Kim Tae-heon Elected Head of Korea Publishers Association, Pledges Book Fair Transparency Kim Tae-heon, CEO of Hanbit Media Co., was elected the 52nd president of the Korean Publishers Association. The association held its 82nd regular general meeting at 2 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Korea Press Center International Conference Hall and elected Kim to a three-year term. Kim won the most votes among 351 member companies that cast ballots, out of 519 eligible voting members. His pledges include strengthening publisher-led policy capacity, rebuilding cooperation with the public sector, boosting the public nature and transparency of the Seoul International Book Fair while improving its business performance, and establishing the fixed book price system and a fair publishing distribution order. “I will restore policy consultations with the government so the association can again play a central role in talks,” Kim said. He also pledged to build a joint response system against illegal copying. “We will strengthen the public nature and transparency of the Seoul International Book Fair and create a consultative structure involving multiple groups and publishers,” he added. Kim serves as CEO of Hanbit Media. He has also served as president of the Korea Publishers Association of Korea, a director of the Korea Publishing Industry Promotion Agency, vice president of the Korean Publishers Association, and head of the SBI program at the Korea Publishers Association of Korea. The nine members of the selection committee were Na Young-chan (Gijeon Research Co.), Kwon Hyuk-jae (Hakyeon Munhwasa), Joo Yeon-seon (EunHaengNamu Publishing), Kim Han-cheong (Dareun), Kang Il-woo (Pentacle), Lee Mi-rae (Cmas), Cho Hyung-joon (Saemulgyul), Ryu Won-sik (Kyomunsa) and Hong Young-tae (Business Books). * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 17:37:06

New Musical 'Jeokto' Recasts Romance of the Three Kingdoms Through a Warhorse’s Eyes “It’s not a familiar hero tale. It’s the story of the warhorses that carried those heroes,” lyricist and playwright Han Areum said Monday at a news conference at Daehakro Arts Theater in Seoul. “It starts with Jeokto’s birth, follows its life as a warhorse on the battlefield, and shows it growing through brutal reality and coming to understand life.” The original musical ‘Jeokto_History of the Reins and Saddle’ (3.7.~3.29. SH Art Hall) reinterprets the classic ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ from the viewpoint of a warhorse rather than a hero. Through the stories of horses that went unrecorded and were used up, it looks back on human life as something not unlike war. The production is one of the March premieres in the 18th Performing Arts Creative Stage Lab’s “New Works of the Year,” which opened in January and has reached its midpoint. Han said the reins and saddle in the work symbolize “power, the era and personal choice.” Citing “Lu Bu’s charge, Cao Cao’s power and Guan Yu’s loyalty,” she said the musical argues that “it’s not the strongest who survive, but those who endure to the end.” Asked why audiences should see it, Han said she hopes it prompts people to think about what they are running toward. “We, too, got here riding on someone else’s back,” she said. “I wanted to stage this piece so we could reflect on that humility.” The fourth lineup announced for the Creative Stage Lab includes ‘Jeokto_History of the Reins and Saddle’ as well as the plays ‘Tulip’ and ‘In the House Where I Lived,’ the original musicals ‘Joker’ and ‘ROGER,’ the dance work ‘I Have Been Bitten by a Dog,’ and the music program ‘An Old Man Who Lends Romance.’ The works will open sequentially between March 1 and 13 at major venues around Seoul’s Daehakro theater district, including Arko Arts Theater and Daehakro Arts Theater. ‘Tulip’ (3.1.~3.8. Daehakro Arts Theater Grand Theater) is set in a Tokyo household in the late 1920s and traces the marks war leaves on life and relationships through a character who has lost even family and name and lives under someone else’s identity. Director Jeon In-cheol said the play centers on a man who comes to an upper-class Tokyo mansion in the 1920s to find his missing son. He said it portrays how imperial violence destroys individual lives through a father who, instead of seeking revenge, must sacrifice himself for his child. ‘In the House Where I Lived’ (3.7.~3.15. Daehakro Arts Theater Small Theater) is set in the late 1970s and the present and tells the stories of women who did not fit into their era or society. Writer Ma Jeong-hwa said the story follows four women who do not belong in their respective societies — women who struggle to escape their circumstances, run away, cannot run away, or believe they now must run. Performance details for the 18th Creative Stage Lab are available on its official website and social media channels. Tickets can be booked through the Arko and Daehakro Arts Theater websites and NOL Ticket. 2026-02-24 17:30:57

