AJP Watch: Shinsegae vows to make amends "regardless of cost" over Starbucks Korea blunder SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin on Tuesday delivered a second public apology within a week over Starbucks Korea’s controversial “Tank Day” promotion, bowing repeatedly in a televised appearance and pledging to restore public trust through action rather than words after what the group described as a “serious” failure in historical awareness. Speaking at the Josun Palace hotel in Seoul, Chung bowed deeply three times during a five-minute apology addressing bereaved families of the May 18 Democratization Movement, the family of late student activist Park Jong-chul, citizens of Gwangju and the broader Korean public. “I will not make any excuses. This is my fault,” Chung said. “We will regain the public’s trust not through words, but through actions.” The apology came eight days after Starbucks Korea promoted tumblers branded with the word “Tank” on May 18, the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising. Critics also condemned the campaign’s use of the phrase “Tak! on the desk,” saying it evoked the infamous explanation once used to cover up the 1987 torture death of student activist Park Jong-chul. What initially appeared to be a marketing blunder quickly escalated into one of the most serious reputational crises faced by the Shinsegae Group in recent years, triggering boycott campaigns, police complaints, mounting political pressure and public criticism from President Lee Jae Myung. Social media became a major battleground for the backlash. One video posted on X showing a consumer removing a Starbucks logo from a tumbler with nail polish remover drew 4.8 million views, while another post showing an unusually empty Starbucks outlet during the holiday weekend amassed nearly 4 million views alongside thousands of reposts and boycott messages. Internal review finds systemic failures In a follow-up briefing, Yang Jong-hwan, managing director of Shinsegae’s internal audit team, said investigators reviewed company emails, work laptops, internal messenger records and other communication channels involving 15 employees, including five executives, using digital forensic methods. Cross-check interviews were also conducted with more than 10 employees. The probe did not uncover evidence of deliberate coordination or intentional political messaging, according to the company. But the review also exposed clear limitations. Of the five key employees directly involved in handling the “Tank” naming process, only two voluntarily submitted personal mobile phones for forensic analysis. Three declined, citing privacy concerns. Yang acknowledged that while the company wanted broader access, it lacked authority to compel employees to surrender personal devices. Executives nevertheless insisted that internal messenger records and work-related data showed no evidence of premeditated collusion. Kim Su-wan, vice president and head of external affairs, described the controversy as a symptom of an organization overly focused on speed and sales performance at the expense of historical sensitivity. “This case showed that speed and sales considerations had taken priority over historical awareness and social sensitivity,” Kim said. According to Kim, the promotion was handled by a small e-commerce team composed largely of younger employees, including two workers in their early 20s. Internal communications after the controversy suggested that some staff members did not fully grasp the historical weight associated with May 18 or the wording used in the campaign. “The task now is to create programs that can strengthen historical awareness across generations, from younger employees to senior staff,” Kim said. Executives acknowledged that the campaign should have passed through multiple review layers including corporate social responsibility and legal checks, but said several safeguards either failed or were bypassed altogether. “Even if the original planner made a poor judgment, this situation would not have escalated this far if the internal filtering system had functioned properly,” Kim said. “The core problem was that the review system failed to work as it should have.” Why the backlash became so explosive The controversy touched two of the most painful episodes in South Korea’s democratic history. The May 18 Democratization Movement refers to the 1980 uprising in Gwangju against military rule under the Chun Doo-hwan regime. The movement was violently suppressed by troops and later became one of the defining symbols of South Korea’s democratization struggle. Critics argued that using the word “Tank” on May 18 inevitably evoked memories of military violence and authoritarian repression tied to the uprising. The phrase “Tak! on the desk” carried a separate historical resonance linked to the death of Park Jong-chul, a Seoul National University student activist tortured to death during police interrogation in 1987. Authorities initially attempted to explain his death by claiming an investigator had struck the desk — “tak” — causing Park to collapse suddenly, a story later exposed as a cover-up. His death helped ignite the June Democracy Movement that accelerated South Korea’s transition to direct presidential elections. For many South Koreans, the combination of “Tank Day” and wording associated with Park’s death appeared to trivialize two defining traumas of the country’s authoritarian era. Growing commercial fallout Shinsegae said former Starbucks Korea CEO Sohn Jung-hyun and the executive overseeing e-commerce operations were dismissed immediately after the controversy erupted, with additional disciplinary action under review. Chung’s first apology, issued shortly after the backlash began, failed to calm