Béjart Ballet Lausanne Returns to Seoul After 25 Years; Kim Ki-min Joins ‘Bolero’ Béjart Ballet Lausanne (BBL), a landmark company in contemporary ballet, will return to Seoul after 25 years. Founded by choreographer Maurice Béjart, BBL is known for an innovative, highly expressive style that has helped shape global dance. The company has continued to carry forward Béjart’s artistic legacy since his death in 2007 while maintaining top-level performance standards. The visit will be BBL’s first in South Korea in 15 years since a 2011 performance in Daejeon, and its first Seoul engagement since 2001. The program includes Béjart classics ‘Bolero’ and ‘The Firebird,’ along with Asia premieres of ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Bye Bye Baby Blackbird.’ A key highlight will be the participation of Kim Ki-min, a principal dancer with Russia’s Mariinsky Ballet and the first Asian to hold that rank at the company. He has won the Benois de la Danse award for best male dancer and will appear in two performances as the lead in Béjart’s ‘Bolero.’ The engagement will be Kim’s first domestic performance of the year and marks the first time a Korean dancer has taken the lead in ‘Bolero’ with BBL. “I’m grateful and excited to be on stage with Béjart Ballet Lausanne,” Kim said. “I will do my best to show the best performance to the audience who has been waiting.” The performances run April 23-26 at GS Arts Center in Seoul. Tickets go on sale at 2 p.m. Feb. 11 through NOL Ticket and GS Arts Center. 2026-02-10 09:27:00

Hyosung Heavy wins $538 million power equipment deal in US SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - South Korea's Hyosung Heavy Industries said on Monday it had secured its largest order to date in the United States. The company signed a contract worth about 787 billion won ($538 million) with a major U.S. transmission grid operator to supply 765-kilovolt ultra-high-voltage transformers, reactors and related equipment. It described the deal as the largest single U.S. project ever won by a South Korean power-equipment manufacturer. Hyosung Heavy said it was also the first South Korean company last year to secure a U.S. order covering a full package of ultra-high-voltage equipment, including 765-kV transformers and 800-kV circuit breakers. U.S. electricity demand is expected to grow roughly 25 percent over the next decade, driven by rapid construction of artificial intelligence data centers and increased adoption of electric vehicles, the company said. Utilities are accelerating investment in 765-kV transmission networks, which enable large volumes of electricity to be transmitted over long distances with lower losses compared with 345-kV and 500-kV systems. Hyosung Heavy said it has supplied about half of the 765-kV transformers installed across U.S. transmission networks and has held the top market share in that segment since the 2010s. Its capability to produce equipment including 800-kV circuit breakers positions the firm as a comprehensive supplier for U.S. ultra-high-voltage projects, it added. Hyosung Heavy established its U.S. subsidiary in 2001 and became the first South Korean company to export a 765-kV transformer to the United States in 2010. Since 2020, it has operated a transformer manufacturing plant in Memphis, Tennessee, which the company said is currently the only U.S. facility capable of designing and producing 765-kV transformers. “With the spread of AI and data centers, power infrastructure has become a core industry directly tied to national security,” Chairman Cho Hyun-joon said in a press release. “Based on our Memphis production base and ultra-high-voltage technology, we aim to become an indispensable partner in stabilizing the U.S. power grid.” In 2020, Hyosung Heavy decided to acquire a Tennessee-based ultra-high-voltage transformer facility and invest a total of $300 million to expand capacity. Once expansion is completed, the Memphis plant is expected to have the largest production capacity of its kind in the United States. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-10 09:25:40

Lim Young Woong’s 2025 Seoul Tour Concert VOD to Stream Exclusively on TVING Singer Lim Young Woong’s Seoul concert will be available to watch from home. A VOD of his 2025 national tour concert, “I’m Hero (IM HERO),” filmed at the Seoul stop, will be released exclusively on TVING starting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 13. The video captures the show held Nov. 30, 2025, at KSPO DOME. Lim opened with “Wonderful Life” and performed a set list spanning hit songs and tracks from his second full-length album. The concert also featured stage production and official light sticks that changed color by song, along with performances and moments available only at the live show. He also interacted with fans through “Hero Singing Contest,” a segment in which he took requests on the spot. Audience sing-alongs and responses helped drive the atmosphere. The VOD includes multi-angle camerawork and live sound, aiming to recreate the concert experience for viewers and bring back memories for those who attended. Lim is also set to hold “2026 I’m Hero Concert: The Stadium 2 (2026 IM HERO CONCERT : THE STADIUM 2)” in September.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-10 09:24:00

