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

Horror Film 'Salmokji' Tops Box Office in Opening Weekend, Nears Break-Even Film "Salmokji" led the box office in its opening weekend, extending its strong run.  According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office database on April 13, "Salmokji" drew 536,452 moviegoers from April 10-12 to rank No. 1 for the weekend. The result put it ahead of competing releases "Project Hail Mary" and "The Man Who Lives With the King."  Its opening-weekend total was the biggest for a horror film since "Metamorphosis" drew 571,901 in 2019, and it far exceeded the 305,151 posted by "The Medium" in its first weekend in 2021.  The film also gained momentum on its third day in theaters, April 10, when it attracted 111,766 viewers, topping its opening-day figure of 89,913. Weekend attendance continued to climb. The break-even point is about 800,000 admissions, and the film is expected to pass that mark soon.  "Salmokji" is a horror film in which an unidentified figure appears on a road-view image, and a film crew heading to a reservoir for a reshoot encounters something in the dark, deep water. Lee Sang-min directed. The cast includes Kim Hye-yoon, Lee Jong-won and Kim Jun-han. 2026-04-13 08:36:20

Rory McIlroy Repeats at Masters, First Back-to-Back Champion Since Tiger Woods Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland successfully defended his title at the Masters Tournament, becoming the first back-to-back winner in 24 years since Tiger Woods of the United States. McIlroy shot a 1-under 71 in the final round Sunday (Korean time) at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, with five birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey on the par-72 course. He finished at 12-under 276, edging Scottie Scheffler of the United States (11-under 277) by one stroke to claim the green jacket. The winner’s prize was $4.5 million (about 6.6 billion won). The victory made McIlroy the fourth player to defend a Masters title, joining Jack Nicklaus (1965-1966), Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Woods (2001-2002). McIlroy also led from the opening round through the finish for a wire-to-wire win. It was the first wire-to-wire Masters champion since Dustin Johnson in 2020. The win was McIlroy’s first of the season and the 30th of his PGA Tour career. The result followed recent health concerns. After tying for second at the Genesis Invitational in February, McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational because of back pain. He then tied for 46th at The Players Championship. At Augusta National, he showed a different level of form, combining accurate shots and putting to stay atop the leaderboard from the first day and hold on through the final round for a second straight Masters title. 2026-04-13 08:24:00

BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ tops Billboard 200 for third straight week, a K-pop first 그룹 방탄소년단(BTS)의 정규 5집 '아리랑(ARIRANG)'이 K팝 사상 처음으로 미국 빌보드 메인 앨범 차트에서 3주 연속 1위를 기록했다. Billboard said in a chart preview article on April 12 (local time) that BTS’ fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” remained No. 1 on the main albums chart, the Billboard 200, for a third straight week. The group held off Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem” and Kanye West’s “BULLY.” It is the first time a K-pop act has led the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks. Among groups, it is the biggest run since Mumford & Sons’ “Babel,” which logged five nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 in 2012-2013. It is also the first album since Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” last year to debut at No. 1 and stay there for three straight weeks. For the latest tracking period, “ARIRANG” posted 124,000 equivalent album units, Billboard said. That total included 71,000 in album sales, 50,000 in streaming equivalent albums (SEA) and 3,000 in track equivalent albums (TEA). Driven by strong physical sales, it also ranked No. 1 for a third week on the Top Album Sales chart. “ARIRANG,” described as reflecting the group’s identity, contains 14 tracks, including the title song “SWIM.” “SWIM,” which ranked No. 2 on Billboard’s main singles chart, the Hot 100, last week, is expected to remain near the top this week, according to the report. BTS also held “BTS World Tour ARIRANG in Goyang” from April 9 to 12 at the main stadium of Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, south of Seoul. The three-day run drew about 132,000 fans, marking the group’s first solo tour in about four years since 2022’s “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 07:45:16

