Conductor Han-Na Chang Named CEO of Seoul Arts Center The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday it has appointed conductor Han-Na Chang as CEO of the Seoul Arts Center. The ministry said Chang is the first female CEO with a musician’s background since the arts complex opened in 1988, calling the appointment meaningful for expanding diversity in the arts. Chang is expected to coordinate her travel to take office and, as early as April 24, receive her letter of appointment from the minister and begin a three-year term. Chang is an internationally recognized cellist and conductor. She made her world-stage debut in 1994 after winning the grand prize at the 5th Rostropovich International Cello Competition at age 11. She later performed with leading orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra, the ministry said. Since 2007, Chang has conducted a range of orchestras mainly in Europe and North America, building an international network and broad repertoire. In South Korea, she served as artistic director of “Han-Na Chang’s Absolute Classic Festival” at Seongnam Arts Center (’09-’14) and “Han-Na Chang’s Daejeon Grand Festival” at Daejeon Arts Center (’24-’25). In November 2025, she was appointed a visiting distinguished professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology’s Graduate School of Culture Technology. Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said Chang brings “rich on-the-ground experience and leadership accumulated over 32 years” and a deep understanding of the performing arts through her global ties with music organizations and artists. He said he expects her to present a new artistic vision for the Seoul Arts Center, which he described as South Korea’s leading platform for foundational arts, at a time when “K-culture” is expanding globally. The ministry also said it appointed Yoo Mi-jeong, a professor in Dankook University’s piano department, as CEO of the National Symphony Orchestra Foundation, and Park Hye-jin, a professor in Dankook University’s vocal music department, as head and artistic director of the National Opera Company Foundation. Both posts carry three-year terms. Yoo is a pianist who graduated from the Peabody Institute’s piano department and graduate school and completed Yale School of Music’s artist diploma program. The ministry said she has remained active through concerto performances and solo recitals, and has taught at Yonsei University and the Korea National University of Arts, served as an adjunct professor at Gachon University, and has been a professor at Dankook University since 2003. Park studied vocal music at Yonsei University and earned a master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music. She has been a professor at Dankook University’s College of Music and Arts since 2009. The ministry said she has performed widely in South Korea and abroad, taking leading roles in operas including “La Boheme,” “Carmen” and “Turandot,” and won the female lead award at the 5th Korea Opera Awards. 2026-04-06 09:36:41

Korean Anthology Film 'The Times of the Theater' Invited to Moscow International Film Festival 영화 ‘극장의 시간들’이 제48회 모스크바국제영화제에 초청됐다. ‘극장의 시간들’은 Lee Jong-pil, Yoon Ga-eun and Jang Kun-jae taking part in an anthology of three short films. The work captures memories and emotions tied to theaters and movies, warmly exploring what the space of a “theater” means. The film was selected for the Francois Truffaut retrospective section at the 48th Moscow International Film Festival. The festival, Russia’s leading international film event, began in 1935 and will run from April 16 to 23. ‘극장의 시간들’ previously met domestic audiences after being invited last year to the Busan International Film Festival, the Seoul Independent Film Festival and the Mise-en-scene Short Film Festival. During its Busan screening, it drew attention after reports said President Lee Jae-myung and his spouse attended. Festival organizers said the film recalls the cinematic world of Truffaut, a leading figure of the French New Wave. Executive committee chairman Nikita Mikhalkov said, “This film, reminiscent of ‘Jules and Jim,’ is a notable example of contemporary directors superbly carrying on the traditions of film history.” A Tcast official said it was meaningful for the film to reach audiences beyond South Korea, adding that the company hopes it will renew appreciation for the value of watching movies in theaters despite the industry’s challenges. ‘극장의 시간들’ opened March 18 and is now showing in theaters nationwide.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 09:36:15

Trump extends deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz or face 'hell' SEOUL, April 6 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump once again postponed his deadline, giving Iran one more day before carrying out his threat to bomb its power plants if Tehran fails to meet U.S. demands. Setting a new deadline, already extended from an earlier March 27 deadline, Trump wrote on his social media platform on Sunday, "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran." He also used strong language to warn that Iran would "be living in Hell" if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply. Without specifying further details, he posted again a few hours later, "Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time!" Just a few weeks earlier in late March, Trump had given Iran 48 hours to reopen the strait or face military action. He later delayed possible strikes several times, saying talks with Iran were making progress. The latest delay pushed the deadline to Monday before extending it again to Tuesday. This series of delays appear to be buying time to avoid a longer war with Iran, but the conflict in the Middle East is unlikely to be resolved soon, since Iran has shown no sign of backing down. Meanwhile, Trump is set to hold a press conference later in the day, where he is expected to highlight the rescue of a U.S. crew whose fighter jet was shot down by Iranian forces last week. 2026-04-06 09:28:56