Lee Kang-in Named KFA Men’s Player of the Year, Beating Son Heung-min for First Win South Korea midfielder Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain was named the Korea Football Association’s men’s Player of the Year, edging Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC for his first win of the honor. Lee was announced as the men’s winner at the 2025 KFA Awards held Feb. 24 at Korea Football Park in Cheonan. The Player of the Year award recognizes Korean men’s and women’s players for standout performances with both their clubs and the national teams. Winners are determined by a combined vote: 50% from the press and 50% from KFA experts, including members of the National Team Strengthening Committee and the Technical Development Committee, as well as full-time women’s football coaches. Lee topped the men’s vote with 31.4 points, ahead of last year’s winner Son, the award’s most frequent recipient, who had 29.2. The award has been presented since 2010, and this was Lee’s first time winning it. With PSG, Lee helped deliver a treble last year, winning the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League along with Ligue 1 and the French Cup. He also contributed to the club’s runner-up finish at the FIFA Club World Cup. For the South Korea national team coached by Hong Myung-bo, Lee had one goal and five assists in nine A matches, helping the team qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. In the women’s category, Jang Seul-ki of Gyeongju KHNP won Player of the Year with 18.4 points. The men’s and women’s Young Player awards went to Kang Sang-yoon of Jeonbuk Hyundai and Kim Min-ji of Seoul City Hall. Coach of the Year honors went to Lee Jung-hyo of Suwon Samsung on the men’s side and Kang Sun-mi of Hwacheon KSPO on the women’s side. Referee of the Year awards went to Kim Dae-yong, Bang Gi-yeol and Jung Eun-ju. Club of the Year went to Seoul Yangcheon-gu TNTFC, the 2025 season K5 League Championship winner.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 17:25:05

BTS’ Jimin, an Emotion-Driven Performer, Builds His Solo Story With ‘FACE’ and ‘MUSE’ With BTS preparing to return in March, anticipation is rising worldwide. News of the comeback and plans for a world tour has prompted immediate reactions beyond the music industry, including in tourism and local economies, signaling another major wave of interest. BTS is seen as both a global economic force and a symbolic name that elevates South Korea’s image. Ahead of the comeback, this outlet is publishing a “BTS member profile” series, taking a closer look at each of the group’s seven members. <Editor’s note> Jimin serves as BTS’ main dancer and a lead vocalist. Onstage, his strength is how movement and breath work together. As a singer, he uses breath to heighten emotion, shifting between a sensual edge and a softer tone. He is also known for smooth transitions between chest voice and falsetto, steady tone across his range and a distinctive vocal color that is easy to recognize. Dance is central to his identity as a performer. He began popping in middle school and entered Busan High School of Arts as the top student in its dance department. Before moving to Seoul, he focused on contemporary dance, refining line and emotional expression. That background helps explain why his performances often feel narrative-driven, with detailed facial expressions and mood changes that track each song’s concept. As a solo artist, Jimin started with self-examination. His first official solo album, “FACE,” centered on confronting emotional highs and lows during the pandemic. The pre-release track “Set Me Free Pt.2” opened with a rougher intensity, while the title track “Like Crazy” translated his inner world with a more delicate touch. Moving among pop, hip-hop and R&B, the album links its emotional arc across tracks, leaving what the title suggests: a record of facing his “real self.” Results followed. “Like Crazy” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, a first for a Korean solo artist, and also earned a certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. “FACE” quickly expanded its global streaming performance, firmly establishing the start of Jimin’s solo run. His second solo album, “MUSE,” shifts direction. If “FACE” confronted the self, “MUSE” looks outward for sources of inspiration. The album’s through line is love, moving from “Rebirth” through “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” and “Slow Dance,” changing emotional texture, turning the mood with “Be Mine,” and peaking with the title track “Who.” Across seven tracks, Jimin frames love as searching, confirming and, at times, drifting. The album’s palette also widens. Working again with producer Pdogg and additional producers, Jimin aimed for higher polish, while collaborations with Loco and Sofia Carson broadened its harmonies. He has said the album drew inspiration from The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” a reference point for its romantic tone and structure. “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band,” which invokes the Smeraldo symbol from BTS’ broader narrative universe, presents a message for feelings that cannot be spoken, highlighting both Jimin’s lyricism and optimism. Above all, “Who” has become a song defined by endurance. Its cumulative streams on Spotify have continued to rise, sustaining long-term momentum, and “MUSE” has also expanded its presence through steady streaming results. The approach of letting the music build over time, rather than relying on flashy promotion, has become another side of Jimin’s solo identity. Jimin ultimately is an artist who speaks emotion first through dance and leaves it lingering through his voice. When his onstage immersion and the narratives in his recordings point in the same direction, his name comes into sharper focus. In this “BTS member profile” series, Jimin has built his chapter in that way.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 17:04:08