Explosion ignites fire at oil storage facility in Gyeongsan SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - An explosion at an oil storage facility in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, sparked a fire in the southeastern city on Tuesday. According to police authorities, the fire started around 8 a.m. when an explosion occurred at the outdoor facility of Daehan Oil Pipeline Corp. With only smoke currently visible, the flames have subsided. No casualties were immediately reported. 2026-02-10 09:20:13

KGM to Offer Lunar New Year Vehicle Inspection Service at 321 Centers KG Mobility, or KGM, said Monday it will offer a Lunar New Year vehicle inspection service ahead of the holiday. The service will run for three days, from Feb. 11-13, at 321 service centers nationwide, including the Gunpo Regional Service Center. It applies to all KGM models except large commercial vehicles. Checks will cover batteries, various oils, antifreeze, lights, air-conditioning, brakes and pads, tires, coolant, and heater and filters. The company said it will focus on services needed for safe long-distance driving and will also top off windshield washer fluid. For electric vehicles, KGM will add a special safety inspection, including checks of the battery, heater-cabin coolant and drive-motor coolant, to support proper maintenance and safe driving. KGM said it will also operate emergency roadside assistance throughout the holiday period and plans to ensure drivers can get quick support at nearby service centers if an emergency occurs. A KGM official said drivers should have their vehicles checked at a service center before heading out, including for issues that can arise from temperature swings or icy roads, and review safe-driving tips before traveling. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-10 09:00:19

Nam Hyun Hee Alleges Affair by Ex-Husband Gong Hyo Seok, Cites Mistress in Divorce Former South Korean national fencing team member Nam Hyun Hee has accused her ex-husband, former national cyclist Gong Hyo Seok, of having an affair. Nam posted KakaoTalk messages to social media on Sunday, describing them as conversations that had continued since 2021 between a married man and a woman involved with him. "I divorced because of this woman. I let it go once, but after he had another affair, I couldn’t tolerate it anymore," she wrote. "Even so, they are saying they divorced because of me and are insulting me." She added that the woman "is still living well, teaching children at a school," and said she showed no remorse despite being caught twice. "It’s so unfair. I will release all the materials and reveal the truth. I have nothing more to lose," Nam wrote, signaling more allegations to come. Nam and Gong married in 2011 and divorced in 2023. They have one daughter. 2026-02-10 08:54:00

Korean Air, Asiana Hang Lucky Brooms for Lunar New Year at Major Sites Korean Air and Asiana Airlines hung traditional “lucky brooms” at major sites in South Korea ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, wishing health and happiness for passengers. The airlines said Monday they placed the decorations at eight locations, including each carrier’s check-in counters at Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 2, Korean Air’s headquarters in Seoul’s Gangseo District and Asiana’s headquarters. The brooms will remain on display through Feb. 23. Hanging a new broom on the first day of the lunar year is a traditional custom meant to gather good fortune, like collecting rice in a sieve. Korean Air has held the annual event since 2008 to mark the holiday and help preserve traditional customs. This year, Asiana employees joined the event, adding significance as the companies prepare for full integration. “Ahead of the integration of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, we hope our customers enjoy health and happiness and that this year will be one of powerful leaps, like a red horse,” a Korean Air official said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-10 08:48:00

