Soundtrack of K-pop anime remains No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 for 6th week SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - "Golden," one of the main theme songs from Netflix's hit South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" stayed atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week, extending its streak on No. 1 to six weeks. The song from the anime's soundtrack claimed the No. 1 spot on the chart for a sixth week, "becoming the sole longest-leading No. 1 from a soundtrack this decade, and the longest-ruling such song in more than 10 years," Billboard said Monday. "No soundtrack song has led longer since 'See You Again,' by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth, from 'Fast & Furious 7,' revved to a 12-week reign in 2015," it added. Debuted at No. 81 following its release in late June, the song has stayed on the chat for consecutive 13 weeks before reaching No. 1 several weeks ago. The catchy song, by South Korean-American singer-songwriter Ejae along with American singers Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, went viral thanks to the popularity of the anime, which tells the story of fictional K-pop superstars with "secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats." Along with "Golden," three other songs from the 12-track album like "How It's Done," "Soda Pop," and "Your Idol" also made the top 10. 2025-09-23 09:12:59

GM Korea faces crisis amid tariff woes, market slump SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - GM Korea is grappling with significant financial challenges stemming from steep U.S. tariffs and a struggling domestic market. The company, led by President Hector Villarreal, is facing criticism for its passive business strategy and a lack of proactive measures to secure its long-term future in the country. The most immediate threat to GM Korea's viability is a 25 percent U.S. import tariff imposed in April. Industry estimates suggest the company incurred approximately $750 million in tariff costs in the second quarter alone, representing nearly 50 percent of its total $1.1 billion tariff expenses. This financial burden is immense, amounting to roughly 55 percent of GM Korea’s entire operating profit from the previous year, which was reported at $1.36 billion. GM Korea's business model is heavily skewed toward exports, a strategy that has made it particularly vulnerable to the recent trade tensions. Of the nearly 500,000 vehicles sold annually, about 95 percent are exported. Last year, only 24,824 vehicles were sold in the domestic South Korean market, highlighting the company's limited local presence and reliance on its role as a manufacturing base for global supply chains. Industry observers attribute the company's current predicament to a "passive" market strategy and a failure to adapt to a changing global landscape. An insider noted that while GM's operations in other countries like Mexico and China have found profitable niches, GM Korea has failed to secure its own competitive edge for the future. Against this backdrop, GM Korea is actively pursuing the sale of its assets. In May, the company announced plans to sell nine service centers and land at its Bupyeong plant. President Villarreal defended the move, stating it is "crucial for sustainability" by maximizing the value of idle assets and rationalizing unprofitable service centers. These asset sales have fueled speculation that GM Korea may be preparing to exit the Korean market. The company received $800 million in public funds in 2018 after closing its Gunsan plant, with a commitment to maintain its operations for 10 years. The Bupyeong plant land, valued at approximately $620 million, is a prime location that could be repurposed for residential development. An auto industry source warned that if GM were to profit from such a real estate deal and then leave, the city of Incheon could face economic devastation similar to what Gunsan experienced. The source added that the sale of service centers and a lack of investment in future technologies like electric vehicle (EV) production suggest the company has no intention of boosting its domestic sales or future-proofing its operations in South Korea. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-23 08:58:09

Korean young conservatives pay subdued tribute to US evangelist Kirk SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - Young Korean conservatives and Christians mourned U.S. evangelist Charlie Kirk in a subdued manner, even as his memorial service in the U.S. drew elaborate tributes and the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday. The muted reaction in the country comes as political scandals involving conservative leaders and religious figures continue to weigh heavily on the community following the impeachment of a conservative president. Kirk had visited Korea just days before he was shot dead on Sept. 10, speaking to young Koreans at the far-right "Build Up Korea 2025" forum. Park Jun-young, a Yonsei University student and vice president of Freedom University, a conservative youth group, said he was devastated by the loss, recalling how impressed he had been by Kirk’s address in Seoul. "He gave great hope to Korea's freedom-loving youth," Park said. "We will never forget his sacrifice." His remarks prompted an outpouring of online sympathy. One commenter wrote, "The left worldwide fears young conservatives' awakening and resorts to extreme measures like assassination. But we will not be intimidated." Still, the mourning for the young activist — hailed by President Trump as a "warrior for freedom, a friend, and a man who loved America with all his heart" — remained politically low-key in Korea amid the backdrop of scandals surrounding conservative and religious figures. Seoul National University set up a memorial site where Christians and students could pay their respects to the evangelist. At a memorial gathering in Seoul, Birhane, a 40-year-old member of the New Creation International Church from Ethiopia, said he came to share hope through the Gospel. "There are many people who feel hopeless, even driven to suicide," he said. For others, Kirk's death was a reminder of the dangers of extremism itself. Lee Sung-jun, a 22-year-old student at Seoul National University, said he had not been familiar with Kirk but looked into his background after the assassination. "I felt he was politically extreme, but violence cannot be justified," Lee said. "Killing someone is another form of extremism. Rather than responding to extremes with extremes, we should learn from this and avoid such confrontations in Korea." He added that the tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for healthier political dialogue at home. "We need discussions that find common ground, not blind allegiance to parties or politicians," he said. 2025-09-22 18:30:51

