South Korea to Give 3,000 Young K-Art Creators 9 Million Won a Year To strengthen the foundations of “K-culture,” South Korea will expand investment in foundational arts.  The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on the 23rd it will accept applications from March 3 through March 31 for a pilot program, “K-Art Youth Creator Support,” aimed at young artists in foundational arts.  The program will provide annual creation grants of 9 million won to 3,000 creators in foundational arts (age 39 or younger; born on or after Jan. 1, 1986). It will select 1,500 recipients from the Seoul metropolitan area and 1,500 from outside the capital region. The ministry said the grants are intended to help young creators whose low and unstable income makes it difficult to focus on their work. Unless there are special circumstances, those selected this year are expected to receive support again the following year.  Eligible fields include literature, visual arts, performing arts (theater, musical theater, dance, classical and traditional arts), multidisciplinary arts, and convergence and hybrid arts. Popular arts such as pop music and film are excluded.  Applicants can find details in notices posted on the Arts Council Korea website and the websites of 17 provincial and metropolitan cultural foundations. Applications must be submitted through the Arts Council’s National Culture and Arts Support System. Performers may also apply if they have creation credits and submit a creation plan. Regional cultural foundations will first review applicants’ track records and the suitability of their plans. The Korea Culture and Tourism Institute will then allocate slots by region and field and select the final 3,000 recipients. Results will be posted on the websites of the 17 regional cultural foundations.  Recipients must carry out their projects based on their submitted plans and file an interim report and a final report that includes the completed work. Grants will be paid in two installments — 4 million won in the first half of the year and 5 million won in the second half. Failure to submit an interim or final report will limit further payments. The pilot program will run from 2026 to 2027. The Korea Culture and Tourism Institute will lead an evidence-based performance evaluation (a joint study under the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences) to objectively assess the program’s effects. The evaluation will examine changes in time spent on creative work, increases in creative activity, shifts in income and spending, and how the grants affect young artists’ employment and income. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 09:30:25

Netflix Confirms Production of Film 'Byeoljit' Starring Kim Min-ha and Noh Sang-hyun Netflix has confirmed production of the film 'Byeoljit,' starring Kim Min-ha and Noh Sang-hyun. Netflix announced the production and casting on the 23rd. 'Byeoljit' is a romantic comedy about a couple in a 10-year relationship who love each other intensely and also resent each other intensely, leading them to do all kinds of things in the name of love. Suhyeon (Kim) and Hyuntae (Noh) meet on an arts college campus and fall for each other at first sight. Even after a decade together, they remain a couple whose relationship swings between devotion and anger, and the film aims to portray their romance in a light, relatable way. Kim and Noh, who previously appeared together in the series 'Pachinko,' reunite in 'Byeoljit' as long-term partners who can read each other at a glance. Kim, known for roles in 'Typhoon Company,' 'A Week Before I Die' and 'Pachinko,' plays Suhyeon, a capable curator who strives for perfection at work but falls apart when faced with love and jealousy. Noh, who built his filmography with 'Love in the Big City,' 'Pachinko' and 'Genie, Make a Wish,' plays Hyuntae, an installation artist who holds firmly to his own beliefs and stubbornness. The film will be directed by Seo Jeong-min, a new director who graduated from the Korea National University of Arts. It is produced by Bom Baram Pictures, the company behind Namgung Sun's youth romance 'The History of Confession' and Kim Do-young's 'Kim Ji-young, Born 1982.' * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 09:27:16

Kim Jong-un unanimously re-elected to lead North Korea's Workers' Party SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was unanimously re-elected general secretary of the ruling Workers' Party, state media reported on Monday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the unanimous decision was made the previous day during the fourth day of the party's ongoing ninth congress, which began last Thursday. Lauding Kim, KCNA said the country's "revolutionary armed forces," under his leadership, are able to respond proactively to "any threat of invasion" and are prepared for "any form of war." Held once every five years, the rare gathering typically runs several days, bringing together party members and other representatives from across the country to vote for the party's top post. Participants also review the past five years and set the direction for domestic and foreign policy over the next five years. 2026-02-23 09:20:18

