TXT Wins Japan Gold Disc Award for Best 3 Albums in Asia Category 그룹 투모로우바이투게더가 일본 골드 디스크 대상에서 의미 있는 성과를 냈다. The group TOMORROW X TOGETHER earned a major honor at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. According to the Recording Industry Association of Japan on Tuesday, the group’s third Japanese full-length album, “Starkissed,” was selected in the Asia category for “Best 3 Albums” at the 40th Japan Gold Disc Awards. Released in October last year, “Starkissed” topped Oricon’s weekly combined album ranking and weekly album ranking with the group’s highest score to date. As of November last year, cumulative shipments surpassed 500,000 copies, earning a Gold Disc “Double Platinum” certification. In January, the group released the digital single “SSS (Sending Secret Signals,” featuring HYDE, a member of Japanese rock band L’Arc~en~Ciel and a solo artist, drawing a strong response. The group has maintained steady popularity in Japan. Its fourth full-length album released in South Korea in July last year, “The Star Chapter: TOGETHER,” received a Gold Disc “Double Platinum” certification as of February. The album first earned “Platinum” certification in its release month and added the new certification seven months later. The association issues Gold Disc certifications each month based on cumulative album shipments. TOMORROW X TOGETHER will hold its seventh anniversary special concerts, “2026 TXT MOA CON,” across eight shows in four Japanese cities — Aichi, Chiba, Fukuoka and Hyogo — in May and June. The group previously performed for three days at KSPO DOME in Seoul’s Songpa district, drawing about 33,000 attendees. The group will release its eighth mini album, “7TH YEAR: When the Wind Briefly Stopped in the Thornbush,” at 6 p.m. on April 13. It will be the group’s first full-group album since renewing its contract with BIGHIT MUSIC last year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 09:01:03

Autonomous A2Z Closes 40.5 Billion Won Pre-IPO Round South Korean autonomous driving company Autonomous A2Z (A2Z) said March 12 it raised 40.5 billion won ($40.5 billion won) in a pre-IPO funding round. Participants included existing investor DS Investment Partners, which served as an anchor, along with Nvestor, KB Investment, KB Securities and Hana Securities. New investors included Daesung Venture Capital, Suin Investment Capital and E&Venture Partners. With 45 billion won raised in the pre-IPO, A2Z said its cumulative funding has increased to 122.5 billion won. A2Z said it will use the funds across its business, including securing inventory to support domestic and overseas expansion, and investing in infrastructure and hiring to develop end-to-end AI autonomous driving technology. The company said the financing will also support preparations for a large-scale autonomous driving demonstration project led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. A2Z plans to strengthen technical readiness for participation, including securing in advance controllers, sensors and other vehicle components needed for production. A2Z said it will also invest in diversifying overseas operations. In Singapore, it is operating what it described as the first autonomous shuttle bus service in the city center in collaboration with Southeast Asian super app Grab, and is installing and applying its in-house LiDAR Infrastructure System, or LIS, to the local transportation network. In the United Arab Emirates, A2Z said it recently obtained approval from the South Korean government for autonomous driving exports and is pursuing local contracts. In Japan, it has begun a robotaxi demonstration service. The company said it plans to expand commercialization by introducing autonomous driving technology in stages tailored to each country’s legal and regulatory environment. A2Z said it is accelerating development of hybrid end-to-end autonomous driving technology that combines its existing rule-based system with AI. It plans to invest in infrastructure and hiring to train on real-world driving data and advance its software, while focusing on strengthening safety and stability for commercialization of Level 4 fully driverless autonomous driving. A2Z said it will use the investment to begin full preparations to list on the KOSDAQ market within the year. It plans to file a preliminary review application with the Korea Exchange in April for a technology-special listing. The company selected Hana Securities and KB Securities as joint underwriters in 2023. Chief Executive Han Ji-hyeong said the pre-IPO round was a strategic decision to secure practical execution capability for key projects with governments and companies at home and abroad. He said A2Z will strengthen the foundation for commercialization as it pursues an IPO and aims to expand Korean autonomous driving technology globally through mass production of Level 4 vehicles and building a global data ecosystem.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 08:33:45

