Jeju Air Says Holiday Pet Passengers Rose Up to 26% Jeju Air said the number of passengers flying with pets during major holiday breaks rose by as much as 26% compared with typical periods. The airline said Thursday that about 18,200 passengers flew with pets last year, averaging about 1,500 a month. During holiday periods such as Lunar New Year and Chuseok, and during the August summer vacation season, the figure climbed as much as 26.6% to about 1,900. Jeju Air said pet-travel bookings this month have topped about 2,000. On Feb. 14, the day the holiday travel period began in earnest, 120 passengers flew with pets. The airline attributed the increase to the growing number of “pet parents” who consider animals part of the family and travel with them during holidays and vacations. Jeju Air limits in-cabin pets to six per flight, with a maximum weight of 9 kilograms, including the carrier. Its pet transport service, which assigns a dedicated seat, costs 25,000 won on domestic routes and 70,000 to 100,000 won on international routes depending on the itinerary. The airline said travelers taking pets overseas should carefully check country-specific rules, required documents and vaccination timelines. A Jeju Air official said the company’s pet membership offers unlimited annual pet travel and perks such as an extra 5 kilograms of checked baggage, providing “essential services” at a lower cost. 2026-02-19 10:24:00

Cheonwoo Motors Wins Lexus Korea’s 2025 Best Dealer Award for Fifth Time Lexus authorized dealer Cheonwoo Motors was named “Best Dealer” at the “2025 Lexus Dealer Convention” selected by Lexus Korea, held on Feb. 10. The honor marked Cheonwoo Motors’ fifth win, the most among Lexus’ eight dealer groups. Cheonwoo Motors first won in 2009 and has since received the award in 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2025. The company said the recognition followed strong results in Lexus Korea’s annual internal evaluation based on objective criteria. Cheonwoo Motors attributed the performance to customer care built around the idea that “the sale is not the end, but the beginning.” The company said it has worked to stay connected with customers after delivery by running invitation programs such as golf, horseback riding, baseball and billiards lessons, as well as a camping festival, to boost retention. CEO Jung Se-rim said the fifth award reflects efforts beyond sales. “This fifth win is the result of Cheonwoo’s work to move beyond simply selling more cars and to delight each customer by meeting their car-life needs,” Jung said. “We will continue to pursue change, improvement and new challenges.” 2026-02-19 10:19:11

Charlotte Theater Marks 20th Anniversary, Unveils 2026 Musical Lineup Including 'Dream of the Peach Blossom Land' and 'Frozen' South Korea’s first theater dedicated exclusively to musicals, Charlotte Theater, on the 19th announced its 2026 season lineup. Marking its 20th anniversary this year, the venue said it will continue to present a wide-ranging slate of productions from Korea and abroad. The long-running musical ‘Kinky Boots’ will continue through March 29 for its grand finale. Beginning in April, the original Korean musical ‘Dream of the Peach Blossom Land’ will take the stage, which the theater described as a showcase of Korean storytelling and aesthetics. Starting in August, the musical ‘Frozen (FROZEN)’ will open its first run in South Korea. The production is a stage adaptation of the hit film ‘Frozen.’ To mark the 20th anniversary, Charlotte Theater also plans promotions including an in-theater guestbook and photo zone. Using stories and photos submitted online, it will produce and release a “Charlotte Theater poster made by the audience.” The theater also plans to roll out a series of 20th-anniversary limited-edition merchandise items.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 10:03:00

Disney+ ‘Fate War 49’ Producers Say Family Approved Use of Fallen Firefighter’s Story Disney+ variety show ‘Fate War 49’ has drawn criticism for using a fallen firefighter’s death as material for a fortune-reading mission, prompting producers to issue a statement. In a statement released on Feb. 18, the production team said the personal stories featured in the program were provided “based on prior consultation and explanation” and with “understanding and consent” from the individuals involved or their families or representatives. The team said it informed them of the show’s concept and format as a survival program featuring fortune-tellers, and also obtained consent to provide related information and use images. “We fully recognized the sensitivity of the matter and carefully reviewed the content throughout the production process,” it said. ‘Fate War 49’ is a survival entertainment series in which 49 fortune-tellers compete through missions to test their abilities. Controversy centered on the second episode released on Feb. 11, which included a mission titled “Guessing the cause of death.” The show presented clues such as photos of the deceased and the time of birth and death, and shamans were shown inferring the cause of death from that information. Viewers particularly objected after the episode included a fortune-reading segment involving the late firefighter Kim Cheol-hong, who died in the line of duty at a 2001 fire in Hongje-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. A social media user claiming to be a family member posted a protest message, saying the show “demeans the death of someone who died saving others,” fueling the backlash. Another user who said they are Kim’s nephew wrote that after listening to a recorded call between a writer and the user’s aunt, they understood the show had said a shaman would appear and that the segment would use fortune-telling to show what kind of person Kim was and honor his “noble sacrifice.” But after watching the broadcast, the user said, the shamans were trying to guess how he died while cast members reacted with amazement and laughter. “I don’t understand how this honors my uncle’s sacrifice,” the user wrote.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 09:42:00