The Great Map of the East unfolds SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - On the first floor of the National Museum of Korea, there is a "History Path." On one wall hangs a massive map—the Daedong Yeojido (Great Map of the East) by Gosan Kim Jeong-ho. The exhibition "Unfolding Daedong Yeojido" has been on display since Feb. 12. Originally, the Daedong Yeojido was a folding map divided into 22 volumes for portability. However, to commemorate the 160th anniversary of Gosan's death, the museum connected and mounted all 22 volumes printed on traditional Korean paper to recreate the map in its complete form on the wall, measuring approximately 6.7 meters in height and 3.8 meters in width, equivalent to a three-story apartment building. Kim Jeong-ho, who created the Daedong Yeojido in 1861, was a geographer who dedicated his life to mapmaking. To create the map, he traveled around the country's eight provinces three times over 30 years and climbed Mt. Baekdu eight times. The name "Daedong Yeojido" means "Map of the Great Eastern Country," reflecting an independent consciousness free from Chinese influence. 2026-02-24 17:01:49

KOSPI hits record high as Samsung and SK hynix fly SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Seoul's benchmark KOSPI closed Tuesday, just shy of 6,000 milestone, less than a month after the break above 5,000. Shares of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix also hit historic heights - 200,000 won, up 7,000 won from the previous close and 1,005,000 won, up 54,000 won respectively 2026-02-24 16:59:31

Ex-DP lawmaker faces arrest after Nat'l Assembly passes motion over bribery allegations SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - The National Assembly on Tuesday passed a motion allowing the arrest of Kang Sun-woo, a former lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) over alleged bribery and breach of trust. The motion was passed with 164 votes in favor and 87 against, with three abstentions and nine invalid ballots. Kang is accused of receiving 100 million Korean won (US$68,500) from Kim Kyung, a former Seoul city official in return for the DP's candidate nominations for the 2022 local elections. The money was allegedly delivered to Kang's former aide, identified only by his surname Nam. Before the vote, Kang said she had returned the money every time it was given, totaling 322 million won over five occasions, and added that she never demanded 100 million won and that it would not have been worth risking her career over that amount. She said she believed she had lived by her principles, while admitting that her conduct was "immature." In South Korea, lawmakers are immune from arrest during a parliamentary session unless the National Assembly votes to lift that protection. Since the motion was passed, Kang now faces arrest, with a hearing expected in early March. 2026-02-24 16:52:53

KR chief Lee Young-seok touts 2025 revenue milestone, targets record 2026 results "Even as global environmental rules tighten and the maritime industry undergoes digital transformation, the Korean Register will continue to grow based on technological competitiveness and customer trust," KR Chairman Lee Young-seok said at a KR press briefing on Feb. 24 at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Lee said external uncertainty is expected to persist this year and stressed that KR will push technological innovation to overcome challenges. "Through field-focused management and open communication, we will work closely with the government and related maritime organizations," he said. "We will continue to expand our capabilities in digital and eco-friendly technologies to contribute to the sustainable development of the maritime industry." KR set targets for this year of 213 billion won in revenue and 95 million tons in registered fleet. It also outlined a mid- to long-term plan to raise revenue to as much as 270 billion won and expand its registered fleet to 120 million tons by 2030. To reach those goals, KR said it will build strategic footholds overseas and step up focused sales efforts. It named China as its top priority market and said it will seek to increase the volume of existing ships it attracts from major shipping companies to create a virtuous cycle that brings more vessels to KR. It also said it aims to find new markets, including Dubai, and raise the share of purely foreign-flagged ships from about 30% to 40% over the mid to long term. KR also approved the appointment of three new full-time executives and reassigned other executive roles. Kim Seong-ju, head of the China regional headquarters; Yeon Gyu-jin, head of the drawing approval office; and Choi Cheol, head of the international cooperation office, were appointed as full-time executives, overseeing the inspection, technical and business divisions, respectively. Choi Won-jun, a vice president who had overseen the management division, was reassigned as senior vice president in charge of the strategy division. Yoon Seong-ho, the senior vice president who had led the strategy division, was reassigned as vice president overseeing the management division. Earlier, KR held its 64th regular general meeting and approved a business report and its 2025 financial statements. KR said it expanded inspection volume for newbuild ships through active sales efforts. As a result, revenue last year totaled 206 billion won and its registered fleet grew to 90.35 million tons. Of newly registered existing ships, 71% were owned by overseas shipowners, KR said, reflecting expanded technological competitiveness and international trust. 2026-02-24 16:46:29