Super Junior’s Kim Hee-chul Says He’s Driving Again After 20 Years Super Junior member Kim Hee-chul has explained why he got back behind the wheel for the first time in 20 years. On an SBS episode of "My Little Old Boy" that aired on the 12th, entertainers Tak Jae-hoon and Heo Kyung-hwan appeared as driving instructors for Kim. Kim said he stopped driving after undergoing major surgery following a traffic accident, adding that it has been 20 years since he last drove. He said he decided to learn again because he wants to drive a future child to kindergarten or school. "Later, I’m going to name our baby Rua. If Kim Rua comes along, I want to take the baby to kindergarten or school," he said. Kim was in a 2006 traffic accident and underwent major surgery after fracturing his thigh and ankle, with seven metal pins inserted. He was later reported to have been assessed as having a level 4 physical disability.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 07:24:14

BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ Tops Billboard 200 for Third Straight Week, a K-pop First BTS’ fifth album, “ARIRANG,” has become the first K-pop release to lead Billboard’s main albums chart, the Billboard 200, for three consecutive weeks. Billboard said in a chart preview article on the 12th (local time) that “ARIRANG” held the No. 1 spot for a third straight week, ahead of Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem” at No. 2 and Kanye West (Ye/YE)’s “BULLY” at No. 3. It is the first time a K-pop artist’s album has spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. “ARIRANG,” described as reflecting “today’s BTS” and the group’s identity, includes 14 tracks, including the title song “SWIM.” 2026-04-13 06:03:13

Kim Hye-yoon on horror film 'Salmokji': 'I want to be called a horror queen' Known for romantic comedies such as the dramas "Lovely Runner" and "Extraordinary You," actor Kim Hye-yoon is taking a sharp turn with the horror film "Salmokji," trading her bright image for a more worn, drained presence. "It’s a genre I love, and as a horror fan, I was excited to take on a horror project," Kim said. "When I first read the script, it was really fun, and the water ghost concept felt fresh. I also liked that Su-in is restrained and looks kind of worn down, different from characters you usually see in horror films." "Salmokji," directed by Lee Sang-min, follows a filming crew that heads to a reservoir to verify a mysterious figure captured on a road-view image, only to encounter strange events. Kim plays Han Su-in, a producer at Onroad Media who goes to the reservoir to investigate the unusual phenomenon. "As the director and I built Su-in together, we talked a lot about her fear of water and trauma, and that she lives with guilt," she said. "He suggested we start from a baseline where she looks exhausted overall because of the stress from that guilt. So I tried to look worn out, always tired, and like she’s with people but lost in other thoughts." A regular horror viewer, Kim said the film’s fear factor goes beyond jump scares, relying on tension built through images and sound — something she believes plays bigger in theaters. "There are a lot of shocking moments — scary images, and fear created by sound," she said. "Watching it at the press screening, I felt the fear grow not just from my own reaction but from the audience around me. The fear you share in the same room can stay with you like a memory. That’s why I hope people see it in theaters." Kim also spoke about working with castmates her age, saying the chemistry came naturally. "I like people, and I’ve been lucky to work with good people, so I often get close quickly without trying," she said. "This time, because we’re around the same age, we became close even faster. You can see that chemistry during stage greetings. I’m enjoying it now, and I really enjoyed filming, too." In the film, Su-in’s relationship with Gi-tae is not explained solely by the fact they once dated. They clash in everyday moments, but he is also one of the few people she can confide in. Kim said she discussed that delicate distance with the director. "Gi-tae calls Su-in’s name a lot," she said, laughing. "I even joked on set, ‘Stop calling my name.’ The set was upbeat, and I think some of that comes through in the movie. The director also said he wanted them to bicker more — to be more curt in daily life, since they’re exes. But Gi-tae is almost the only person Su-in can open up to, so in that situation, I thought she could speak more comfortably." Kim said she does not regularly rewatch her past work, but she sometimes runs into it through recommendations or when others bring it up. "Those projects feel like a diary to me," she said. "I think, ‘That’s what I looked like then, that’s how I expressed things.’ It was a different energy from what I have now, and it makes me reflect. Through that process, I think I’ve developed my own know-how. I’ve tried acting when I felt great and when I was tense, and now I feel I focus best when it’s a mix of both." She said the support she has received over the years feels more like motivation than pressure, pushing her to show different sides of herself. She added that she recently started raising a cat and finds comfort in holding it. "I’ve received so much love from fans, and it makes me want to show more variety — that becomes my driving force," she said. "I read somewhere that holding a cat helps relieve stress, and I think it’s true. Hearing it purr makes me feel calmer, and it feels like I’m recharging." With the release approaching, Kim said she hopes audiences experience the film together, arguing that horror is often more memorable when shared in the same space. Recalling watching scary movies with friends as a student, she said she hopes "Salmokji" can leave that kind of memory. "I felt it again watching it in a theater at the screening, and when I think back to watching horror movies with friends in school, building those shared memories was really nice," she said. "I hope people come to theaters and make those memories together. You have to see the ghost in person, too," she added with a laugh. "I hope many people come and respond well." While she remains grateful for the "rom-com queen" label, Kim said she wants a different description this time. "I’m truly thankful for ‘rom-com queen,’ but this time — even if it sounds a bit cliché — I want to earn the label ‘horror queen,’" she said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 00:05:53