Comedian Kim Ji-min Says She Injured Her Face in a Fall Comedian Kim Ji-min said she was injured in a fall. Kim wrote on social media on Tuesday that she fell and hit her face while getting out after taking a half-body bath 10 days earlier, posting photos along with the message. “The bruising has gone down, but maybe my cheek muscle is knotted — a strange spot sinks in like a dimple,” she wrote, asking if anyone knew how it should be treated. Online commenters responded with messages such as “Hope you get well soon” and “Go to the hospital quickly.” Kim married comedian Kim Jun-ho in July last year. The couple has been reported to be preparing to have a child.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 09:39:00

Kim Yo-jong strikes conciliatory tone again over Seoul's regret on drone incursions SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, once again struck a positive note toward South Korea. In a statement carried on Thursday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim said she "highly appreciates" South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's expression of regret the previous day over drones allegedly sent by civilians to the North, as well as his pledge to prevent a recurrence. It was Kim's another reply to Chung, who made similar remarks last week. In a briefing on Wednesday, Chung again stressed that the South would take steps to prevent such incidents. He also pledged to pursue the restoration of the 2018 inter-Korean military pact, scrapped in 2024 under the previous administration's hardline stance toward the North, as part of efforts that had aimed to ease military tensions between the two Koreas. But Kim warned that any future violation, regardless of who is responsible, would result in "terrible consequences," calling her words not a threat but a "clear warning." Pundits believe Kim's statement was also intended to justify tougher measures along the border. 2026-02-19 09:27:40

HYBE America’s Big Machine Label Group Rebrands as Blue Highway Records, Names Jake Basden CEO HYBE America said Tuesday that its label Big Machine Label Group, or BMLG, has rebranded as Blue Highway Records and appointed music and marketing veteran Jake Basden as CEO. The company said Blue Highway Records will keep BMLG’s existing assets, distribution deals and roster. Its artists and songwriters include Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, Justin Moore, Carly Pearce and Preston Cooper. Through Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, it handles distribution for Riley Green, The Band Perry and Greylan James. Valory Music is set to be folded into Blue Highway Records, while publishing company Big Machine Music will remain under HYBE America. Basden most recently served as president of Nashville-based Sandbox Management, overseeing artist management and business development. HYBE America said he has worked with artists including Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile, Kate Hudson and Kelsea Ballerini. Basden previously served at BMLG as senior vice president of publicity, working closely with Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw and Steven Tyler, the company said. It also credited him with leading music campaigns for NBC’s “The Voice” and Fox’s “American Idol,” and noted that a song from the documentary “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me” earned an Academy Award nomination for best original song. Isaac Lee, HYBE America’s chairman and CEO, said the company prioritized choosing “someone who puts artists first” and called Basden a strong fit with deep ties to Nashville’s music community. Lee said Basden’s experience and “modern sensibility” for the digital era will help Blue Highway Records grow and expand HYBE’s influence in North America. Basden said Blue Highway Records is well positioned to help define the future sound of country and American roots music. He said combining HYBE’s capabilities with global synergy would remove limits on creativity, and that he plans to work with current and future artists on music and projects that resonate with audiences. Scott Borchetta, who led BMLG, recently left the company and reacquired the brand rights to “Big Machine Records” from HYBE America.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 09:09:00

Opera Singer Lim Hyung-joo Calls His Award Certificates His 'Wife, Girlfriend and Child' Opera singer Lim Hyung-joo said he thinks of the award certificates he has received as his wife, girlfriend and child. Lim appeared on TV Chosun’s “Dad and Me,” which aired on Feb. 18. On the show, he opened his “certificate room” and said, “I call certificates babies,” adding, “To me, certificates are a girlfriend, a wife and a child.” Host Jun Hyun-moo sighed and joked, “You’ll never get married.” When Lim said being in the room brings him mental calm, Jun teased, “You’ve got a lot of girlfriends.” Lim said he wants to collect 100 certificates but has 77 so far. He added that his mother does not like them much and has said she wants to get rid of the certificate room, which is why it is located next to the garage. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 08:39:00

