening ceremony for the “Purple Snow Ivalo Center.” The event was attended by Kim Jong-myeong, head of Nexen Tire’s research institute, and representatives of European automotive media outlets. To strengthen winter performance development, the company built its own research facilities, including a lab focused on winter road-surface characteristics. It also secured a newly designed proving ground through a long-term lease, featuring a snow handling track with varied slopes and curves and a large snow flat track. The center was established within a UTAC (Union Technique de l'Automobile, du moto cycle et du Cycle) driving test site in Ivalo, near the Arctic Circle in northern Finland. UTAC is Europe’s largest automotive testing specialist and has indoor and outdoor infrastructure capable of reproducing extreme winter road conditions. Nexen Tire said the Finland center is expected to strengthen competitiveness in Europe, a key market that accounts for more than 40% of its revenue. The company cited requirements in major countries such as Germany that mandate the use of 3PMSF-certified products in winter, increasing the importance of technical readiness for winter tires. Nexen Tire also said it has secured a durability evaluation track for studded winter tires designed for icy roads in extremely cold regions such as Northern Europe, aiming to respond strategically to rising local demand for winter tires. The company said the center will also link virtual development with real-vehicle testing. It will allow immediate cross-checking of performance predicted by a high dynamic driving simulator introduced last year — the first in the domestic industry — through on-snow driving tests. Nexen Tire said it plans to use AI-linked virtual development to expand opportunities to participate in original equipment tire projects and strengthen its foundation for high-performance tire development. Alongside the new center, Nexen Tire said it is pursuing the winter tire market on multiple fronts. It launched the winter tire “WINGUARD Sport 3” in Europe last year and is continuing to expand available sizes for the all-weather “N'BLUE 4Season 2,” which meets winter tire standards while supporting year-round driving. The company said it is also strengthening its sales infrastructure by expanding shop-branded stores through local distributors in key markets including Germany, Italy, France and the U.K., and by establishing a new branch in Romania. It said it is also pursuing strategic expansion into major non-European markets such as Australia and Japan. A Nexen Tire official said the center will serve as a key base to elevate R&D for winter and all-weather tires by combining a far-northern location with Europe’s longest winter season and the operating know-how of a top specialist. The official said the company will continue to strengthen testing and research capabilities to meet demand in Europe and global markets and improve competitiveness. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 08:51:43

Hanwha Eagles Lock Up Noh Si-hwan in Record 11-Year Deal, Build Corner Infield Core 497 billion won combined. The Hanwha Eagles said Sunday they signed infielder Noh Si-hwan to a non-free-agent, multi-year contract a day earlier. The 11-year deal is worth 30.7 billion won ($307 million) including incentives, the longest and richest contract in KBO League history across both free-agent and non-free-agent agreements. The club also included a clause allowing Noh to pursue a move to Major League Baseball via the posting system after the 2026 season, as an added motivator. While a long-term deal for Noh had been widely expected, the size exceeded projections, effectively tying him to Hanwha for the long haul. Hanwha cited Noh’s value as a rare young right-handed power hitter. General manager Son Hyuk said, “Noh Si-hwan is an exemplary player who aims to play all 144 games, and he has grown into a right-handed power hitter who represents not only our team but the league,” explaining the rationale for the deal. Noh’s production has ranked among the league’s best. Last season he played all 144 games and hit 32 home runs, anchoring Hanwha’s power-heavy lineup. Hanwha moved quickly to secure him before he could reach free agency. Hanwha also strengthened its lineup by signing Kang Baek-ho in free agency to a four-year, 10 billion won deal. Pairing the right-handed slugger Noh with left-handed power from Kang gives Hanwha more punch. Kang’s defense has raised questions about his best position, but Hanwha emphasized his bat and plans to use him at designated hitter and first base. If Kang is used at DH, Chae Eun-seong can play first base. Chae is another key bat, having signed with Hanwha after the 2022 season on a six-year, 9 billion won contract. With Noh at third and Kang and Chae sharing first base, Hanwha now has what it believes is one of the KBO’s top corner-infield groups. The club expects the arrangement to maximize offense while leaning on Noh’s proven defense and durability. Attention now turns to whether Hanwha can rebound from last season’s runner-up finish and win its first title in 27 years with this corner-infield core leading the lineup. 2026-02-23 08:51:00

