'Golden' wins 'Song of the Year' award at AMAs SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - "Golden," the main theme song of Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" won "Song of the Year" award at the American Music Awards in Las Vegas on Monday. The global hit song beat out nine major contenders including American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia," Alex Warren's "Ordinary," Morgan Wallen's "I'm The Problem" and Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas." At the ceremony held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the song's performers, Ejae and Rei Ami, appeared on stage to accept the award, while Audrey Nuna was unable to attend. Ejae credited fans for giving the song and film "tremendous strength," expressing gratitude to them as well as the cast and crew of the 99-minute film. She also wished Rei Ami a happy birthday, as she turned 31 that same day. Rei Ami also thanked fans, family, and others, saying she is grateful for what has been a "life-changing year." "Golden," co-written by Ejae, became a global hit alongside the success of the film, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight consecutive weeks. It had previously earned critical acclaim by winning top honors at major awards ceremonies including the Grammy Awards, the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. 2026-05-26 11:32:59

Lee calls for faster push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for accelerating South Korea’s push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, as the government is seeking to unveil a basic plan for the development of a Korean nuclear-powered submarine by the end of this month. “We must speed up the introduction of AI and drone technologies and move faster to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, a key strategic asset for future defense capabilities,” Lee said during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae. Lee said South Korea must hurry its transition into a future-oriented, advanced military. His remarks came as the Navy recently submitted a formal request to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the acquisition of Korean nuclear-powered submarines. The request marks the first step in the country’s weapons acquisition process, under which the military formally lays out operational requirements, concepts of operation, the number of units needed and the timing of deployment for a new weapons system. “South Korea’s defense capabilities currently rank fifth in the world, and its annual defense spending far exceeds North Korea’s annual gross domestic product,” Lee said. “We already have sufficient capability to defend ourselves, but we must further strengthen our defense power in the face of the harsh international reality of self-reliance and survival of the fittest.” Lee also called for greater national efforts to foster the country’s defense industry by continuously expanding research and development budgets, localizing key components and strengthening public-private cooperation. “Winning a war is important, but efforts to build peace so that war does not break out are also very important,” he said. “Above all, what matters most is the attitude that we will take responsibility for and defend our own security.” Lee also called for a swift transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul, after U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson recently told the House Armed Services Committee that the transition could be completed before the first quarter of 2029. “Only with a firm commitment to self-reliant defense can we earn the respect of our friends and keep our alliance even stronger,” Lee said. “I ask that the transfer of wartime operational control proceed swiftly and smoothly, in a way that further strengthens the South Korea-U.S. alliance.” “True and capable security is not only about winning a war, but also about creating peace so that war does not break out,” Lee said. “We will do our utmost to strengthen our defense capabilities in a way that supports peace on the Korean Peninsula and South Korea’s continued progress.” 2026-05-26 11:27:51

Spiritual Asia series: Vedas, Upanishads, and Cheonbugyeong cosmos in AI era This is the third installment of AJP’s “Spiritual Asia” series exploring the religious traditions and philosophical foundations that have shaped Asia’s spiritual consciousness. This chapter turns to the ancient texts of Hinduism — the Vedas and Upanishads — and their enduring ideas on cosmos, consciousness and the nature of existence in the emerging AI era. In the twenty-first century, humanity stands at the threshold of a vast civilizational transition. Artificial intelligence has begun to learn human language, robots are taking over human labor, and algorithms are advancing rapidly into the domain of human judgment itself. The world is moving toward an age of civilization wholly unlike any before it. Yet, ironically, the more sophisticated the technology becomes, the more humanity finds itself once again before the oldest questions of