public anger as boycott campaigns intensified online and civic groups filed criminal complaints. At Tuesday’s press conference, Chung repeatedly stressed that front-line Starbucks employees should not bear the blame. “The responsibility lies with the organization and management, including myself,” he said. “I earnestly ask that people look more warmly upon Starbucks partners and field employees at stores across the country.” He described store workers as “diligent employees” serving customers from early morning until late at night, while pledging a fundamental overhaul of the group’s risk management and social responsibility systems. “Today’s apology will not be the end, but a beginning,” Chung said. “We will start again from the beginning.” Executives also acknowledged the growing financial impact. Jeon Sang-jin, executive vice president overseeing corporate management, said sales had fallen “considerably” since the controversy, though the company declined to provide figures. He said the priority was restoring trust rather than minimizing short-term damage. The company said it is reviewing refund requests for prepaid Starbucks cards and account cancellations with relevant authorities because such products are governed by Fair Trade Commission regulations. Executives added that Starbucks’ U.S. headquarters had been fully informed of the incident and is discussing improvements to internal risk-control systems with the Korean operation. However, Shinsegae said the controversy does not currently appear to trigger contractual issues involving Starbucks’ U.S. parent company. The episode has also revived scrutiny of earlier marketing controversies among Korean consumer brands. In 2024, Starbucks Korea faced criticism for releasing a “Siren Classic Mug” on the anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, while fashion platform Musinsa issued a renewed apology after the Starbucks controversy resurfaced attention on a similar “Tak! on the desk” phrase used in one of its 2019 advertisements. For Shinsegae, the central challenge now extends beyond whether the campaign was intentional. The deeper question is whether one of South Korea’s most influential consumer groups can convince the public that its internal systems are capable of preventing another breakdown where commercial marketing collides with unresolved national trauma. 2026-05-26 12:21:00

BTS wins 2026 American Music Award's Artist of the Year, second title after 2021 SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) -K-pop superstar BTS captured the top prize at the 2026 American Music Awards on Monday night, winning Artist of the Year for the second time as the group cemented its global comeback just two months after releasing its fifth studio album, ARIRANG. The seven-member group defeated a heavyweight field including Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber to claim the fan-voted grand prize at the ceremony held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The victory marked BTS’ second Artist of the Year win at the AMAs after becoming the first Asian act to receive the honor in 2021 with the global hit “Butter.” The group also won Song of the Summer for “SWIM,” one of the lead tracks from ARIRANG, continuing a comeback year that has rapidly restored BTS to the center of the global pop industry following a multiyear hiatus caused by mandatory military service in South Korea. “All seven members have completed military service, and it is an honor to receive this precious award once again,” leader RM told the audience during the acceptance speech. “Our biggest gratitude always goes to ARMY for the past 13 years.” Members j-hope, Jimin, Jin and Jung Kook also thanked fans for embracing the new album and supporting the group during its ongoing world tour. BTS delivered a televised performance of “Hooligan,” another track from ARIRANG, in a dramatic stage sequence filmed during the group’s sold-out concerts at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Dressed in black and surrounded by masked dancers under deep red lighting, the performance echoed the darker visual themes of the music video while drawing loud reactions from fans inside the arena. The appearance came as BTS continued a four-night concert run in Las Vegas that began May 23, with additional shows scheduled later this week. The concerts are part of the group’s massive ARIRANG World Tour, spanning 82 shows across 34 cities. Released in March, ARIRANG debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Album Sales charts, remaining atop the rankings for three consecutive weeks. The album marked BTS’ first full-group studio release since all members completed military service last year and resumed group activities. Since first winning at the American Music Awards in 2018 with Favorite Social Artist, BTS has accumulated more than a dozen AMA trophies including Favorite Pop Duo or Group, Favorite K-pop Artist and Tour of the Year, becoming one of the most decorated Asian acts in the history of the awards show. 2026-05-26 12:20:24

'Golden' wins 'Song of the Year' award at AMAs SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - "Golden," the main theme song of Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" won "Song of the Year" award at the American Music Awards in Las Vegas on Monday. The global hit song beat out nine major contenders including American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia," Alex Warren's "Ordinary," Morgan Wallen's "I'm The Problem" and Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas." At the ceremony held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the song's performers, Ejae and Rei Ami, appeared on stage to accept the award, while Audrey Nuna was unable to attend. Ejae credited fans for giving the song and film "tremendous strength," expressing gratitude to them as well as the cast and crew of the 99-minute film. She also wished Rei Ami a happy birthday, as she turned 31 that same day. Rei Ami also thanked fans, family, and others, saying she is grateful for what has been a "life-changing year." "Golden," co-written by Ejae, became a global hit alongside the success of the film, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight consecutive weeks. It had previously earned critical acclaim by winning top honors at major awards ceremonies including the Grammy Awards, the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. 2026-05-26 11:32:59

