Kia's fully facelifted Seltos leads small SUV market last month SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Kia sold 4,983 units of its Seltos in the domestic market last month, the most in the small sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment for March, according to sales figures released by its parent company Hyundai Motor on Monday. Kia gave the Seltos its first major facelift in six years, giving it a bolder, more angular look in line with the brand's overall lineup, along with improved convenience and safety features. The popular SUV has held the top spot in its segment since 2020, following its release in 2019. Those in their 20s and 30s were the largest group of buyers, accounting for about 30.5 percent, with male motorists slightly outnumbering women. Nearly half of buyers or 45.5 percent opted for the top-trim models, which come with features typically found in higher segments such as comfortable first-row seats and automatic retractable door handles. This suggests that perceived quality including design and convenience features matters more than price alone, even among entry-level or first-time buyers. Its hybrid version accounted for about 38.6 percent of sales. "The latest Seltos is a true all-rounder, combining great design, efficiency, practicality and convenience," said a Kia spokesperson. "We are confident it will appeal to a broad range of customers from first-time buyers to those seeking a versatile vehicle for both everyday use and leisure activities." 2026-04-13 10:30:14

Sookmyung University highlights human-centered AI research at global conferences SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - The Empathic AI Women's Engineering Talent Training Team at Sookmyung Women's University in South Korea is presenting a series of research papers at major international computer science conferences. As part of the Brain Korea 21 program, the team is developing human-centered artificial intelligence designed to address social isolation and communication barriers. Professor Kim Byung-Gyu leads the multidisciplinary group, which conducts research on emotion recognition, generative AI, and human-computer interaction. His group will present a multimodal emotion recognition model called EmoXFormer at the IEEE International Conference on Pattern Recognition (ICPR) 2026. This technology integrates different signals to identify human emotions more accurately. In the field of virtual reality, a group led by Professor Dong Suh Yeon presented two papers at the IEEE International Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing (UbiComp) 2025. Their work involves a method to measure heart rates using the area around the ear when a user's face is obscured by a headset. This allows for stable emotion recognition even when a user is moving. Professor Kim Sangyeon and his team are focusing on digital accessibility for the elderly. At the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) 2026, they will introduce an AI-based tool that helps older users identify digital buttons and icons more easily through color and spatial cues. Other researchers on the team have focused on cybersecurity and data systems. Professor Jeong Seonghoon developed a model to detect evolving cyber threats for the IEEE/IFIP International Conference on Dependable Systems and Networks (DSN) 2026. Professor Choi Yoonhyuk also presented research on improving recommendation systems at various conferences, including AAAI 2026 and WSDM 2025. "We are expanding the practical applications of empathic AI through these diverse research achievements," said Professor Kim Byung-Gyu. "Based on our global research capabilities, we plan to contribute to fostering talent who will solve social problems and lead the AI industry in the future." 2026-04-13 10:17:58

Shinhan Bank Launches Olive Young SOL Account With Up to 4.5% Interest Shinhan Bank is rolling out a new account that pays up to 4.5% annual interest when used as a payment account at CJ Olive Young. The bank said on the 13th it launched the "Olive Young SOL Account" developed with CJ Olive Young, with a cap of 200,000 accounts. The Olive Young SOL Account is a demand deposit product that allows free deposits and withdrawals. Depending on a customer’s Olive Young usage, it offers up to 4.5% annual interest on balances of up to 2 million won. Customers can sign up starting that day through a promotional page in the Olive Young app. To mark the launch, Shinhan Bank will give all new customers a 10,000-won Olive Young mobile gift certificate. Customers who spend at least 5,000 won a month at Olive Young using the account or a linked debit card will receive a 5,000-won mobile gift certificate each month for one year. An additional 10,000-won Olive Young coupon will be issued each time customers meet a three-month cumulative usage requirement. A Shinhan Bank official said the product was designed to boost customer satisfaction by combining financial and lifestyle benefits, adding that the bank will continue partnering across sectors to offer differentiated financial experiences.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 10:00:00