OPINION: Japan's Takaichi and the test of glass cliff The soaring popularity and landslide election victory of Sanae Takaichi stand out in Asia, especially in a political culture where women have long been sidelined. Her rise has been hailed as a breakthrough moment for Japan — proof that even one of the world’s most male-dominated political systems can change. Yet her ascent also invites a quieter, more uneasy question: Is she standing on what Western scholars call a “glass cliff”? With the Liberal Democratic Party now holding its largest-ever majority, Takaichi wields rare political authority. Backed by more than two-thirds of the lower house, her government can push through legislation with little resistance. The Economist has described her as the most powerful woman in the world today. But power, in politics, does not always mean security. The idea of the “glass cliff” builds on the familiar notion of the “glass ceiling.” While the ceiling describes barriers that block women from rising, the cliff explains what often happens after they break through. Women are disproportionately elevated to leadership when institutions are already in deep trouble — when risks are highest and failure is most likely. The concept was developed in the mid-2000s by Australian scholars Michelle Ryan and Alex Haslam. Studying corporate leadership in Britain, they challenged the claim that women fail because they lack ability. Instead, they found that women are often chosen precisely when organizations are faltering — when male leaders step aside and a “new face” is needed to absorb political and social shock. Politics provides vivid examples. In Britain, Theresa May took office in 2016 after the Brexit referendum plunged the country into uncertainty. Her predecessor, David Cameron, resigned after losing the vote. The Conservatives turned to a woman to lead amid chaos. May resigned three years later, becoming Britain’s second female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher. Her successor, Liz Truss, followed a similar trajectory. She entered office after Boris Johnson fell amid scandals and crises. Britain was grappling with inflation, energy shocks and post-pandemic disruption. Truss lasted just 45 days — the shortest tenure in modern British history. In such cases, political failure is rarely treated as situational. Instead, it is often framed as proof that women “cannot lead.” The burden of collapse is placed on gender, not context. The glass cliff then reinforces the very stereotypes that once formed the glass ceiling. South Korea offers its own cautionary tale. The country became the first in Northeast Asia’s Confucian-influenced societies to elect a woman president with Park Geun-hye. Her impeachment and imprisonment marked one of the darkest chapters in modern Korean politics. Yet discussion of her downfall has frequently blended institutional failures with judgments about her gender. As a result, many now doubt whether South Korea will elect another woman president anytime soon. The pattern extends beyond the presidency. Under successive administrations, women have often been appointed to sensitive posts during turbulent periods — sometimes to signal reform, sometimes to soften political backlash. One recent example was former lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon, nominated by President Lee Jae Myung as the first head of the Ministry of Planning and Budget. Her appointment was meant to bridge political divides and project change. But amid polarization and investigations involving her family, she ultimately fell. Formally, her downfall rested on political conflict and allegations. Informally, it added to public skepticism toward women leaders. In the current administration, all three ministerial nominees who failed confirmation hearings were women — a coincidence that risks hardening invisible barriers. Against this backdrop, it is natural to feel both hope and unease about Takaichi. Her decisive election victory reflects genuine public support. Voters were drawn to her frank style, her economic agenda and her outsider image in a male-dominated system. Calling a risky snap election in the middle of winter, she secured a historic supermajority and emerged with an overwhelming mandate. Few Japanese leaders in recent decades have entered office with such momentum. Yet Japan’s political culture remains deeply patriarchal — in many respects more rigid than South Korea’s. Women remain underrepresented in parliament, corporate leadership and senior bureaucracy. In such an environment, symbolic elevation followed by disproportionate blame is always a risk. If Takaichi succeeds, she will expand the boundaries of what is possible for women in Japanese politics. If she fails, her fall may be framed not as a political setback, but as evidence that “this experiment” with female leadership did not work. That narrative would not stop at Japan’s borders. In a region where women leaders remain rare, her fate will be closely watched in Seoul and beyond. The glass cliff is not destiny. It is a structure created by institutions that seek renewal without accepting responsibility. Breaking it requires more than applauding women when they rise. It requires judging them by the same standards — and granting them the same margin for error — as men. Takaichi has earned her mandate. She deserves to be evaluated on policy, competence and results, not on her gender. For the sake of future leaders who hope to break Asia’s political ceilings, one hopes she will not be pushed toward a cliff — and that she will be allowed, finally, to walk on solid ground. *The author is a contributing columnist to the Aju Business Daily. About the author: ▷Former CNN Seoul bureau chief ▷Former ambassador for cultural cooperation at the Foreign Ministry ▷Former president of the Korea International Broadcasting Foundation (Arirang TV) ▷Former senior secretary for overseas publicity at the presidential office ▷Former president of the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club ▷Former New York Times reporter ▷Visiting professor at Ewha Womans University’s Graduate School of International Studies *This article originally published on the Aju Business Daily was edited into English by AJP. 2026-02-19 08:37:12

BTS’ J-Hope Donates 350 Million Won for Children’s Care and Animal Welfare on Birthday BTS member J-Hope donated a total of 350 million won on his birthday, Feb. 18, supporting children’s health care, student scholarships and animal welfare. He gave 200 million won to Asan Medical Center in Seoul. The hospital said the money will be used to improve facilities and the medical environment for pediatric and adolescent patients, support home-based care for critically ill children, and run psychological healing programs. Through the child welfare agency ChildFund Korea, he also donated 100 million won in scholarships for students at his alma mater. J-Hope also donated 50 million won to animal protection groups, adding his own money to proceeds from an earlier auction of collaboration items with Human Made titled “HUMAN HOPE: A JOOPITER Special.” The donation will support the work of “Animal Rescue 119” and “My Love Baduki With Companion Animals.” “I'm grateful to be able to share in a meaningful way on my birthday,” J-Hope said through his agency, BigHit Music. He said he wanted to help children receiving treatment, students pursuing their dreams and animals in need of protection, and thanked ARMY, BTS’ fan community, for its support. He added that he hopes 2026 will be “a hopeful and warm year for everyone.” J-Hope has donated a cumulative 500 million won to Asan Medical Center. He has also joined ChildFund Korea’s Green Noble Trinity Club, a group for donors who have given more than 1 billion won in total.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 08:18:00