Lee calls for faster push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for accelerating South Korea’s push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, as the government is seeking to unveil a basic plan for the development of a Korean nuclear-powered submarine by the end of this month. “We must speed up the introduction of AI and drone technologies and move faster to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, a key strategic asset for future defense capabilities,” Lee said during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae. Lee said South Korea must hurry its transition into a future-oriented, advanced military. His remarks came as the Navy recently submitted a formal request to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the acquisition of Korean nuclear-powered submarines. The request marks the first step in the country’s weapons acquisition process, under which the military formally lays out operational requirements, concepts of operation, the number of units needed and the timing of deployment for a new weapons system. “South Korea’s defense capabilities currently rank fifth in the world, and its annual defense spending far exceeds North Korea’s annual gross domestic product,” Lee said. “We already have sufficient capability to defend ourselves, but we must further strengthen our defense power in the face of the harsh international reality of self-reliance and survival of the fittest.” Lee also called for greater national efforts to foster the country’s defense industry by continuously expanding research and development budgets, localizing key components and strengthening public-private cooperation. “Winning a war is important, but efforts to build peace so that war does not break out are also very important,” he said. “Above all, what matters most is the attitude that we will take responsibility for and defend our own security.” Lee also called for a swift transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul, after U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson recently told the House Armed Services Committee that the transition could be completed before the first quarter of 2029. “Only with a firm commitment to self-reliant defense can we earn the respect of our friends and keep our alliance even stronger,” Lee said. “I ask that the transfer of wartime operational control proceed swiftly and smoothly, in a way that further strengthens the South Korea-U.S. alliance.” “True and capable security is not only about winning a war, but also about creating peace so that war does not break out,” Lee said. “We will do our utmost to strengthen our defense capabilities in a way that supports peace on the Korean Peninsula and South Korea’s continued progress.” 2026-05-26 11:27:51

Spiritual Asia series: Vedas, Upanishads, and Cheonbugyeong cosmos in AI era This is the third installment of AJP’s “Spiritual Asia” series exploring the religious traditions and philosophical foundations that have shaped Asia’s spiritual consciousness. This chapter turns to the ancient texts of Hinduism — the Vedas and Upanishads — and their enduring ideas on cosmos, consciousness and the nature of existence in the emerging AI era. In the twenty-first century, humanity stands at the threshold of a vast civilizational transition. Artificial intelligence has begun to learn human language, robots are taking over human labor, and algorithms are advancing rapidly into the domain of human judgment itself. The world is moving toward an age of civilization wholly unlike any before it. Yet, ironically, the more sophisticated the technology becomes, the more humanity finds itself once again before the oldest questions of all. What is the human being? Where did the universe come from? What is consciousness, and does the human soul exist? And where is humanity meant to go? It is precisely before these questions that humanity has begun, once more, to look back to the spirituality of the ancients. The scriptures of Hinduism — the Vedas, the Rigveda, the Upanishads — are not mere religious texts. They are the record of a vast civilizational contemplation, an inquiry pursued over thousands of years into the cosmos and the human being, into existence and consciousness, into life and truth. The cosmology within these Hindu scriptures bears a striking resemblance to the philosophy of cheon (heaven), ji (earth) and in (humanity) expressed in Korea's Cheonbugyeong. Both refuse to separate the human being from the cosmos, regarding humanity instead as part of a greater whole. Even in today's age of AI, the powerful presence of young Indians across the global IT and AI industries may owe something to this deep philosophical tradition and its culture of abstract thought. The Vedas and the Upanishads are not simply ancient scriptures. They are ancient questions cast toward the civilization of the future. The Vedas: humanity's first questions, recording the breath of the cosmos Veda, in Sanskrit, means "knowledge" or "enlightenment." It is regarded as among the oldest scriptures humanity has left