'A Man Living With the King' Tops 12 Million Admissions, Holds No. 1 Spot The film "A Man Living With the King" has surpassed 12 million admissions. According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office database, the film drew 171,426 moviegoers on March 11, holding the No. 1 spot. Its cumulative total reached 12,055,448. Set in Cheongnyeongpo in 1457, the film follows a village chief who volunteers to live in exile to revive his town and a young deposed king sent into exile. The film has won broad support from both critics and audiences. Disney and Pixar’s animated film "Hoppers," directed by Daniel Chong, ranked No. 2 the same day with 11,605 admissions, bringing its cumulative total to 348,380. The film centers on Pixar’s imagined "hopping" technology, which transfers human consciousness into animal robots, as a girl named Mabel becomes a robot beaver and infiltrates the animal world on an unexpected adventure. "Samakdo," directed by Chae Gi-jun, opened that day and drew 11,185 moviegoers. Its cumulative total stood at 12,000. The film depicts a hellish ordeal witnessed in a sealed-off village where prophecies and secrets surround a pseudo-religion that disappeared after Japan’s colonial rule. It stars Jo Yoon-seo and Kwak Si-yang. 2026-03-12 08:18:16

South Korea releasing 22.46 million barrels of oil reserves in IEA joint action SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) -South Korea will release 22.46 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves as part of the International Energy Agency’s largest-ever coordinated emergency action to stabilize global energy markets shaken by the war in Iran. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Wednesday the decision follows an emergency meeting of the International Energy Agency (IEA), where its 32 member countries agreed to release a combined 400 million barrels from emergency stockpiles. The unprecedented move aims to cushion a severe supply shock after the Strait of Hormuz — a vital artery carrying roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade — was effectively closed amid the escalating conflict. South Korea’s share amounts to 5.6 percent of the total release, calculated based on each member country's share of oil consumption among the IEA’s 32 members. The planned release of 22.46 million barrels marks the largest drawdown in the country’s history, surpassing the 4.94 million barrels released during the 1990 Gulf War. It is also nearly double the volume South Korea released during the coordinated IEA actions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when the country contributed a total of 11.65 million barrels across two rounds. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said the coordinated action reflects the scale of the disruption facing global oil markets. “The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale,” Birol said. “Oil markets are global, so the response to major disruptions must also be global.” The Paris-based agency holds roughly 1.2 billion barrels in emergency reserves among its members. The coordinated release announced Wednesday will be the sixth such intervention since the IEA was founded in 1974 and the largest on record. Seoul said the exact timing and pace of its release will be determined through consultations with the IEA secretariat, taking into account national circumstances and market conditions. A ministry official said the move is expected to help stabilize global oil markets and mitigate the economic impact of surging energy prices. “Through close cooperation with the IEA and major countries, the government will continue working to minimize the burden of high oil prices on the economy and consumer inflation,” the official said. The emergency action comes as the Iran war has sent energy markets into turmoil, with tanker traffic disrupted and Middle East producers struggling to export crude without access to shipping routes. The Thai-flagged dry bulk carrier Mayuree Naree caught fire after being struck by two projectiles while transiting the strait, its operator Precious Shipping said. Three crew members were reported missing and believed trapped in the engine room, while the remaining 20 crew members were evacuated safely to Oman. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards later said the ship had been “fired upon by Iranian fighters,” suggesting a rare direct engagement by the force. Two other vessels sustained minor damage earlier the same day. The Japan-flagged container ship ONE Majesty was hit by an unidentified projectile while anchored in the Gulf, leaving minor damage above the waterline but no injuries among the crew, according to its owner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and charterer Ocean Network Express. A Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, Star Gwyneth, was also struck about 50 miles northwest of Dubai, damaging its hull. Maritime risk firm Vanguard said the crew remained safe and the vessel was not in danger. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned that ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz would be targeted, while U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to intensify attacks on Iran if it continues to block the vital shipping lane. Despite repeated requests from shipping companies, the U.S. Navy has declined to escort civilian vessels through the strait for now, saying the risk of Iranian fire remains too high. U.S. Central Command said its current focus is destroying Iran’s missiles and drones and degrading its ability to disrupt maritime traffic. Energy analysts warn that the reserve release can ease market pressure temporarily, but a sustained stabilization ultimately depends on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring normal oil flows. 2026-03-12 07:39:41