all. What is the human being? Where did the universe come from? What is consciousness, and does the human soul exist? And where is humanity meant to go? It is precisely before these questions that humanity has begun, once more, to look back to the spirituality of the ancients. The scriptures of Hinduism — the Vedas, the Rigveda, the Upanishads — are not mere religious texts. They are the record of a vast civilizational contemplation, an inquiry pursued over thousands of years into the cosmos and the human being, into existence and consciousness, into life and truth. The cosmology within these Hindu scriptures bears a striking resemblance to the philosophy of cheon (heaven), ji (earth) and in (humanity) expressed in Korea's Cheonbugyeong. Both refuse to separate the human being from the cosmos, regarding humanity instead as part of a greater whole. Even in today's age of AI, the powerful presence of young Indians across the global IT and AI industries may owe something to this deep philosophical tradition and its culture of abstract thought. The Vedas and the Upanishads are not simply ancient scriptures. They are ancient questions cast toward the civilization of the future. The Vedas: humanity's first questions, recording the breath of the cosmos Veda, in Sanskrit, means "knowledge" or "enlightenment." It is regarded as among the oldest scriptures humanity has left behind. The Vedas are organized into four systems — the Rigveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda and the Atharvaveda — of which the oldest and most essential is the Rigveda. The Rigveda is no mere anthology of myths. It is a philosophical inquiry into the cosmos and a poetic question directed at the origin of existence. Its famous hymn, the Nasadiya Sukta, is counted among the most profound cosmological questions in the history of human civilization. "Then there was neither existence nor non-existence." — Rigveda Remarkably, this line connects to modern cosmology, echoing the question physics asks today: what existed before the Big Bang? The ancient Indians did not see the universe as mere matter. They saw in it a vast order and mystery that the human being could never fully comprehend. The Rigveda calls this Rta — the fundamental order that moves the cosmos. The motion of the sun, the turning of the seasons, the life and death of human beings: all exist within a single order. This thought bears a curious resemblance to the Cheonbugyeong's line il-si-mu-si-il — "the One begins, yet the One has no beginning." All existence begins from the One, and that One existed before time itself. The ancient spirituality of the East, it turns out, spoke everywhere of the fundamental unity of the cosmos. "Truth is one, though its names are many" The Rigveda contains a line that resonates deeply even within the civilization of today. "Truth is one. The wise call it by many names." — Rigveda 1.164.46 Within this brief sentence lies the tolerance and inclusiveness of human civilization. The world holds countless religions and civilizations. They speak of different gods and explain truth in different ways. Yet the Rigveda says their origin may be one. This thought connects to the philosophy of the Korean thinker Yu Yeong-mo, known as Daseok, who said that "truth is one, though its prophets are many." He is celebrated as a pure Korean philosopher who reconciled all the religions of East and West into a single vision. The Cheonbugyeong, too, explains the origin of the cosmos as the One. In the end, human civilizations have held different languages and religions, yet they have cast the same question beneath the same sky. Today the world is shaken by collisions of religion and ideology, of peoples and nations. AI technology, too, connects human beings even as it divides them. It is for this very reason that this line of the Rigveda grows more important still. What is needed is a civilizational vision that acknowledges difference while looking toward the fundamental One. The Upanishads: discovering the cosmos within If the Vedas sang of the order of the cosmos, the Upanishads explored the cosmos within the human being. The word Upanishad means "to sit near a teacher and hear the truth." Here Hindu philosophy moves beyond ritual and ceremony to begin asking after the very essence of human existence. At the heart of the Upanishads lies the thought of Brahman and Atman. Brahman is the ultimate reality of the cosmos; Atman is the true self within the human being. And the Upanishads declare that the human soul and the essence of the cosmos are, in the end, one. "Tat Tvam Asi. Thou art that." — Chandogya Upanishad This line reveals the dignity of human existence in dramatic fashion. The human being is not a solitary thing severed from the cosmos, but a part of it. The Cheonbugyeong's thought of heaven, earth and humanity likewise sees the human being as a life existing within the flow of heaven and earth. The ancient spirituality of the East did not regard humanity as a being that reigns over nature. It understood the human being as one that breathes together with the cosmos. The