Seoul ready to play the mediator, but uninvited by NK and US SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung offers to act as a mediator between the United States and North Korea in hopes to relive the historic scene of the leaders of two Koreas and U.S. standing side by side on Korean soil during the upcoming APEC summit in Gyeongju. In an interview with the BBC released Monday, Lee said he would accept a deal between Washington and Pyongyang under which North Korea freezes its nuclear weapons program, calling it a "feasible, realistic alternative." He noted that the North is believed to be producing 15 to 20 additional nuclear weapons a year, making a freeze an urgent interim step. "So long as we do not give up on the long-term goal of denuclearization, I believe there are clear benefits to having North Korea stop its nuclear and missile development," Lee said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hardly agrees and has no intention of involving the South in any negotiations related to its nuclear program. "We will not sit face to face with South Korea, nor do anything together with it," Kim in a speech to the Supreme People’s Assembly on Sunday, the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the following day. He continued to address South Korea as a "colonial state" of the U.S., describing it as a distorted and dependent country that has become Americanized and fundamentally different from the North. On the other hand, Kim bore "good personal memories" of U.S. President Donald Trump and suggested he could meet him again if Washington dropped what he called the "delusion" of denuclearization. The reconciliatory tone from Pyongyang arrives as Trump is expected to visit South Korea for an APEC summit, which also brings Chinese President Xi Jinping, raising speculation about North’s Kim joining the high-profile meeting in late October. Trump likewise shares fond memory with the autocratic leader of North Korea. In 2018, then-President Moon Jae-in held three summits with Kim – twice at Panmunjom and once in Pyongyang – helping pave the way for Kim's historic meetings with Trump in Singapore and Hanoi. Moon even joined Trump and Kim at Panmunjom in 2019 for an unprecedented three-way handshake. The question now is whether Lee can attempt a similar role, even as Kim pointedly rejects dialogue with Seoul. Cheong Seong-chang, vice president of the Sejong Institute, said the chance of inter-Korean dialogue is “very slim,” pointing out that Pyongyang now feels less isolated and believes Trump has already recognized it as a nuclear power. "The North today maintains closer ties with Russia than ever and has restored its relationship with China," he said. "This makes it highly unlikely that the North will accept even a freeze." Meanwhile, Lee departed for New York on Monday to attend the United Nations General Assembly, his first since taking office. Accompanied by First Lady Kim Hye Kyung, his five-day trip includes meetings with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and U.S. lawmakers. He will deliver a keynote speech on Tuesday, chair a UN Security Council debate the following day, the first for a South Korean president, and wrap up his visit on Thursday with an investment summit before returning home. 2025-09-22 18:11:44