Choi Bul-am’s Family Says Actor in Rehab, Expected to Be Discharged Soon Actor Choi Bul-am’s family has denied recent rumors that he is seriously ill. In a phone interview with Yonhap News Agency on the 11th, Choi’s son, identified only by his surname, said, “(My father) is currently hospitalized, recovering while receiving rehabilitation treatment,” adding, “He is expected to be discharged soon.” He said back problems were among the reasons Choi stepped down last year from “Korean Table,” a current affairs and culture program on KBS 1TV. He said walking became difficult, and Choi underwent surgery followed by rehabilitation. “He is expected to leave the hospital soon,” he added. Choi, born in 1940, made his debut in 1959 in the play “Hamlet.” He began his full-time acting career in 1965 as a member of the National Theater Company.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 07:12:15

Korea’s Elder Care Demand Surges as Nursing Home Rules Slow New Supply South Korea’s shift into a super-aged society is driving a sharp rise in demand for elder care, but the supply of nursing homes is falling far short, constrained by regulations that make it difficult to open new facilities. Industry officials warn that a “care gap” could soon become reality as entry barriers keep capacity from expanding fast enough. As of Tuesday, industry sources said nursing home bed capacity has increased by an average of 8.4% a year since 2008. However, only 38% of facilities earned A or B grades in evaluations by the National Health Insurance Service, which are generally preferred by families. About one in four facilities was cited for violating staffing standards (24.9%), and 28.5% fell short on adequate toileting services, failing to meet basic requirements. The mismatch is already visible on the ground. Mid- to large-sized nursing homes typically have capacity for about 200 residents, but waiting lists can run into the thousands depending on the facility, according to industry accounts. With population aging accelerating, the number of people waiting is expected to grow, yet new construction is not keeping pace. Under the enforcement rules of the Elderly Welfare Act, operators seeking to build elderly medical welfare facilities or senior welfare housing must first secure land and buildings that meet set standards. In practice, that means a provider cannot establish a facility based only on operating capability or a service model; it must first obtain physical infrastructure, such as purchasing land and constructing a building or leasing suitable premises. Industry officials say those requirements function as a steep barrier to entry. In urban areas, it is difficult to secure enough land for a nursing home, and land purchases and construction costs can range from tens of billions to hundreds of billions of won, effectively limiting new entrants. Factoring in the opportunity cost tied to owning land and buildings, losses in Seoul are estimated at about 8 million won a month, excluding noncovered service revenue. The Ministry of Health and Welfare, the lead agency, has acknowledged the need to improve regulations and is reviewing revisions. But industry groups say steps such as limited easing of facility standards or streamlined administrative procedures have had little impact in the field. Related organizations have formally urged the government to relax establishment requirements and expand the use of public land for facilities. Some experts also argue for a larger role for private nursing homes. Compared with public facilities, private providers can offer more varied services and more tailored care, and can differentiate themselves through facility conditions and programs. They also tend to have shorter waiting periods and can operate more flexibly in areas such as family visits and daily convenience, the article said. Experts say the government should focus on oversight and safety nets while supporting private providers behind the scenes as the main source of supply. Jang Si-ryeong, a senior researcher at the Bank of Korea’s Economic Research Institute, said, “With the end-of-life elderly population set to double over the next 25 years, it is clear that public finances alone have limits.” She added that policymakers should consider ways to offset high real estate costs in major metropolitan areas such as Seoul and Busan to encourage a stable supply of facilities in city centers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 06:04:30