Hyundai Wia Launches 'Dodam Sand' Cookies Made With South Gyeongsang Produce Hyundai Wia said it launched “Dodam Sand,” a sandwich cookie made with agricultural products from South Gyeongsang Province, on Monday. The company said it developed the product with the South Gyeongsang provincial government, the Rural and Fishing Village Mutual Growth Cooperation Fund, the Changwon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and social enterprise Gonggonggonggan to support local farms and help build a sustainable community by growing it into a signature regional specialty. Hyundai Wia said the product was created using 300 million won it contributed to the mutual growth fund. Over about a year, the provincial government, local farms and residents worked together on planning, ingredient selection, final production and marketing. The packaging uses Hyundai Wia’s mascot “Dodami,” modeled after the endangered sable, to convey a friendly design and the message of ecosystem restoration. Dodam Sand comes in four flavors meant to reflect the province’s seasons: raspberries grown in Gimhae, mulberries from Sancheong, persimmons grown in Changwon and yuzu from Namhae. The cookies use gourmet butter and jam made from local fruit to highlight the fruit’s flavor and a soft texture. Hyundai Wia said all sales proceeds will be donated to a “green forest creation” project it is developing with the provincial government. The funds will be used to restore mountains heavily damaged by last year’s wildfires and to help create habitat for endangered animals in the region, including sables. The company said it plans to start funding through Naver Happybean on Monday. It also plans to expand sales through pop-up stores at Changwon Jungang Station and the Jinhae Gunhangje festival, and by entering online open markets. “A result of putting our heads together to grow with the region is Dodam Sand,” a Hyundai Wia official said. “We hope Dodam Sand becomes a snack that represents the region and a seed that helps local farms and forests grow.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-10 08:45:00

Chevrolet Opens New Haeundae Showroom in Busan Chevrolet said Tuesday it has opened a new showroom in Haeundae-gu, Busan. The Chevrolet Haeundae showroom covers 334.8 square meters and can display up to seven vehicles at once. Featured models include the Trax Crossover and Trailblazer. At an opening ceremony on Monday, Hector Villarreal, president of GM Korea, attended with employees, local Chevrolet dealership representatives and partner companies. About 25 people took part, the company said. Chevrolet said it provides service through a network of more than 380 partner service centers nationwide, using GM headquarters-certified technology and standardized procedures. The company said it is running a special promotion this month with enhanced financing and discount benefits across its lineup. It is also offering various prizes to mark the launch of the Trailblazer Midnight Black Edition. "The opening of the Haeundae-gu showroom is a meaningful step to strengthen customer touchpoints at a key hub in the Busan and South Gyeongsang region and to boost brand competitiveness in a strategic area with a high-income and global customer base," Villarreal said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-10 08:39:00

18-year-old wins S. Korea's first female snowboard Olympic bronze SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - High school student Yu Seung-eun has made history on Monday (local time) as the first South Korean woman to stand on an Olympic snowboarding podium, capturing a bronze medal in the big air event during her debut at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The 18-year-old recorded a combined score of 171.00 points at Livigno Snow Park, finishing behind gold medalist Japan's Murase Kokomo and silver medalist Zoi Sadowski-Synnott from New Zealand. Her performance secured South Korea's second snowboarding medal of these Games, following a silver by Kim Sang-kyum in the men's parallel giant slalom on Sunday. South Korea is a relative newcomer to the international snowboarding scene compared to traditional winter sports powers in North America and Europe. While snowboarding made its Olympic debut in 1998, South Korea did not win its first medal in the sport until Lee Sang-ho took silver in the parallel giant slalom at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Yu's bronze represents the nation's first-ever Olympic medal in a freestyle snowboarding discipline. During the February 10 final, which aggregates the two highest scores from three attempts, Yu executed a backside triple cork 1440 mute grab on her opening run for 87.75 points. She moved into a temporary lead during the second round by landing a frontside triple cork 1440 Indy grab, which earned 83.25 points. Despite a fall on her final attempt that resulted in a score of 20.75 points, the strength of her first two runs kept her in third place. "My coach told me not to worry about the other athletes and just focus on my own performance, so I didn't even know I was in medal contention," Yu said. "It's an honor just to compete under the South Korean flag." Seongbok High School student Yu Seung-eun arrived in Italy as a medal prospect after becoming the first South Korean to earn a silver medal at a Big Air World Cup in Colorado last December. The women's big air final featured 12 athletes, with Yu's technical consistency marking a milestone for South Korea's winter sports program. 2026-02-10 08:28:14