Upanishads contain one of the oldest prayers of the human soul. "Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to the eternal." — Brihadaranyaka Upanishad This passage is no mere religious phrase. It is the eternal longing of human existence. Darkness means ignorance and greed, hatred and fear. Light means truth and love, and enlightenment. Humanity today has built a civilization more abundant than any age before it. Yet it lives at the same time in deep anxiety and emptiness. AI imitates human language, paints pictures and composes music. But it cannot fully account for the human soul and love, for suffering and hope. And so humanity begins, once more, to seek the spiritual. The Upanishads say there is a cosmic light within the human being — that the human being is not mere data, not a mechanical thing. Another famous passage of the Rigveda reveals the essence of the communal spirit. "Walk together. Speak together. Let your minds be as one." — Rigveda 10.191 Modern society, within a civilization of competition and speed, is steadily losing its sense of community. The age of AI, too, has raised productivity and efficiency, yet the severance between human beings has only deepened. The Vedas, however, say that the human being is a connected being. The Cheonbugyeong likewise understands the human being as one that exists within relationship. Heaven, earth and humanity are not severed individuals but a circulating structure of life. In the end, the heart of the future civilization is likely to be not technology itself, but the human capacity for connection between one person and another. Hindu scripture and India's age of AI In the global AI and IT industries today, the presence of people of Indian origin is overwhelming. Sundar Pichai of Google, Satya Nadella of Microsoft and countless others of Indian origin lead the global technology industry. This cannot, of course, be explained by the influence of Hindu scripture alone. English-language education, a mathematics-centered schooling, an enormous demographic structure and a fiercely competitive system are all important factors. Yet India's deep philosophical tradition is a background that can by no means be dismissed. Indian civilization has long explored existence and consciousness, logic and abstract thought. The numeral system and the concept of zero were developed within it as well. The age of AI demands abstract thinking and a capacity for creative synthesis rather than rote memorization. And such capacities are likely bound up with the depth of philosophical contemplation. What is striking is that Korea's Cheonbugyeong, too, emphasizes a cosmically integrative mode of thought. It sees the human being and nature, the cosmos and life, as a single circulating structure — an insight of considerable significance for the age of AI. Technology can strengthen the human hand, but it cannot stand in for the human soul. In the end, the competitiveness of the future civilization is likely to rest not on technological power alone, but on the depth of human understanding. The age of AI: humanity before the ancient questions once more The Vedas and the Upanishads are scriptures of thousands of years ago, yet their questions remain astonishingly modern. What is the human being? What is consciousness? Is the cosmos a mere machine, or a living order? In the age of AI, humanity stands once again before the ancient questions. And the old scriptures of Hinduism speak quietly: that the human being is not severed from the cosmos, that life is bound together, that truth is one yet its expressions may be many. The Cheonbugyeong tells the same story — that heaven, earth and humanity are not separate beings but exist within one vast flow of life. In-jung-cheon-ji-il, it says: within the human being, heaven and earth become one. Perhaps what humanity must read again in the twenty-first century is not a faster manual for technology, but the ancient scriptures of the spirit, which once contemplated the human being and the cosmos together. 2026-05-26 11:21:42

KOSPI tops 8,000 for first time as oil slump, Asia rally lift Seoul SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - South Korean stocks broke through the 8,000 mark for the first time on Tuesday as the market reopened from a long holiday to a weekend slide in oil prices and record highs across Asia. The benchmark KOSPI traded at 8,105 as of around 10 a.m., up about 3.3 percent from Friday's close of 7,847.71, while the junior KOSDAQ stood at 1,184.76. It was the first time the index has opened and held above 8,000, after a brief touch on May 15 that ended in a steep sell-off. The won, however, did not follow equities higher, trading at 1,509.70 against the dollar — weaker than levels seen earlier in the month and a sign that foreign capital may not yet be returning in force. Chipmakers led the advance, as they have throughout the index's run this year. Samsung Electronics traded at 301,000 won and SK hynix at 2,077,000 won, while the holding company SK Square reached 1,208,000 won, supported by continued optimism over AI-driven semiconductor