Silla Gold Crown Exhibition Draws 285,401 Visitors at Gyeongju National Museum Gyeongju National Museum said Monday that its special exhibition “Silla Gold Crowns: Power and Prestige,” which ended Feb. 22, drew a total of 285,401 visitors. The exhibition opened to the public on Nov. 2, 2025, and ran for 110 days through Feb. 22, 2026. The museum estimated average daily attendance at about 2,594. Attendance was capped at 150 people per time slot, or 2,550 a day, but every slot sold out, with more than 270,000 visitors coming during the run. The show also sparked an “open run” trend, with visitors lining up before the museum opened, popularizing the term “gold crown open run.” Boosted by the exhibition, the museum’s cumulative visitor total this year reached 401,683 as of Feb. 22, about 2.4 times the 169,464 recorded over the same period last year. The surge was also evident during the five-day Lunar New Year holiday period (2. 14.~2. 18.). Even with the museum closed on Lunar New Year’s Day, attendance totaled 72,005. “The golden culture of Silla is a defining feature of Silla culture,” the museum said, adding that it plans to hold related exhibitions every 10 years by compiling research findings from Korea and abroad, aiming to make them signature shows for the museum and for Gyeongju. In the next exhibition, the museum said it will broaden the scope of “gold crowns” in spatial and conceptual terms, presenting not only six Silla gold crowns but also a range of crowns from Korea and overseas. It also plans to expand beyond band-style crowns (帶冠) to include hat-style crowns (帽冠). Director Yoon Sang-deok said the museum will continue working to promote the excellence of Silla culture by actively staging special exhibitions in Korea and abroad. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 16:45:39

Chips, KOSPI on fire as institutions bet on more upside SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) — Asian markets traded mostly higher Tuesday, with the exception of Hong Kong, as investors digested the rollout of a blanket 10 percent U.S. import levy that replaced earlier, steeper tariffs under former President Donald Trump following a Supreme Court ruling last week. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI roared higher, pushed by chip titans Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, which hit fresh milestones of 200,000 won and 1 million won, respectively. Samsung rose 3.63 percent to close at 200,000 won, while SK hynix climbed 5.68 percent to 1,005,000 won, as analysts cited strengthening fundamentals in the memory sector. Park Jun-young of Hanwha Investment & Securities said stronger pricing leverage for next-generation HBM4 chips, backed by robust capacity, is expected to drive Samsung’s earnings growth. He set a new target price of 260,000 won. Han Dong-hee of SK Securities said memory demand is becoming structurally linked to the AI investment cycle, improving earnings visibility for SK hynix. He added that a potential U.S. ADR listing could highlight the stock’s undervaluation, raising his target to 1.6 million won. The chip-led rally pushed the KOSPI above the 5,900 mark to finish at 5,969.64, up 2.11 percent and edging closer to the symbolic 6,000 level — less than a month after breaking through 5,000. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ gained 1.13 percent to 1,165.00. The won strengthened amid cautious risk sentiment over U.S. trade policy, with the dollar falling 2.30 won to 1,143.70. Institutional investors drove the rally, net buying 2.38 trillion won ($2.08 billion) worth of shares. Individual and foreign investors sold a net 2.29 trillion won and 196 billion won, respectively. Non-chip large-cap stocks showed mixed moves. SK Square jumped 6.38 percent to 617,000 won, while Samsung Life Insurance fell 3.45 percent to 224,000 won. Samsung Biologics edged up 0.35 percent to 1,723,000 won, and LG Energy Solution rose 4.17 percent to 412,500 won. In defense and aerospace, Hanwha Aerospace added 0.40 percent to 1,241,000 won. Shipbuilders retreated, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries down 1.81 percent and Hanwha Ocean falling 2.79 percent. Auto shares were modestly higher. Hyundai Motor rose 0.19 percent, while Kia advanced 0.75 percent. Entertainment shares remained sidelined despite BTS’s announcement of a comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square next month, reflecting heavy concentration in AI-driven large caps. HYBE slipped 0.62 percent, JYP Entertainment fell 0.85 percent, while YG Entertainment gained 0.68 percent. Analysts said major artist comebacks are now largely priced in, limiting their impact as stock catalysts. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.87 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.93 percent. China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.85 percent after the central bank kept its loan prime rates unchanged for a ninth straight month. China’s Ministry of Commerce said it added 20 Japanese firms and institutions to its export control list, banning exports of dual-use items with immediate effect — a move that added fresh geopolitical uncertainty and could cap further gains in mainland markets. 2026-02-24 16:41:23