BTS to Return With Gwanghwamun Comeback Live Streamed Worldwide on Netflix Gwanghwamun, the center of Seoul, is set to turn purple again. After a wait of three years and nine months, BTS will make its official return on March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square with “BTS Comeback Live: Arirang.” Organizers say the event is designed as more than a comeback show, pairing a Korean narrative with a global audience and already reshaping downtown Seoul into a festival zone. With nine days to go, here are the main points. ◆ Capacity expanded to 22,000; purple wave from Gwanghwamun Station to City Hall Planned initially for 15,000 seats, the show has expanded to 22,000 amid surging demand. Offline ticket sales held Feb. 23 overwhelmed the “NOL Ticket” site, with the waiting queue topping 100,000; all seats sold out in 40 minutes. BigHit Music and HYBE said they secured additional viewing areas from Gwanghwamun Station, south of the Sejong-daero intersection, to near City Hall Station. Additional ticketing is set for March 12 at 8 p.m., and all sections will be standing to allow more fans to attend. Organizers said they are strengthening real-time monitoring and identity verification to curb scalping that has exploited the free event, with some resale listings reaching hundreds of thousands of won. ◆ Netflix’s first artist-only live stream aims for global reach The performance will be streamed live via Netflix to more than 190 countries. Netflix has not previously carried a live broadcast devoted to a single artist’s concert, a move expected to bring fans together in what organizers describe as a shared “digital square.” Industry attention is focused on how Netflix’s live-streaming capacity — previously cited as handling 65 million concurrent connections — will pair with BTS’ performance. A Netflix official said, “It will be a true live moment where viewers around the world share the same experience at the same time, without language and cultural barriers.” ◆ ‘Royal road’ opening and traditional aesthetics Organizers say the staging will emphasize Korean aesthetics. Members are set to open by marching along the “royal road” from Geunjeongmun to the restored Gwanghwamun Woldae, rebuilt for the first time in 100 years. The production also includes a large-scale performance combining the Arirang traditional music ensemble and dancers, along with a media facade planned to light up Gwanghwamun’s night sky and walls. Related brand collaboration products based on traditional Korean aesthetics are also to be released in stages through pop-up stores, organizers said. Analysts estimate the concert and related tourism, including pop-up store visits, could generate direct and indirect economic effects approaching 1 trillion won. Based on past large-scale concert data, they project 100,000 to 150,000 overseas fans could visit and spend at least 300 billion to 700 billion won on lodging, tourism and shopping. They added that the promotional value for Seoul’s city brand through the Netflix live broadcast could push the overall impact into the hundreds of billions of won more. ◆ New album March 20; world tour to span 34 cities BTS will release its fifth full-length album, “Arirang,” worldwide at 1 p.m. on March 20, the day before the concert. The 14-track album includes the title song “Swim (SWIM),” with leader RM participating broadly in the lyrics. The new songs are set to be unveiled on the March 21 Gwanghwamun stage. Plans after the comeback include a Netflix documentary, “BTS: The Return,” to be released March 27, covering the album’s production process. The group is also set to begin a major world tour in April starting in Goyang, with 82 shows across 34 cities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 06:03:21