K-dessert course featured in dramas excites international sweet tooth SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - Korean traditional flavors — black sesame, mugwort, jujube, gardenia, and rice — are folded into the filling of the Joseon macaron, a reimagined treat that delights the palates of haughty Chinese envoys on screen and the cravings of global audiences off screen in the hit Korean drama Bon Appétit, Your Majesty. The global craze for Korean cuisine has spilled beyond savory dishes into desserts and pastries, cleverly catering to both health-conscious consumers and sweet lovers — and perfectly timed with the Chuseok Thanksgiving holiday. Google search data shows sharp increases in queries for yakgwa (Korean honey cookies), Korean desserts, and rice cakes among international users. TikTok hashtags related to traditional Korean sweets are also surging, reflecting growing global curiosity about Korea’s centuries-old confectionery culture. Yakgwa, a thousand-year-old honey cookie traditionally served during ancestral rites and festive occasions, has captivated pastry lovers worldwide. Made with wheat flour, honey, sesame oil, and ginger juice, the deep-fried confection represents hangwa — Korea’s traditional sweet category encompassing ceremonial desserts. Korean rice cakes, or tteok, are likewise gaining attention abroad for their artistry, diversity, and cultural significance, especially during holidays like Chuseok. “I came here to enjoy authentic Korean food. When you try these desserts, you can tell they’re not instant or unhealthy. We took the chance to experience traditional, healthy sweets here in Korea,” said Carol Johnson, a tourist from Washington, as she browsed a dessert shop in Seoul. “I saw viral TikToks about Korean desserts and wanted to try them myself,” added Mareva from France while picking out sweets at a convenience store. “In 2023, there was a domestic yakgwa craze that drove record sales. Since then, injeolmi and black sesame products have gained popularity, leading to more Korean-style desserts on the market,” said a GS Retail representative. “Foreign tourists usually purchase Korea’s most popular products, which seems to be fueling this trend.” The craze is supported by sales data. CJ CheilJedang’s bungeoppang varieties surpassed 1 billion won in monthly sales in late 2024. Convenience stores report rising foreign demand for traditional Korean sweets, while Shinsegae Duty Free has opened dedicated sections for them, with yakgwa gift sets proving especially popular among international visitors seeking an authentic taste of Korea. 2025-09-22 18:01:06

Cameras allowed for opening of Kim Keon Hee trial, but not for full proceedings SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - A Seoul court has permitted media outlets to film the opening of the first trial for former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, who faces corruption charges. The Seoul Central District Court announced on Monday that it will open the courtroom for a media photo and video opportunity before the hearing begins at 2:10 p.m. on Wednesday. According to the court's decision, video and photography will be permitted from the beginning of the session until the presiding judge announces the conclusion of filming, prior to the formal start of the legal proceedings. Reporters and photographers must leave once proceedings begin. Kim, the wife of the ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was indicted on Aug. 29 after a special prosecutor accused her of accepting bribes to lobby on behalf of the Unification Church, receiving free polling services from a businessman tied to candidate nominations, and conspiring in a stock manipulation scheme involving Deutsche Motors. She has denied wrongdoing. 2025-09-22 17:36:45

South Korea vows govt intervention to fight hackers SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - The South Korean government has vowed proactive intervention to fight cyberattacks and protect consumer privacy as nationwide consumer services reel from a string of data breaches. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, presiding over an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday, ordered a comprehensive overhaul of telecommunications and financial services regulations to better address the growing threat. "Realizing a digital transition and building an AI powerhouse would be a pipe dream without security protection," Kim said. He stressed that the wave of hacking incidents poses a "threat to the public," pledging to revisit the regulatory framework to toughen penalties and strengthen government oversight. Under the new approach, the government will launch investigations of its own initiative when deemed necessary, instead of waiting for companies to report breaches. The series of high-profile data leaks has fueled criticism of corporate negligence. "In security, vulnerability management is critical, but Korean firms are falling short," said Youm Heung-youl, director of the SCH Cybersecurity Research Center at Soonchunhyang University. "It is unclear whether companies lack sufficient staff or whether their staff are underqualified, but attackers continue to exploit weaknesses in corporate systems. Korea grew rapidly as an IT powerhouse, yet it seems unprepared for the side effects and vulnerabilities that came with such fast growth." 2025-09-22 17:32:13