Hanwha Eagles’ Noh Si-hwan signs record 11-year, 30.7 billion won non-FA deal Hanwha Eagles infielder Noh Si-hwan has agreed to a record-setting long-term deal with the club.  Hanwha said on Feb. 23 that it signed Noh to a non-free agent, multi-year contract on Feb. 22. The deal runs 11 years and is worth 30.7 billion won, including incentives. The club said it is the longest and largest contract in KBO League history, including both free-agent and non-free agent multi-year deals. The agreement also includes a clause allowing Noh to pursue a move to Major League Baseball via posting after the 2026 season, when he becomes eligible for free agency.  General manager Son Hyuk said Noh is a model player who aims to appear in all 144 games and has developed into a right-handed power hitter representing both the team and the league. Son said the club considered multiple options to respect the player’s goals and treat him as a franchise star, leading to the agreement. He added that he hopes Noh will follow in the footsteps of Jang Jong-hoon and Kim Tae-kyun as a hitter who symbolizes Hanwha.  Noh thanked the club for what he called a historic contract, saying it valued him highly. He also credited fans for their support, saying it played a major role in the deal and in his career so far. He said he will take on greater responsibility as a franchise player and do his best to help Hanwha establish itself as a top club. Looking ahead to 2026, he said he will work with the manager, coaches and teammates toward the goal of winning the Korean Series.  2026-02-23 08:15:00

WHIB Sets First Concert Tour Starting in March, Visiting 13 Cities in Japan and North America WHIB will launch its first concert tour of 2026 in March, starting in Seoul and continuing through 13 cities in Japan and North America. The tour, titled 'GO UP : Our era,' is scheduled for March 14-15 in Seoul; April 18 in Osaka, April 25 in Yokohama and April 29 in New York; and May 5 in Atlanta, May 7 in Nashville, May 10 in Chicago, May 12 in Kansas City, May 14 in Dallas, May 16 in Denver, May 19 in Salt Lake City, May 21 in Tempe and May 23 in Los Angeles. Now in its third year since debut, WHIB said it will use the tour to showcase a polished stage and the group's strong chemistry. The group recently released its first comeback as a complete seven-member lineup with the first mini album 'ROCK THE NATION,' setting a personal record for first-week sales. From November through January, WHIB also wrapped up its 2025 fan concert, 'AnD : New Chapter,' across five Asian cities. The Seoul shows that open the 2026 tour will be held at Blue Square's Woori WON Banking Hall at 5 p.m. on March 14 and 4 p.m. on March 15. Tickets are on sale through the online seller NOL Ticket.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 08:09:15

BTS’ Jimin’s ‘Who’ Tops 2.3 Billion Spotify Streams BTS member Jimin has extended his record run on Spotify, underscoring his global reach. According to Spotify charts dated Feb. 19, “Who,” the title track from his second solo album “MUSE,” has surpassed 2.3 billion cumulative streams. The milestone came 581 days after the song’s release on July 19, 2024. Jimin is the first and only Asian artist to reach 2.3 billion Spotify streams with a solo track that does not feature a collaboration with a foreign artist. Nineteen months after its release, “Who” continued to chart at No. 54 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart and No. 1 in South Korea, showing sustained popularity without outside collaborations or large-scale promotion. The album has also set a new mark. On Feb. 18, “MUSE” surpassed 3.8 billion cumulative streams, the fastest such total for a Korean-language album and the first and only Korean-language solo album to reach 3.8 billion streams. On U.S. charts, “Who” spent 33 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100, setting the record for the longest run by a K-pop male artist’s solo song. “MUSE” has also logged 34 weeks on the Billboard 200, extending the record for the longest-charting K-pop solo album and still holding that mark.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 08:00:17

Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics close after 17 days; next Games set for French Alps The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the first to be held in a dispersed format, wrapped up a 17-day run. About 2,900 athletes from 92 national Olympic committees competed for 166 gold medals across eight sports. The Games ended with the closing ceremony held in Italy’s Verona Arena on Feb. 23 (Korea time). The event marked several firsts: Italy hosted the Winter Games for the first time in 20 years, and it was the first Olympics whose official name included two place names. With Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo about 400 kilometers (250 miles) apart, organizers operated four clusters and six athletes’ villages. The parade of athletes and the lighting of the cauldron were also staged simultaneously in two locations for the first time. Verona, the site of the closing ceremony, is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Milan, where the opening ceremony, skating events and ice hockey were held. No competitions were staged in Verona. The 80,000-seat Verona Arena is an amphitheater completed in A.D. 30 during the Roman Empire, once used for gladiator contests and animal hunts. It will also host the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics, which begin March 6. The closing ceremony opened with the story of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “La Traviata,” followed by a performance featuring characters from famous operas on a giant chandelier set. The Olympic flame arrived at the arena after being carried by former members of Italy’s team that won cross-country skiing gold at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics, then was moved to a structure shaped like the Olympic rings. After the host nation’s flag was raised, the flags of participating countries entered in Italian alphabetical order, starting with Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics. As in the opening ceremony, South Korea was announced 22nd. Flag bearers Choi Min-jeong of Seongnam City Hall and Hwang Dae-heon of Gangwon Provincial Office walked in together holding the South Korean flag, circled the arena and returned to their seats. Athletes then entered, with South Korea’s team waving flags and taking in the atmosphere. South Korea sent 130 people, including 71 athletes, and finished 13th with three gold, four silver and three bronze medals. The team fell short of its top-10 goal but improved one place from the 2022 Beijing Games, where it placed 14th. After a welcome performance for athletes, medals were presented for the women’s cross-country 50-kilometer mass start held on the final day. Sweden’s Ebba Andersson, who won in 2:16:28.2, received her gold medal at the closing ceremony. South Korean bobsledder Won Yun-jong, elected to the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission, also appeared on the ceremony stage. He won the athletes’ vote among 11 candidates on Feb. 19. He spread his arms and pumped his fists, thanking athletes for their support, then presented bouquets to representatives of the Games’ volunteers before leaving the stage. As music from the opera “Madama Butterfly” filled the arena, the Olympic flag was handed to the next host, the French Alps. The 2030 Winter Olympics will be held in France’s Alps region. It will be the fourth Winter Games in France, after Chamonix in 1924, Grenoble in 1968 and Albertville in 1992, and is set to be the first Olympics whose official name does not include a specific city. With attention turning to the next Games in four years, the two flames that lit Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo were gradually extinguished, bringing the 17-day competition to a close. 2026-02-23 07:15:00

South Korea Enters Milan-Cortina Olympic Closing Ceremony With Flag Bearers Choi Min-jeong and Hwang Dae-heon South Korea’s team entered the closing ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics with smiles. The delegation attended the ceremony on Feb. 23 (Korea time) at the Verona Arena in Verona, Italy, bringing the 17-day Games to a close. After the host nation’s flag was raised, Greece’s flag appeared first, followed by participating nations in Italian alphabetical order. As in the opening ceremony, South Korea was announced 22nd. Flag bearers Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall) and Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Government) walked in together holding the South Korean flag. They made a full lap of the oval stadium before returning to their seats. Choi and Hwang made history in short track at these Games. Choi won gold in the women’s 3,000-meter relay and silver in the 1,500, setting a new record for most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete across the Summer and Winter Games. With seven career medals (four gold, three silver) from Pyeongchang 2018, Beijing 2022 and Milan-Cortina 2026, she surpassed Jin Jong-oh (shooting), Kim Soo-nyung (archery) and Lee Seung-hoon (speedskating), who each had six. She also tied Jeon I-kyung (four gold) for the most Winter Olympic gold medals by a South Korean athlete. Hwang won silver in the men’s 5,000-meter relay and the 1,500. It was his third straight Olympics with a medal and his fifth career Olympic medal (one gold, four silver). He tied Lee Ho-suk (one gold, four silver) for the most Olympic medals by a South Korean men’s short track skater. As the athletes’ parade continued, South Korean competitors waved their flags and took in the closing-ceremony atmosphere. Verona, where the closing ceremony was held, is about 160 kilometers from Milan, which hosted the opening ceremony and events including skating and ice hockey. No competitions were held in Verona; only the closing ceremony took place. The 80,000-seat Verona Arena is an amphitheater completed in A.D. 30 during the Roman Empire. It once hosted gladiator contests and wild-animal hunts. It will also serve as the venue for the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics, which begin March 6.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 06:09:00