behind. The Vedas are organized into four systems — the Rigveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda and the Atharvaveda — of which the oldest and most essential is the Rigveda. The Rigveda is no mere anthology of myths. It is a philosophical inquiry into the cosmos and a poetic question directed at the origin of existence. Its famous hymn, the Nasadiya Sukta, is counted among the most profound cosmological questions in the history of human civilization. "Then there was neither existence nor non-existence." — Rigveda Remarkably, this line connects to modern cosmology, echoing the question physics asks today: what existed before the Big Bang? The ancient Indians did not see the universe as mere matter. They saw in it a vast order and mystery that the human being could never fully comprehend. The Rigveda calls this Rta — the fundamental order that moves the cosmos. The motion of the sun, the turning of the seasons, the life and death of human beings: all exist within a single order. This thought bears a curious resemblance to the Cheonbugyeong's line il-si-mu-si-il — "the One begins, yet the One has no beginning." All existence begins from the One, and that One existed before time itself. The ancient spirituality of the East, it turns out, spoke everywhere of the fundamental unity of the cosmos. "Truth is one, though its names are many" The Rigveda contains a line that resonates deeply even within the civilization of today. "Truth is one. The wise call it by many names." — Rigveda 1.164.46 Within this brief sentence lies the tolerance and inclusiveness of human civilization. The world holds countless religions and civilizations. They speak of different gods and explain truth in different ways. Yet the Rigveda says their origin may be one. This thought connects to the philosophy of the Korean thinker Yu Yeong-mo, known as Daseok, who said that "truth is one, though its prophets are many." He is celebrated as a pure Korean philosopher who reconciled all the religions of East and West into a single vision. The Cheonbugyeong, too, explains the origin of the cosmos as the One. In the end, human civilizations have held different languages and religions, yet they have cast the same question beneath the same sky. Today the world is shaken by collisions of religion and ideology, of peoples and nations. AI technology, too, connects human beings even as it divides them. It is for this very reason that this line of the Rigveda grows more important still. What is needed is a civilizational vision that acknowledges difference while looking toward the fundamental One. The Upanishads: discovering the cosmos within If the Vedas sang of the order of the cosmos, the Upanishads explored the cosmos within the human being. The word Upanishad means "to sit near a teacher and hear the truth." Here Hindu philosophy moves beyond ritual and ceremony to begin asking after the very essence of human existence. At the heart of the Upanishads lies the thought of Brahman and Atman. Brahman is the ultimate reality of the cosmos; Atman is the true self within the human being. And the Upanishads declare that the human soul and the essence of the cosmos are, in the end, one. "Tat Tvam Asi. Thou art that." — Chandogya Upanishad This line reveals the dignity of human existence in dramatic fashion. The human being is not a solitary thing severed from the cosmos, but a part of it. The Cheonbugyeong's thought of heaven, earth and humanity likewise sees the human being as a life existing within the flow of heaven and earth. The ancient spirituality of the East did not regard humanity as a being that reigns over nature. It understood the human being as one that breathes together with the cosmos. The Upanishads contain one of the oldest prayers of the human soul. "Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to the eternal." — Brihadaranyaka Upanishad This passage is no mere religious phrase. It is the eternal longing of human existence. Darkness means ignorance and greed, hatred and fear. Light means truth and love, and enlightenment. Humanity today has built a civilization more abundant than any age before it. Yet it lives at the same time in deep anxiety and emptiness. AI imitates human language, paints pictures and composes music. But it cannot fully account for the human soul and love, for suffering and hope. And so humanity begins, once more, to seek the spiritual. The Upanishads say there is a cosmic light within the human being — that the human being is not mere data, not a mechanical thing. Another famous passage of the Rigveda reveals the essence of the communal spirit. "Walk together. Speak together. Let your minds be as one." — Rigveda 10.191 Modern society, within a civilization of competition and speed, is steadily losing its sense of community. The age of AI, too, has raised productivity and efficiency, yet the severance between human beings has only deepened. The Vedas, however, say that the human being is a connected being. The Cheonbugyeong likewise understands the human being as one that exists within relationship. Heaven, earth and humanity are not severed individuals but a circulating structure of life. In the end, the heart of the future civilization is likely to be not technology itself, but the human capacity for connection between one person and another. Hindu scripture and India's age of AI In the global AI and IT industries today, the presence of people of Indian origin is overwhelming. Sundar Pichai of Google, Satya Nadella of Microsoft and countless others of Indian origin lead the global technology industry. This cannot, of course, be explained by the influence of Hindu scripture alone. English-language education, a mathematics-centered schooling, an enormous demographic structure and a