BTS tops Billboard 200 for 3rd week, heads to Japan this week SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) -K-pop supergroup BTS wrapped up its three-day concert run in Goyang over the weekend, drawing more than 132,000 attendees, while extending its record as the first Korean act to top the U.S. charts for three consecutive weeks. According to Billboard on Sunday (local time), BTS’ fifth studio album ARIRANG held on to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — the industry’s main weekly albums ranking based on sales, streaming and track-equivalent units — for a third straight week. The album outperformed new releases from Morgan Wallen and Kanye West. The group staged three concerts on April 9, 11 and 12 at Goyang Stadium using a 360-degree, in-the-round setup designed to engage all sides of the venue, attracting a combined 132,000 fans. The opening night on April 9 went ahead despite heavy rain, with fans filling the stadium under umbrellas in the group’s signature purple. The performance concluded without disruption, setting the tone for the remaining shows. Next stop is Tokyo, with performances scheduled at Tokyo Dome on April 17 and 18. The tour marks BTS’ first global tour in six years, underscoring the group’s return to large-scale international performances. Separately, BTS announced an additional global live-viewing event for its Busan concert, scheduled for June 13. The announcement was revealed through a surprise video with a qr code shown during the end credits in theaters following the April 11 live-viewing screening of the Goyang concert. 2026-04-13 09:56:30

TWS VR Concert Film 'Rush Road' Tops 40,000 Viewers in Korea K-pop group TWS has wrapped up its first VR concert film, “TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD,” after a successful run in South Korea. The film surpassed 40,000 cumulative viewers and posted an average seat occupancy rate of 81%. The results came despite a limited release in a single theater, outperforming previous VR concert titles and setting a notable mark in the K-pop VR concert market. “Rush Road” sold out repeatedly from its opening week, prompting extended screenings and multiple repeat viewings that sustained demand. After tickets went on sale, individual showings quickly sold out, and the title rose to No. 1 on the Megabox box office. It maintained steady occupancy through the end of its run. The company credited the performance in part to the members’ hands-on involvement. From early production, the group contributed ideas on performance structure and camera direction to improve the final product. They also met audiences in person at stage greetings held shortly after release and continued fan engagement through the Weverse community. Audience feedback was also strong, with favorable reviews posted on Megabox and on social media. The film drew not only the group’s fan base, known as “42,” but also a sizable share of general moviegoers and fans of other artists, suggesting VR concerts can serve as an entry point beyond core fandom. The film opens at a rock festival setting and moves through locations including a rooftop and an aurora-themed space, aiming to heighten immersion. It also features close-range performances designed for VR viewing. After ending its domestic run, “TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD” is continuing with sequential screenings in major cities overseas. 2026-04-13 09:51:15

Korean Picture Books Target Global Market at Bologna Children’s Book Fair The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Publishing Industry Promotion Agency said Sunday they will take part in the 63rd Bologna Children’s Book Fair, running April 13-16 at BolognaFiere in Italy, to step up efforts to expand the global market for Korean children’s publishing content. Korea will operate a 352-square-meter area centered on an export consultation zone and an author promotion zone, aiming to showcase the strength of Korean picture books and children’s literature and deliver tangible export results. In the export consultation zone, organizers will focus on one-on-one business meetings between Korean and overseas publishers. A total of 39 Korean publishers, including Changbi Publishers, Sakyejul Publishing and Dasan Books, will run individual booths. A professional agency will also handle export consultations for 100 titles submitted on behalf of 27 companies that cannot attend in person. Last year, 40 Korean publishers joined the consultation zone and held 556 export meetings. Organizers said they will support talks by arranging pre-scheduled meetings with overseas buyers, providing professional interpreters and producing an English directory introducing participating companies’ books. A “Networking Day” is set for April 14 to promote exchanges among publishing professionals. After the fair, displayed books will be donated to King Sejong Institutes and local universities to broaden access to Korean publishing content. The author promotion zone will highlight Korea’s creative range in children’s publishing by exhibiting representative works and original illustrations from 15 Korean authors. A total of 109 books, including key titles by 10 authors attending the fair, will be displayed. Organizers will run 16 author programs to introduce the writers’ work in greater depth. A special lecture will feature author Lee Geum-yi, a finalist in the writing category for the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award, often described as the “Nobel Prize of children’s literature.” Organizers will also host book talks and a special exhibition centered on works that won the BolognaRagazzi Award in March, aiming to underscore the international standing of Korean children’s publishing. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 09:36:16

NongHyup Bank Joins K-Content Loan Interest Support, Completing Six-Bank Network The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency said Monday they signed a business agreement with NongHyup Bank on April 10 to expand an interest-subsidy program for cultural content companies, together with the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund and the Korea Technology Finance Corp. Under the “content company interest-subsidy support” program, the government covers up to 2.5 percentage points of loan interest for small and midsize content firms that struggle to raise production funding. The agreement allows companies to secure financing more smoothly by using an “agreement guarantee” issued by the guarantee institutions and receiving interest support. The five participating organizations said they will cooperate for the next three years, each using its own expertise. The culture ministry will provide policy funding, and KOCCA will form a consultative body among the partners and oversee the program’s overall implementation. The Korea Credit Guarantee Fund and the Korea Technology Finance Corp. will issue dedicated agreement guarantees for content companies. NongHyup Bank will provide loans to eligible firms at rates 2.5 percentage points below standard rates. The program targets small and midsize cultural content companies that receive the agreement guarantee, and the funds are to be used for K-content production and distribution. The ministry and KOCCA said the deal completes a nationwide content-finance support network with participation from the country’s six major commercial banks. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 09:30:14