Jang Hang-jun’s ‘A Man Living With the King’ Tops 16 Million Admissions, Eyes No. 2 All Time The film ‘A Man Living With the King’ has surpassed 16 million admissions, becoming the third release in Korea to reach that mark after ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ and ‘Extreme Job.’ According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office database on the 6th, the movie drew 270,274 viewers from April 3 to 5, bringing its cumulative total to 16,000,697. It opened Feb. 4, crossed 10 million admissions on its 31st day of release on March 6, and topped 15 million on its 60th day on March 25 before adding another milestone at 16 million. With the latest tally, ‘A Man Living With the King’ joins ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (17.61 million) and ‘Extreme Job’ (16.26 million) as the only films to exceed 16 million admissions. Set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo, the historical drama follows a village chief who chooses exile to revive his community and a young former king who is forced into exile after being driven from the throne. It was directed by Jang Hang-jun and stars Yoo Hae-jin and Park Ji-hoon. In the weekend box office, Ryan Gosling’s ‘Project Hail Mary’ ranked No. 1. It drew 328,750 viewers over the weekend for a cumulative 1,635,219. The science fiction film follows Grace, who wakes up alone in deep space with no memory and sets out on a final mission to save humanity. It is based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name. No. 3 was Bae Seong-woo’s return film, ‘Endgame Investigation.’ The movie, which opened April 2, drew 41,699 viewers for a cumulative 56,316. It is a crime investigation drama about a detective, Jae-hyeok, who is transferred to a rural post and heads to Seoul with rookie detective Jung-ho to catch the real killer in a murder case involving two suspects.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 08:18:37

BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ tops Billboard 200 for second straight week, a K-pop first BTS’ “ARIRANG” held the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Billboard 200 for a second consecutive week, setting another milestone. According to Billboard’s chart preview posted on its official website on the 6th, BTS’ fifth full-length album “ARIRANG” ranked No. 1 on the April 11-dated Billboard 200. Billboard said BTS is the first Korean act to remain atop the chart for two straight weeks. Billboard reported that “ARIRANG” logged 187,000 album-equivalent units for the week, including 114,000 in traditional album sales. Streaming-equivalent albums accounted for 65,000 units and track-equivalent albums for 8,000. The album previously debuted at No. 1 on the April 4-dated Billboard 200, becoming the group’s seventh No. 1 album on the chart. In its first week, it posted 641,000 album-equivalent units, the best weekly performance for a group album since Billboard began tracking units in December 2014. It also recorded 532,000 in traditional album sales, the highest weekly total for a group album in the past decade. Released on March 20, “ARIRANG” continued to perform strongly in its second week on global charts. On Spotify’s latest weekly charts updated on the 4th, BTS again led the global rankings for Weekly Top Albums, Weekly Top Songs and Weekly Top Artists, holding No. 1 in all three categories for a second week. The album also maintained momentum on major overseas charts. In Australia, it stayed No. 1 on the ARIA Top 50 Albums chart. It ranked No. 2 on Germany’s official music chart and on the French recording industry association SNEP’s Top Albums chart, and placed No. 4 on the U.K. Official Albums Top 100. In South Korea, BTS has also remained strong on TV music shows with the title track “SWIM.” Without appearing on broadcasts, the group has won a total of nine trophies across SBS’ “Inkigayo,” MBC’s “Show! Music Core,” KBS2’s “Music Bank,” Mnet’s “M Countdown” and MBC M’s “Show Champion.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 07:54:16

Chef Park Eun-young Says She Will Marry in May; Choi Hyun-seok to Sing at Wedding Park Eun-young, a chef who appears on JTBC’s “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator,” has announced she will marry in May. On the April 5 broadcast, Park said she will hold her wedding ceremony in Seoul in May. “Because I’m a chef, a lot of people ask me to cook for them, but I was drawn to him because he was the only one who said he would cook for me first,” she said. Asked whether her fiancé had commented on her dancing, Park said he did not say much, but asked if her restaurant was struggling. She added that the more intensely she dances, the more he says he will support her by making lots of reservations. Chef Choi Hyun-seok said Park asked him last week to sing at the wedding. “There are lots of celebrities — why do you want me to do it?” he asked. Park replied, “I need a wedding song, and you want to do it,” drawing laughter. 2026-04-06 07:48:14