fiercely competitive system are all important factors. Yet India's deep philosophical tradition is a background that can by no means be dismissed. Indian civilization has long explored existence and consciousness, logic and abstract thought. The numeral system and the concept of zero were developed within it as well. The age of AI demands abstract thinking and a capacity for creative synthesis rather than rote memorization. And such capacities are likely bound up with the depth of philosophical contemplation. What is striking is that Korea's Cheonbugyeong, too, emphasizes a cosmically integrative mode of thought. It sees the human being and nature, the cosmos and life, as a single circulating structure — an insight of considerable significance for the age of AI. Technology can strengthen the human hand, but it cannot stand in for the human soul. In the end, the competitiveness of the future civilization is likely to rest not on technological power alone, but on the depth of human understanding. The age of AI: humanity before the ancient questions once more The Vedas and the Upanishads are scriptures of thousands of years ago, yet their questions remain astonishingly modern. What is the human being? What is consciousness? Is the cosmos a mere machine, or a living order? In the age of AI, humanity stands once again before the ancient questions. And the old scriptures of Hinduism speak quietly: that the human being is not severed from the cosmos, that life is bound together, that truth is one yet its expressions may be many. The Cheonbugyeong tells the same story — that heaven, earth and humanity are not separate beings but exist within one vast flow of life. In-jung-cheon-ji-il, it says: within the human being, heaven and earth become one. Perhaps what humanity must read again in the twenty-first century is not a faster manual for technology, but the ancient scriptures of the spirit, which once contemplated the human being and the cosmos together. 2026-05-26 11:21:42

KOSPI tops 8,000 for first time as oil slump, Asia rally lift Seoul SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - South Korean stocks broke through the 8,000 mark for the first time on Tuesday as the market reopened from a long holiday to a weekend slide in oil prices and record highs across Asia. The benchmark KOSPI traded at 8,105 as of around 10 a.m., up about 3.3 percent from Friday's close of 7,847.71, while the junior KOSDAQ stood at 1,184.76. It was the first time the index has opened and held above 8,000, after a brief touch on May 15 that ended in a steep sell-off. The won, however, did not follow equities higher, trading at 1,509.70 against the dollar — weaker than levels seen earlier in the month and a sign that foreign capital may not yet be returning in force. Chipmakers led the advance, as they have throughout the index's run this year. Samsung Electronics traded at 301,000 won and SK hynix at 2,077,000 won, while the holding company SK Square reached 1,208,000 won, supported by continued optimism over AI-driven semiconductor demand. The strength extended across the market. Among automakers, Hyundai Motor rose to 686,000 won and Kia to 167,300 won, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries climbed to 712,000 won. Battery shares were firmer, with LG Energy Solution at 400,500 won. Sentiment improved after global oil prices retreated overnight on hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump said over the weekend that an agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be announced shortly, sending West Texas Intermediate below $91 a barrel in early Asian trade. The war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which erupted in late February, had effectively closed the strait and driven crude sharply higher, pressuring energy-importing economies such as Korea. Trump cautioned, however, that the framework was not yet final and that his negotiators should "not rush" into a deal, leaving the catalyst behind the rally a provisional one. Markets are likely to stay sensitive to any sign the talks could stall over uranium enrichment, the duration of restrictions or the timing of sanctions relief. Investors were also watching foreign flows, which have been the decisive factor in recent sessions. Overseas funds had net-sold heavily through the middle of the month, concentrated in the same chip stocks now leading the market, and the won's failure to strengthen on a record-setting morning suggested that selling pressure had not fully cleared. A labor dispute at Samsung Electronics, which makes up about one-fifth of the KOSPI by market capitalization, remained a further point of caution. Across Asia, markets that traded during Korea's holiday closure had rallied broadly. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 2.87 percent to a record close of 65,158.19 on Monday, while Taiwan's Taiex hit an all-time high of 43,495.92. Both economies, like Korea, are energy importers whose markets lean heavily on semiconductors, and their gains pointed to Seoul catching up on reopening rather than leading the move. 2026-05-26 10:43:36