Arko Art Center Unveils 2026 Lineup of Five Exhibitions Focused on Discovery and Experiment The Arts Council Korea, known as Arko, announced Arko Art Center’s 2026 exhibition program on the 23rd. The museum will present five exhibitions built around experimentation and diversity. While linking the lineup to Arko support programs, Arko Art Center said it will further develop its identity of “discovery and experimentation,” shaped over more than 50 years. The first show is the homecoming exhibition for the Korean Pavilion at the 19th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition, “Dukkobah Dukkobah: The Time of the House” (2.6~4.5). Marking the pavilion’s 30th anniversary, it examines the building and reconsiders the meaning of a pavilion through the lens of a “house.” The second exhibition, “Uncalibrated Time” (working title, 5.21~7.19), is a two-person show tied to Arko’s Visual Arts Creative Subject Support program. It aims to dismantle hierarchies of time and the senses and to consider attitudes of coexistence. Participants include O Min, selected for multiyear support, and Camille Norment, known for multimedia experimentation on the international stage. Arko said Norment will be introduced at an Asian art museum for the first time through this exhibition. The thematic exhibition “Art School” (working title, 8.7~9.27) looks at the role of Insa Art Space (2000~2025), which has served an educational function in discovering and nurturing emerging artists. Framed as “art as education,” it reflects on education systems and institutions and highlights the activities and practices of art-world participants beyond exhibitions. A “Collection Special Exhibition” (working title, 10.16~11.29) will use Arko Art Center’s holdings to examine the museum’s exhibition history within the context of Korean art history, aiming to provide a meaningful opportunity for research into the history of contemporary Korean art. The final show, “Arko Art Center × Regional Arts Leap Support Collaborative Exhibition” (working title, 12.18~27.2.14), will be linked to Arko’s regional support program. It will back the production of new works by promising regional artists and serve as a platform to broaden the results of discovering and supporting local artists. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 09:18:42

KB Kookmin Bank, LG Uplus to Showcase AI Voice Phishing Response Model at MWC26 KB Kookmin Bank said it will present a strategic cooperation model with LG Uplus at MWC26, the world’s largest mobile exhibition, set to open March 2 (local time) in Barcelona, Spain. The model outlines an “AI-based finance-telecom real-time response collaboration system” to combat voice phishing. The partnership goes beyond a technology tie-up, the bank said, and is aimed at putting into practice its strategy to upgrade its voice phishing monitoring system and strengthen real-time response capabilities. In a demonstration, KB Kookmin Bank’s enhanced monitoring system will link in real time with LG Uplus’ AI calling app, ixi-O, and its voice phishing prevention service. If suspicious signs are detected during a call, related information will be sent immediately to the bank’s monitoring system. The bank can then take rapid steps such as freezing the account or shifting it to intensive monitoring. The bank said its future security model focuses on prevention rather than after-the-fact action, with the carrier and bank operating like a single system at the moment criminals try to induce a transfer to block potential financial losses. “Based on cooperation between the two companies, we expect to speed up the response needed to block voice phishing,” a KB Kookmin Bank official said. “We will continue to build innovative security infrastructure to protect financial consumers.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 09:18:00