Private contracts offer some relief for Korea from Australia's hint of LNG export curbs SEOUL, April 06 (AJP) -South Korea’s liquefied natural gas supply chain faces a fresh hit as Australia — an increasingly critical supplier amid Middle East disruptions — signals possible export curbs to prioritize domestic demand. warning comes as Seoul leans more heavily on Australian LNG to offset heightened risks stemming from the Middle East war. Despite government reassurance of stable supply, industry officials caution that tightening export controls by major producers could quickly ripple through global supply chains, posing risks for import-dependent economies such as Korea. Non-state entities like SK Innovation E&S and Posco International have been expanding upstream investments and diversifying sourcing strategies, helping to provide critical hedges against geopolitical shocks. SK Innovation E&S has begun direct imports of LNG from Australia’s Barossa gas field this year, establishing a long-term supply base. The project marks the first time a South Korean private company has independently carried out the full value chain — from exploration participation to development, production and import. The company invested 1.6 trillion won to secure 1.3 million tons of LNG annually over 20 years, equivalent to about 3 percent of South Korea’s yearly imports, providing a measure of stability amid growing uncertainty. Posco International is pursuing a parallel strategy centered on North America. In 2024, it signed 20-year contracts totaling 1.1 million tons per year — 700,000 tons with Mexico Pacific and 400,000 tons with U.S.-based Cheniere Energy. Starting in the second half of this year, the company plans to bring North American LNG into South Korea using an LNG-dedicated vessel secured through Cheniere, effectively building its own logistics channel. Beyond procurement, Posco International is also strengthening its upstream footprint. It invested 926 billion won in 2024 for phase four development of a Myanmar gas field, where about 80 percent of output is sold to China. In Australia, Senex Energy — acquired by Posco International in 2022 for about 400 billion won — has recently raised production to around 1.2 million tons annually, with most volumes supplied to eastern Australia. These diversification efforts are gradually reshaping South Korea’s LNG import structure. Of the country’s roughly 45 million tons of annual LNG imports, about 70 percent is handled by state-run Korea Gas Corp., while private companies account for the remaining 30 percent, largely for their own power generation needs. Reliance on a single state buyer, as in the past, would have left South Korea more exposed to export restrictions or supply disruptions from specific countries. “LNG demand is concentrated in Asia, and for a country like South Korea that relies heavily on imports, diversifying supply chains is essential,” an industry official said. “Preemptive investment by private companies and expanded direct imports are becoming even more important in a crisis.” 2026-04-06 07:27:09

BTS’ 'ARIRANG' Tops Billboard 200 for Second Straight Week, a K-pop First BTS’ fifth album, “ARIRANG,” has topped Billboard’s main albums chart, the Billboard 200, for a second consecutive week — the first time a K-pop act has held the No. 1 spot for two straight weeks. Billboard said in a chart preview article on April 5 (local time) that the album remained at No. 1 after finishing ahead of hip-hop star Kanye West (Ye)’s new release “BULLY” at No. 2 and Melanie Martinez’s “HADES” at No. 3. It is the first time a K-pop artist’s album has led the Billboard 200 for two consecutive weeks. The Billboard 200 ranks albums by total album units, combining physical and digital album sales, streaming equivalent albums (SEA) and track equivalent albums (TEA).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 06:12:14

Ko Ji-won Wins Inaugural The Siena Open for Third KLPGA Title Ko Ji-won captured the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour’s 2026 domestic season opener on Saturday. Ko shot a 1-over 73 in the final round of the The Siena Open at The Siena Belluto Country Club (par 72) in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, with two birdies and three bogeys. She finished at 13-under 275, edging runner-up Seo Gyo-rim, last year’s rookie of the year, by one stroke (12-under 276). Ko became the inaugural champion of the newly created event and earned 180 million won from the 1 billion won ($?) total purse. Ko debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 2023. After competing as a conditional entrant, she won for the first time at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters in August last year, securing her tour card through the 2027 season. She added a second title in November at the S-OIL Championship. Saturday’s victory was her first on the mainland, after both of her previous wins came in her hometown of Jeju Island. She also made a hole-in-one Friday on the par-3 seventh and became the 10th player to win a tournament in which she recorded an ace. “I’m really happy to start the domestic season with a good result,” Ko said. “Both the hole-in-one and winning on the mainland are firsts for me. Having so many firsts makes me even happier. After I won twice in Jeju, people kept telling me to win on the mainland, too. I’m glad my first mainland win came at The Siena Belluto Country Club.” Ko missed the cut last month at the Rejuran Championship in Thailand, the KLPGA Tour’s first event of the year. She led from the opening round of the domestic opener and stayed on top through all four rounds for a wire-to-wire win. “At the season opener, my putting felt like it was only about 20% of what I wanted,” she said. “This week it was up to about 60%. In between, I really focused on putting practice.” Ko traded birdies and bogeys on the back nine while holding the lead. She stumbled with consecutive bogeys at the par-4 13th and 14th, then steadied herself by sinking a birdie putt of about 3 meters at the par-5 16th. She bogeyed the par-3 17th after finding a greenside bunker, allowing the margin to shrink to one again. On the par-4 18th, Seo’s birdie try from about 5 meters missed, and Ko calmly saved par to seal the one-shot victory. Recalling the two straight bogeys, Ko said, “After the first bogey, I thought, ‘A mistake was bound to happen at some point,’ so I actually felt lighter. But after the second bogey, I think I got a little shaken. Then I thought, ‘I’ve made all my mistakes for today,’ and I felt comfortable again.” Ko said her three career wins have given her confidence. “Before my first win, I didn’t think I was a player who could win,” she said. “I wanted to win, but I felt like I had too many shortcomings and it seemed far away. After winning once, I gained confidence. It makes me want to keep challenging myself. That confidence is the biggest thing.” With the victory, Ko matched the career win total of her older sister, Ko Ji-woo. “I’m happy to catch up to my sister’s win total,” she said. “But all my wins are thanks to her. She taught me a lot, and I think that’s why I could do it. In that sense, I think she has six wins.” Ko added that she expects her sister to be motivated by the result and hopes they can push each other while adding to their totals. Looking ahead, Ko said she wants to top last year’s two-win season and is aiming to win the Korea Women’s Open in June. Rookie Yang Hyo-jin finished alone in third at 10-under 278. Amateur Kim Seo-a, born in 2012 and a student at Sinseong Middle School, shot 9-under 279 to tie for fourth with Cho A-yeon. Park Sung-hyun, the world No. 1 who played on an invitation, finished tied for 13th at 5-under 283. Last year’s grand prize winner Yoo Hyun-jo finished tied for 26th at 2-under 286, and last year’s money leader Hong Jung-min tied for 53rd at 4-over 292. 2026-04-05 17:42:00