S. Korean researchers develop smart OLED patch to accelerate wound healing speed SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - A research team in South Korea has developed a wearable electronic patch that can speed up the skin wound-healing process by about 200 percent using organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), compared to conventional wound treatment methods. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said Monday that a joint research group led by Professor Choi Kyung-cheol successfully created the self-regulating platform that uses light to control the release of medicine onto a skin wound. The project included researchers from the Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology (KICET) and Chungbuk National University. Traditional wound care often relies on ointments or light therapy, but it can be difficult to maintain the correct dosage. Too much medication can cause side effects, while light therapy, known as photobiomodulation (PBM), loses its effectiveness if the light intensity is not properly balanced. The new patch solves those problems by using light to create reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body. These molecules act as a biological switch that tells the patch when to release medication. As the light intensity changes, the amount of medicine released adjusts automatically to match the wound's needs. The device is designed as a thin, flexible patch that sticks directly to the skin, even on curved areas of the body. It operates at a steady temperature of about 31 degrees Celsius (87.8 degrees Fahrenheit), which eliminates the risk of low-temperature burns during long-term use. Testing showed the patch can function reliably for more than 400 hours. During animal trials, wounds treated with the smart patch showed a 67 percent recovery rate after 14 days. In comparison, a control group that used conventional techniques showed only a 35 percent recovery rate. The researchers found that the patch not only accelerated the healing process but also helped skin grow back with a healthy barrier of protective proteins. The patch delivers a specialized extract from Centella asiatica, a plant often called tiger grass, which is a common ingredient in skin repair treatments. By combining the regenerative power of 630-nanometer red light with precise drug delivery, the system ensures the medicine is only used when necessary. "This research moves beyond simply applying light therapy to using light as a tool to control the treatment itself," Professor Choi Kyung-cheol said. The team plans to expand the technology into an intelligent platform that can react to a patient's specific condition to treat various diseases and injuries. Ph.D. candidate Yeon Hye-jeong served as the lead author of the study, which was featured as the cover story for the March issue of the journal Materials Horizons. The project was supported by KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung, KICET President Yoon Jong-seok, and Acting President Park Yu-sik of Chungbuk National University. (Reference Information) Journal/Source: Materials Horizons Title: A self-regulating wearable OLED patch for accelerated wound healing via photobiomodulation-triggered drug delivery Link/DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH02129D 2026-04-13 09:28:16

Lee set to hold first summit in decades with Polish leader to boost defense cooperation SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is set to hold talks with Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday. The first meeting between the two leaders also marks the first visit by a Polish leader in 27 years and Tusk's first trip to a non-European country since taking office in December 2023. Tusk, who arrived in South Korea on Sunday for a two-day visit at Lee's invitation, is scheduled to hold talks with Lee, followed by expanded discussions with key officials, a joint press statement, and an official luncheon. During the meeting, the two leaders are expected to discuss their strategic partnership across a range of areas including growing cooperation in the defense industry. In December last year, the two countries signed an additional contract worth 5.6 trillion Korean won (about US$3.73 billion) for Chunmoo, South Korea's homegrown multiple rocket launch system (MLRS) developed by Hanwha Aerospace. Lee and Tusk are also expected to address pressing global challenges including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, given Poland's role as a key member of both the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 2026-04-13 09:05:01

Hana Bank, Tmoney Mobility to Support Taxi Operators With Tailored Financing Hana Bank said April 13 it has signed a business agreement with Tmoney Mobility to provide financial support for taxi operators. The partnership aims to develop tailored financial service models for taxi operators and improve their access to financing. Hana Bank plans to launch specialized financial products to help taxi operators run their businesses more steadily and to strengthen links with Tmoney Mobility’s taxi-operator platform, “Taxi Today.” The two companies also plan to identify new business models using Hana Bank’s financial data and Tmoney Mobility’s driving data. They will also work together on financial education support and marketing strategies, including online and offline promotions. “We signed this agreement to improve taxi operators’ access to financing and to provide tangible benefits through tailored financial services,” said Seo Yu-seok, executive vice president of Hana Bank’s Corporate Group. “Based on the data held by both companies, we will support taxi operators’ growth and strengthen cooperation for shared prosperity.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 09:00:00