Auto Repair Franchise Partners With Poen to Launch EV Total Repair Service The auto repair franchise Everything About Cars said Monday it has partnered with Poen, a company specializing in remanufacturing EV batteries, to launch an “EV Total Repair Service” that allows partial repairs up to the high-voltage battery. High-voltage EV batteries have typically been treated as a single finished component, leaving replacement with a new unit as the main option when failures occur — and the cost can be steep. As of February, Hyundai Mobis lists the new battery system assembly for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 at about 25 million won, while the Kia EV9 exceeds 30 million won. Under the new service, the companies said costs can be reduced by repairing modules and internal parts based on the battery’s condition, with some repairs possible for about 3 million won. Customers can receive light EV maintenance and battery diagnostics at Everything About Cars locations nationwide, while Poen handles the battery repair work under a two-track system the companies said is designed to ensure quality, safety and access. Kim Seon-woo, CEO of Everything About Cars, said, “We wanted to offer a realistic alternative for customers who feel stuck when facing EV battery problems,” adding, “Through this collaboration, we will set a new standard for EV maintenance.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 09:04:53

Innocean Tops South Korea in Campaign Brief Asia 2025 Creative Rankings, No. 6 in Asia Hyundai Motor Group affiliate Innocean said it has again demonstrated top-tier advertising production capabilities on the global stage.   Innocean said Monday it was ranked No. 1 in South Korea and No. 6 in Asia in Campaign Brief Asia’s “2025 Creative Rankings.” The rankings compile major international advertising award results earned by agencies across Asia over the past two years, covering the period from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2025. Campaign Brief Asia weighted wins across 12 major global awards, including Cannes Lions, the New York Festivals and the Clio Awards, based on each competition’s standing. Innocean placed first among South Korean agencies and finished sixth overall in Asia. Campaign Brief Asia said Innocean posted the strongest award performance over the two-year period, citing a run of top prizes at leading global competitions. In individual rankings, Innocean CEO and chief creative officer Kim Jeong-a ranked first among South Korean creative directors based on award results. Copywriter Yang Do-yu, art director Oh Eun-ha and creative director Moon Na-ri tied for first in South Korea in the creative category for the most awards won. Kim also ranked sixth across Asia. The individual creative rankings covered 2,885 people, including copywriters, art directors and creative directors. The “Night Fishing” campaign with Hyundai Motor Co. was among works that received high marks, Innocean said.   Innocean previously ranked first in the “Indonesia Creative Rankings,” giving the company top spots in both its South Korean headquarters and an overseas unit. In Indonesia, it held the No. 1 position for a second straight year, it said. “From late last year to early this year, we were named ‘Agency of the Year’ three times in a row by leading overseas organizations, which is very meaningful and gratifying,” Kim said. “This achievement goes beyond awards, serving as an important opportunity to raise the standing of Korean creativity in the global market while also helping drive client growth,” she said.  * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 09:04:04

Air Premia Marks Washington, D.C., Launch With Up to 30% Fare Discounts Air Premia said Sunday it will run a promotion offering up to 30% off to mark its planned launch of service to Washington, D.C., in April. From Sunday through Feb. 26, the airline will release a first-come, first-served discount code each day for 30% off fares on its Washington route. The 30% code will be posted daily at 10 a.m. and will end once the allotment is gone. Customers can find the code on the event page of the airline’s website and mobile app, and the code will change each day. Customers who miss the 30% offer can still get 20% off fares by entering the code “IADNEW20” from Feb. 27 through March 2. Air Premia will begin scheduled service between Incheon and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) on April 24, operating four times a week. The airline said the launch is a strategic move to diversify its U.S. route portfolio and expand its demand base. Washington, D.C., is an administrative and diplomatic hub where demand for business travel remains steady, including visits to public agencies, defense-related organizations and research institutions. Northern Virginia nearby is home to clusters of defense and technology industries and research facilities, which the airline said supports stable corporate and institutional demand. The airline also cited Washington’s cultural and historical attractions — including the Smithsonian museums, the National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial — as drivers of steady leisure travel demand, noting that free admission at major museums can help keep travel costs relatively low. Dulles is a key gateway for the Washington metropolitan area, with strong access to government agencies and a transfer network to major U.S. cities, the airline said, adding that it expects convenient connections within the Eastern U.S. “Washington is a market shaped by both demand for visits to public, diplomatic and research institutions and demand for cultural tourism,” an Air Premia official said. “As this launch is a strategic expansion to diversify our U.S. route portfolio and stabilize our revenue base, we will focus on securing early demand and establishing the route in the market.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 09:03:16