After Homeplus scandal, Lotte Card hack puts spotlight on MBK Partners SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - A major data breach at Lotte Card has intensified scrutiny of MBK Partners, one of Asia’s largest private equity firms, which already faces mounting criticism over its troubled ownership of Homeplus, South Korea’s second-largest retail chain. The two incidents have stoked concerns that MBK, which manages more than $30 billion in assets, has prioritized short-term financial returns at the expense of adequate investment in security and corporate governance. Regulators are now weighing tougher oversight of the firm, and lawmakers have called executives to testify in a pair of parliamentary hearings. The most recent blow came with a hacking incident at Lotte Card. Earlier this month, the company disclosed that sensitive customer data had been compromised in a cyberattack. The breach followed years of uneven security investment under MBK’s ownership. Financial filings show that while spending on information protection rose briefly in 2021 to build a disaster recovery system, the overall share of IT budgets devoted to security has steadily declined, from 12 percent that year to 8 percent in 2023 — trailing behind rivals such as Shinhan Card and KB Kookmin Card. The hack compounded an already worsening situation for MBK, which has been under fire for its handling of Homeplus. The firm acquired the retailer from Tesco in 2015 for about $6 billion, in what was then South Korea’s largest buyout deal. But critics say MBK saddled the chain with debt while cutting back on reinvestment, leaving stores under-maintained and workers complaining of deteriorating conditions. Earlier this year, allegations surfaced that MBK had mishandled parts of the acquisition process, prompting regulators to launch an on-site inspection and begin sanction proceedings. The case reignited memories of a 2014 scandal, when Homeplus — then still owned by Tesco — was found to have illegally sold customer data to insurers. The chain has struggled to regain consumer trust ever since, and MBK’s stewardship has done little to restore confidence. The convergence of the two crises has prompted unusually sharp language from regulators. At his confirmation hearing this month, Lee Ok-won, chairman of the Financial Services Commission, promised a “thorough investigation into MBK” and pledged to impose tough penalties if serious violations are confirmed. The scandals are also feeding into a broader policy debate. A report commissioned by the FSC from the Korea Institute of Finance recommended canceling the registration of private equity managers that commit major legal breaches. The National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee is set to summon MBK Chairman Kim Byung-joo and Lotte Card Chief Executive Cho Jwa-jin on Sept. 24 for questioning over the hack. A separate hearing by the National Policy Committee will focus on the Homeplus controversy. 2025-09-22 16:16:56

Kazakh minister strengthens science and education ties during Seoul visit SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek wrapped up a two-day visit to South Korea on September 11, focusing on expanding cooperation in science, technology, and higher education, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Korea said. While in Seoul, Nurbek met with South Korean officials and university leaders to deepen collaboration and create more opportunities for students and researchers. In talks with Bae Kyung-hoon, Minister of Science and ICT, both sides agreed to work toward advancing partnerships in science, technology, and innovation. Nurbek also met Acting Education Minister Choi Eun-ok, where the discussion centered on building on the AI School project run by Seoul National University of Science and Technology at Korkyt Ata University in Kazakhstan. They agreed that student exchanges should be expanded to strengthen people-to-people links. At Sungkyunkwan University, Nurbek sat down with President Yoo Ji-beom to talk about dual-degree programs developed with Satbayev University. The initiative is designed to give Kazakh students broader access to advanced education. The two sides also looked at ways to increase SKKU’s engagement with Kazakh institutions. Cooperation with Seoul Cyber University took another step forward, with both sides agreeing to expand work with Q University. During his campus visit, the Kazakh delegation paid respects at a bust of Abai, the 19th-century Kazakh poet, and visited a dedicated Kazakh room. The two institutions also signed a memorandum of understanding. At KAIST, Nurbek held talks with President Lee Kwang Hyung on cooperation in artificial intelligence, robotics, and start-up incubation. They discussed the creation of joint laboratories and new exchange programs as Kazakhstan seeks to build capacity in advanced technology. Nurbek also met with Lee Dae-hee, CEO of Korea Venture Investment Corporation, to explore ways of drawing Korean venture capital into Kazakhstan’s innovation ecosystem. Co-investment and collaboration to support start-ups were identified as priority areas. At Seoul National University of Science and Technology, he held talks with President Kim Dong Hwan on future cooperation. 2025-09-22 15:39:17

Aju News chair named first head of Kazakhstan–Korea Friendship Association SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - Kwak Young-kil, chairman of Aju News Corporation, has been appointed as the founding head of the Kazakhstan–Korea Friendship Association, marking a milestone in efforts to deepen ties between the two countries. The appointment ceremony was held Monday at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul. Kwak underscored the strong presence of Korean companies in Kazakhstan, noting that the business community and other sectors have long sought opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation. He said the new association will "pursue closer relations in a more systematic and forward-looking way," adding that it will promote collaboration across business, politics, culture, and the arts through a wide range of exchange programs and events. Kazakh Ambassador to Seoul Nurgali Arystanov praised Kwak’s long-standing support for strengthening bilateral relations. "Aju Business Daily has extensively covered Kazakhstan and even dispatched a reporter to Astana," Arystanov said. "As the inaugural chairman of the friendship association, I expect him to make even greater contributions." The ambassador pledged the embassy’s support for the association’s initiatives, expressing hope that ties between the two countries will advance further across politics, the economy, culture, and the arts. The Kazakhstan–Korea Friendship Association was established to promote exchanges, foster cooperation, and enhance mutual understanding between the two nations. 2025-09-22 15:35:27