Hanwha Power signs MOU with Canadian university to support submarine bid SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Hanwha Power Systems said Tuesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Alberta to jointly conduct research and development on clean energy technologies, as part of efforts to support Hanwha Ocean’s bid for Canada’s submarine procurement project. The agreement, signed Friday, was arranged as part of an industrial and technological cooperation program linked to the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, or CPSP, in which Hanwha Ocean is competing with Germany's TKMS. Under the MOU, Hanwha Power and the university will work on energy recycling technologies, including systems that generate electricity from gas turbine waste heat and pressure energy. The company also plans to explore the feasibility of applying such technologies in the North American market, drawing on the University of Alberta’s research capabilities and talent pipeline. Beyond joint R&D, the two sides will assess potential industries where the technologies could be used, review business structures and evaluate economic viability as part of efforts to move toward commercialization. “We are pleased to work with the University of Alberta, a hub of the energy industry,” said Michael Sicker, head of Hanwha Power Systems Americas. “We hope students will grow into future energy experts through this cooperation, while Hanwha Power will also gain a valuable opportunity to verify and advance its technologies in Canada.” David Bressler, vice president of international and enterprise at the University of Alberta, said, “This will also provide our students with a valuable foundation to apply basic research to real industrial settings.” 2026-05-26 10:40:46

Shinsegae chief's apology over Starbucks controversy - text SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) -Below is the full statement of Shinsegae Group chairman Chung Yong-jin's apology over Starbucks Korea's "Tank Day" controversy. To the people of the nation, I stand before you today with a heavy and apologetic heart. First, as chairman of Shinsegae Group, I sincerely bow my head in apology and ask for forgiveness from the bereaved families of the victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, the bereaved family of the late activist Park Jong-chul, the citizens of Gwangju and the people of the nation who have felt deep pain and disappointment because of this incident. The reason the investigation took time was because we wanted to conduct a thorough review. We take very heavily the fact that many people were hurt and angered by Starbucks Korea's inappropriate marketing. I take very seriously the fact that many people felt deep pain and anger because of Starbucks Korea's inappropriate marketing campaign. Regardless of the reason, what hurt the hearts of the people is not something light. I will not make any excuses. This is my fault. All members of Shinsegae Group, including myself, will remember the history and sacrifices of our society and always strive to deeply understand and respect the feelings of the people. What I earnestly ask is that people look more warmly upon Starbucks partners and field employees at stores across the country. They are simply diligent workers doing their best in their respective positions from early morning until late at night for every Starbucks customer. The responsibility lies with the organization and management, including myself. Right now, I believe it is more important that we try to understand one another and move forward together. We all share the same desire to leave behind a better South Korea and a better world for future generations. Shinsegae, including myself, will take this incident as a lesson. We will listen more, and carry responsibility more heavily. We will sincerely approach customers again with genuine hearts. We will fundamentally reexamine our internal systems and risk management framework, while also raising our standards for social responsibility. Today's apology will not be the end, but a beginning. We will start again from the beginning and work to regain the public's trust not through words, but through actions. Once again, I sincerely bow my head in apology to everyone who has been hurt by this incident. 2026-05-26 10:39:48

BTS attend AMAs in Las Vegas, eyeing another award SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Members of K-pop juggernaut BTS are attending the American Music Awards (AMAs), one of the major U.S. pop music awards shows in Las Vegas on Monday. Their in-person attendance at the annual music awards ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena comes for the first time since 2021. They are competing for "Artist of the Year" and "Best Male K-pop Artist" awards. Their latest song, "SWIM," the title track from their fifth full-length album "Arirang" is also nominated for "Song of the Summer." If BTS win Artist of the Year, it would mark their second top honor at the awards after 2021, when they became the first South Korean act to receive the award. The AMAs are considered one of the leading U.S. pop music awards shows, along with the Grammy Awards and the Billboard Music Awards. Nominees are selected based on factors including streaming, album and track sales, radio airplay and tour revenue, and winners are decided entirely by public vote. K-pop-related nominees are also prominent this year. A remix version of "Dracula," a collaboration between BLACKPINK's Jennie and Australia's Tame Impala, is nominated for Song of the Summer as well. Girl group KATSEYE are nominated for "Best New Artist" and "Breakthrough Pop Duo/Group Performance," and their song "Gnarly" is up for "Best Music Video." Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" is also nominated for "Best Soundtrack," with its main theme song "Golden" is up for "Song of the Year." Meanwhile, BTS recently took their North American tour to Las Vegas, selling out all four shows — including the opening night at Allegiant Stadium, which drew over 60,000 fans. Attention is now on whether BTS can take home another top AMA trophy. 2026-05-26 10:27:30