Veteran Actors Shin Goo, Park Geun-hyung Back Youth Theater Project in Seoul "Theater is about people, and it’s our story," said 90-year-old actor Shin Goo, speaking April 7 to young actors gathered at Daehangno Arts Theater in Seoul. He described theater as work that expresses what happens in relationships and stressed that the expression "must be honest." Without that, he said, the effort becomes meaningless, urging the actors to keep making strong work. That day, 30 young actors in the Theater Tomorrow Project presented key scenes from three original productions: "Tandem," "The Birth of a Queen" and "Firdaus." The works were developed through training, creation and collaboration within the project. The productions are scheduled to meet audiences April 24-26 at Arko Dream Field Theater, and tickets sold out as soon as sales opened. The Theater Tomorrow Project began after veteran theater artists Shin Goo and Park Geun-hyung, 86, joined forces to pass on stage experience and know-how to younger performers. The two donated proceeds to the Arts Council Korea, known as ARKO, from a special benefit performance of the play "Waiting for Godot" in March last year, helping create the Theater Tomorrow Fund. The project then moved into full operation. In early January, organizers held an open call and auditions and selected 30 young actors from 1,000 applicants. The group studied Park’s acting philosophy and stage experience through his master class, then went through directing workshops, actor training, creation and rehearsals before preparing to take the stage this month. Park said "Waiting for Godot," which he performed with Shin, drew enough love to sell out nationwide and made them feel they should do something more. He said the project now seems to have produced a small first result and asked ARKO to help ensure it continues rather than ending as a one-time effort. To keep supporting the project, the two veteran actors plan to appear in the play "The Merchant of Venice" in July, continuing their donations. A separate audition will be held for the 30 project participants, and selected actors will perform in "The Merchant of Venice" alongside Shin and Park. After watching the young actors, Shin said it felt like going back 60 years. "I was so flustered at my first performance that I can’t even remember how I got through it," he said. He added he was grateful younger performers now have a better environment for taking the stage than his generation did. Park said the present looks hopeful compared with a time when he felt they were searching for a path without light. But he warned that pursuing the work requires accepting financial hardship, adding, "Welcome to the hard road." Young artists said the project helped them grow. Actor Ahn Seung-gyun, who took part in "Tandem," said he came to realize "nothing can be done alone" and that the process of questioning, clashing and building the work together was a joy. Actor Ryu Ji-o, who appears in "The Birth of a Queen," said the key lesson was that people matter. "I realized again that theater is made by rubbing shoulders with people," Ryu said. "I was happy to meet friends who share the same dream and to work closely with them." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 00:04:26