Hyundai Launches Pokemon Display Themes for In-Car Screens Hyundai Motor is bringing Pokemon characters to in-car displays, offering drivers a new way to personalize the cabin experience. The automaker said Sunday it is releasing two new display themes developed with Pokemon Korea: the “Pokemon Pikachu Thunderbolt Theme” and the “Pokemon Ditto World Theme.” Drivers can apply Pokemon-inspired colors and graphics to the infotainment and cluster displays, along with navigation driving information and startup and shutdown animations. Hyundai said the Pokemon-themed displays are expected to create an emotional connection and shared interest between parents and children. The themes can be purchased through Hyundai’s Bluelink Store after registering a primary vehicle in the MyHyundai app. Eligible models are the All-New Palisade, Ioniq 9, All-New Nexo, The New Ioniq 6, 2026 Sonata The Edge and The New Staria. Hyundai said it plans to expand compatibility through OTA (over-the-air) software updates. “This collaboration with Pokemon Korea reflects customer demand to decorate and express their own style through their vehicle,” a Hyundai official said. “In step with the connected-car era, we will continue to raise the value of the experience customers can have in their vehicles.” 2026-02-23 08:57:19

Nexen Tire Opens Winter Tire Test Center in Finland to Boost R&D Nexen Tire said it has begun full operations of its new winter and all-weather tire test center in Ivalo, Finland, after holding an opening ceremony for the “Purple Snow Ivalo Center.” The event was attended by Kim Jong-myeong, head of Nexen Tire’s research institute, and representatives of European automotive media outlets. To strengthen winter performance development, the company built its own research facilities, including a lab focused on winter road-surface characteristics. It also secured a newly designed proving ground through a long-term lease, featuring a snow handling track with varied slopes and curves and a large snow flat track. The center was established within a UTAC (Union Technique de l'Automobile, du moto cycle et du Cycle) driving test site in Ivalo, near the Arctic Circle in northern Finland. UTAC is Europe’s largest automotive testing specialist and has indoor and outdoor infrastructure capable of reproducing extreme winter road conditions. Nexen Tire said the Finland center is expected to strengthen competitiveness in Europe, a key market that accounts for more than 40% of its revenue. The company cited requirements in major countries such as Germany that mandate the use of 3PMSF-certified products in winter, increasing the importance of technical readiness for winter tires. Nexen Tire also said it has secured a durability evaluation track for studded winter tires designed for icy roads in extremely cold regions such as Northern Europe, aiming to respond strategically to rising local demand for winter tires. The company said the center will also link virtual development with real-vehicle testing. It will allow immediate cross-checking of performance predicted by a high dynamic driving simulator introduced last year — the first in the domestic industry — through on-snow driving tests. Nexen Tire said it plans to use AI-linked virtual development to expand opportunities to participate in original equipment tire projects and strengthen its foundation for high-performance tire development. Alongside the new center, Nexen Tire said it is pursuing the winter tire market on multiple fronts. It launched the winter tire “WINGUARD Sport 3” in Europe last year and is continuing to expand available sizes for the all-weather “N'BLUE 4Season 2,” which meets winter tire standards while supporting year-round driving. The company said it is also strengthening its sales infrastructure by expanding shop-branded stores through local distributors in key markets including Germany, Italy, France and the U.K., and by establishing a new branch in Romania. It said it is also pursuing strategic expansion into major non-European markets such as Australia and Japan. A Nexen Tire official said the center will serve as a key base to elevate R&D for winter and all-weather tires by combining a far-northern location with Europe’s longest winter season and the operating know-how of a top specialist. The official said the company will continue to strengthen testing and research capabilities to meet demand in Europe and global markets and improve competitiveness. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 08:51:43