Shinsegae's Chung vows to take full responsibility over police finding SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) -Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin issued a second public apology Tuesday over Starbucks Korea's controversial "Tank Day" promotion, bowing deeply in a five-minute televised public apology and saying he would seek forgiveness "through actions, not words" in a rare public act of contrition by a major South Korean business leader. Speaking at the Josun Palace hotel in Seoul, Chung said the company took the controversy "very heavily" and acknowledged that the campaign had deeply hurt the public by touching one of the country's most traumatic democratic memories. "We sincerely apologize," Chung said. "The reason the investigation took time was because we wanted to conduct a thorough review. We take very heavily the fact that many people were hurt and angered by Starbucks Korea's inappropriate marketing." "What hurt the hearts of the people is not something light," he added. "I will not make any excuses. This is my fault," he said, while strongly denying any ill intention. The extraordinary appearance underscored how a marketing campaign initially seen as a corporate blunder escalated into a broader political and social crisis ahead of local elections, triggering public boycotts, police complaints and mounting pressure from government agencies. The controversy erupted after Starbucks Korea launched a "Tank Day" tumbler promotion on May 18, the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. Critics accused the company of trivializing the massacre by using military-themed marketing language and the phrase "Tak! on the desk," widely associated in South Korea with the torture death cover-up of student activist Park Jong-chul during the military dictatorship era. The backlash intensified after President Lee Jae Myung openly condemned the campaign, prompting ministries and public institutions to suspend partnerships and review ties with Starbucks Korea. Chung said responsibility lay entirely with management, including himself, not with front-line employees working at stores nationwide. "What I earnestly ask is that people look more warmly upon Starbucks partners and field employees at stores across the country," he said. "The responsibility lies with the organization and management, including myself." "Right now, I believe it is more important that we try to understand one another and move forward together," Chung said. "We all share the same desire to leave behind a better South Korea and a better world for future generations." "Shinsegae, including myself, will take this incident as a lesson," he added. "We will listen more, and carry responsibility more heavily. We will sincerely approach customers again with genuine hearts." Chung also pledged that the company would treat Tuesday's apology as a starting point rather than a conclusion. "Today's apology will not be the end, but a beginning," he said. "We will start again from the beginning and work to regain the public's trust not through words, but through actions. The company also unveiled findings from its internal investigation into how the campaign was planned and approved, though officials did not immediately disclose whether additional disciplinary measures would follow beyond the dismissal of former Starbucks Korea chief executive Sohn Jung-hyun. The apology marks one of the most serious reputational crises faced by Shinsegae Group in recent years, exposing the growing political and cultural risks facing corporations in South Korea as historical memory and social sensitivities increasingly intersect with branding and consumer culture. The full statement of his apology is as follows: To the people of the nation, I stand before you today with a heavy and apologetic heart. First, as chairman of Shinsegae Group, I sincerely bow my head in apology and ask for forgiveness from the bereaved families of the victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, the bereaved family of the late activist Park Jong-chul, the citizens of Gwangju and the people of the nation who have felt deep pain and disappointment because of this incident. The reason the investigation took time was because we wanted to conduct a thorough review. We take very heavily the fact that many people were hurt and angered by Starbucks Korea's inappropriate marketing. I take very seriously the fact that many people felt deep pain and anger because of Starbucks Korea’s inappropriate marketing campaign. Regardless of the reason, what hurt the hearts of the people is not something light. I will not make any excuses. This is my fault. All members of Shinsegae Group, including myself, will remember the history and sacrifices of our society and always strive to deeply understand and respect the feelings of the people. What I earnestly ask is that people look more warmly upon Starbucks partners and field employees at stores across the country. They are simply diligent workers doing their best in their respective positions from early morning until late at night for every Starbucks customer. The responsibility lies with the organization and management, including myself. Right now, I believe it is more important that we try to understand one another and move forward together. We all share the same desire to leave behind a better South Korea and a better world for future generations. Shinsegae, including myself, will take this incident as a lesson. We will listen more, and carry responsibility more heavily. We will sincerely approach customers again with genuine hearts. We will fundamentally reexamine our internal systems and risk management framework, while also raising our standards for social responsibility. Today's apology will not be the end, but a beginning. We will start again from the beginning and work to regain the public's trust not through words, but through actions. Once again, I sincerely bow my head in apology to everyone who has been hurt by this incident. 2026-05-26 09:20:03