Seoul remains cautious while more foreign vessels slip through the Strati of Hormuz SEOUL, April 05 (AJP) -A number of foreign-flagged vessels have begun slipping through the heavily militarized Strait of Hormuz, offering tentative signs of movement in a waterway that remains effectively under Iran’s control — but for South Korea, the path out is still far from clear. The latest breakthroughs have come from Europe and Japan. A French-owned container ship operated by CMA CGM successfully transited the strait this week, becoming one of the first Western-linked vessels to do so since Iran imposed its de facto blockade. The ship reportedly signaled its nationality to Iranian authorities before entering, underscoring how passage is now contingent on political signaling as much as maritime protocol. Japan has also managed limited progress. A liquefied natural gas carrier linked to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines exited the Gulf — the first Japan-related vessel to pass since the conflict began — followed by an LPG tanker that navigated through Iranian territorial waters. Tokyo has stressed that these passages were not the result of direct government negotiations, suggesting that shipping firms are cautiously testing routes under evolving Iranian conditions. These isolated crossings align with Iran’s increasingly explicit policy of selective access. Tehran has moved beyond vague assurances and begun naming “friendly nations” eligible for passage. In a televised statement, a senior Iranian military spokesperson described Iraq as a “brother country” exempt from restrictions. Iran has also indicated it will allow vessels carrying humanitarian goods — including food and livestock feed — to pass, while continuing to restrict ships linked to what it considers hostile states. Still, the practical application of these rules remains opaque. Questions persist over whether exemptions apply based on a vessel’s flag, ownership, cargo, or destination — leaving shipping companies to weigh the risks of entering one of the world’s most volatile chokepoints. Seoul is watching the situation with caution. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that the differing outcomes reflect a complex mix of variables, including a vessel’s nationality, ownership structure, cargo type, destination and even crew composition. “Conditions vary by ship and by country,” the ministry said, adding that the government’s priority remains the safety of vessels and crew. It emphasized that Seoul is working with international partners to ensure freedom of navigation in line with global maritime norms, rather than pursuing bilateral negotiations with Tehran. For now, Korean shipping firms appear unwilling to act unilaterally. A total of 26 South Korean vessels, carrying 173 crew members, remain stranded inside the Gulf, with operators opting to wait for clearer security guarantees rather than attempt piecemeal exits. Meanwhile, the Korean finance ministry said Sunday that ambassadors from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain — have pledged to prioritize energy shipments to Korea. The envoys told Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol in a meeting on April 3 that Korea remains a “top-tier partner,” vowing close coordination to ensure stable supply of crude and other key resources. The pledge came after Seoul requested uninterrupted access to critical inputs including crude oil, naphtha and urea, warning that a prolonged Middle East conflict could weigh heavily on the Korean economy. Korea sourced 69.1 percent of its crude imports from the Middle East last year, with Saudi Arabia as its largest supplier and Qatar a key LNG provider. At the same time, Korea’s advanced refining capacity — designed to process heavy, sulfur-rich Middle Eastern crude into high-value products — has made it an indispensable node in the global energy supply chain. Korean refiners supply a quarter of Australia’s imported petroleum products and nearly 70 percent of U.S. jet fuel imports. That interdependence helps explain why Korea is important to Gulf producers in fear of the country preferring alternative crude such as Brent or WTI. 2026-04-05 17:25:26