Hyundai Motor Group Rises to No. 2 Globally in Operating Profit, Overtakes Volkswagen Hyundai Motor Group has entered the global top two for operating profit among automakers for the first time, industry officials said. Analysts said the group improved the quality of its growth by earning more profit than Germany’s Volkswagen Group despite selling fewer vehicles. They credited three strategies pushed by Chairman Chung Euisun even as the industry faced headwinds including U.S. auto tariffs and war in the Middle East. According to the industry on Tuesday, Hyundai Motor Group (Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis) sold 7.27 million vehicles worldwide last year, ranking third behind Toyota Group (11.32 million) and Volkswagen Group (8.98 million). On profitability, however, Hyundai moved ahead of Volkswagen. Toyota held the top spot with revenue of 50.4508 trillion yen (about 471.2 trillion won) and operating profit of 4.3128 trillion yen (about 40.2 trillion won) in its most recent fiscal year. Hyundai ranked third in revenue at 300.3954 trillion won and second in operating profit at 20.5460 trillion won. Volkswagen posted operating profit of 8.9 billion euros (about 15.3 trillion won). It was the first time Hyundai’s annual operating profit exceeded Volkswagen’s, the officials said. Hyundai also ranked near the top in operating margin, another key measure of profitability. Its operating margin was 6.8%, second globally behind Toyota’s 8.6%. The figure was more than double Volkswagen’s 2.8%, according to the data cited. Officials attributed the improved performance to three initiatives led by Chung: shifting to electrification, expanding localization and moving upmarket. Chung set a goal of achieving 100% electrification in major markets including the United States and Europe by 2040 and ordered development of a range of electric vehicles, the officials said. They also pointed to preemptive investment to raise local production capacity to 1.2 million vehicles a year to address tariff risks after the launch of the second Trump administration. Hyundai’s tariff costs last year totaled 7.2 trillion won, less than Toyota’s 1.2 trillion yen (11.2 trillion won), after Toyota’s U.S. tariff rate was cut to 15% ahead of South Korea, the officials said. Hyundai also strengthened sales of higher-value models such as hybrids and sport utility vehicles and launched a standalone premium brand through its design-led strategy. Genesis, the premium brand launched in 2015 under Chung’s leadership, surpassed 1.5 million in cumulative global sales in 10 years. “Most companies took a major hit from U.S. auto tariffs, but Hyundai held up well, posting higher operating profit than Volkswagen despite selling fewer vehicles,” an industry official said. “It has shown it is no longer competing only on value for money.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 05:03:27

Musical Actor Nam Kyung-ju Sent to Prosecutors on Rape Allegation Musical actor Nam Kyung-ju, 63, has been referred to prosecutors on a rape allegation, police said. According to police and other officials on Tuesday, Seoul’s Bangbae Police Station last month sent Nam to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office without detention on suspicion of intercourse by abuse of authority. Nam is accused of sexually assaulting a woman, identified only as A, in Seoul last year. A is reported to have left the scene shortly afterward and called the emergency number 112. Nam denied the allegation during police questioning, but police said they determined the suspicion was supported based on related circumstances and forwarded the case to prosecutors. Nam’s Instagram account has been deleted, and no official statement has been released. Nam is considered part of South Korea’s first generation of musical theater actors, along with Choi Jung-won and Park Kalin. He won best actor at the 13th Daegu International Musical Festival in 2019 and is a professor in the performing arts department at Hongik University.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 20:42:16

Kim Yunji Wins Another Silver, Sets South Korea Record for Most Winter Paralympic Medals at One Games Kim Yunji, a 19-year-old rising star in South Korean para sports, added a silver medal on Tuesday to set a new national record for the most medals won by a South Korean athlete at a single Winter Paralympics. Kim finished second in the women’s 10-kilometer interval start cross-country skiing race at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics, clocking 26 minutes, 51.6 seconds at the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium in Italy. Oksana Masters of the United States won gold. The result gave Kim one gold and two silvers at these Games, the most by a South Korean athlete at one Winter Paralympics. The previous mark was set by Shin Eui-hyun at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games with one gold and one bronze. Kim earlier won South Korea’s first Winter Paralympic gold medal by a female athlete in the women’s 12.5-kilometer individual biathlon and also took silver in the cross-country sprint. South Korea has four medals so far at these Games, including Kim’s three and a bronze by snowboarder Lee Je-hyeok. In wheelchair curling, the mixed doubles team of Baek Hye-jin and Lee Yong-seok has reached the final, guaranteeing at least a silver medal.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 20:27:00