demand. The strength extended across the market. Among automakers, Hyundai Motor rose to 686,000 won and Kia to 167,300 won, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries climbed to 712,000 won. Battery shares were firmer, with LG Energy Solution at 400,500 won. Sentiment improved after global oil prices retreated overnight on hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump said over the weekend that an agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be announced shortly, sending West Texas Intermediate below $91 a barrel in early Asian trade. The war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which erupted in late February, had effectively closed the strait and driven crude sharply higher, pressuring energy-importing economies such as Korea. Trump cautioned, however, that the framework was not yet final and that his negotiators should "not rush" into a deal, leaving the catalyst behind the rally a provisional one. Markets are likely to stay sensitive to any sign the talks could stall over uranium enrichment, the duration of restrictions or the timing of sanctions relief. Investors were also watching foreign flows, which have been the decisive factor in recent sessions. Overseas funds had net-sold heavily through the middle of the month, concentrated in the same chip stocks now leading the market, and the won's failure to strengthen on a record-setting morning suggested that selling pressure had not fully cleared. A labor dispute at Samsung Electronics, which makes up about one-fifth of the KOSPI by market capitalization, remained a further point of caution. Across Asia, markets that traded during Korea's holiday closure had rallied broadly. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 2.87 percent to a record close of 65,158.19 on Monday, while Taiwan's Taiex hit an all-time high of 43,495.92. Both economies, like Korea, are energy importers whose markets lean heavily on semiconductors, and their gains pointed to Seoul catching up on reopening rather than leading the move. 2026-05-26 10:43:36

Hanwha Power signs MOU with Canadian university to support submarine bid SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Hanwha Power Systems said Tuesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Alberta to jointly conduct research and development on clean energy technologies, as part of efforts to support Hanwha Ocean’s bid for Canada’s submarine procurement project. The agreement, signed Friday, was arranged as part of an industrial and technological cooperation program linked to the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, or CPSP, in which Hanwha Ocean is competing with Germany's TKMS. Under the MOU, Hanwha Power and the university will work on energy recycling technologies, including systems that generate electricity from gas turbine waste heat and pressure energy. The company also plans to explore the feasibility of applying such technologies in the North American market, drawing on the University of Alberta’s research capabilities and talent pipeline. Beyond joint R&D, the two sides will assess potential industries where the technologies could be used, review business structures and evaluate economic viability as part of efforts to move toward commercialization. “We are pleased to work with the University of Alberta, a hub of the energy industry,” said Michael Sicker, head of Hanwha Power Systems Americas. “We hope students will grow into future energy experts through this cooperation, while Hanwha Power will also gain a valuable opportunity to verify and advance its technologies in Canada.” David Bressler, vice president of international and enterprise at the University of Alberta, said, “This will also provide our students with a valuable foundation to apply basic research to real industrial settings.” 2026-05-26 10:40:46

Shinsegae chief's apology over Starbucks controversy - text SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) -Below is the full statement of Shinsegae Group chairman Chung Yong-jin's apology over Starbucks Korea's "Tank Day" controversy. To the people of the nation, I stand before you today with a heavy and apologetic heart. First, as chairman of Shinsegae Group, I sincerely bow my head in apology and ask for forgiveness from the bereaved families of the victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, the bereaved family of the late activist Park Jong-chul, the citizens of Gwangju and the people of the nation who have felt deep pain and disappointment because of this incident. The reason the investigation took time was because we wanted to conduct a thorough review. We take very heavily the fact that many people were hurt and angered by Starbucks Korea's inappropriate marketing. I take very seriously the fact that many people felt deep pain and anger because of Starbucks Korea's inappropriate marketing campaign. Regardless of the reason, what hurt the hearts of the people is not something light. I will not make any excuses. This is my fault. All members of Shinsegae Group, including myself, will remember the history and sacrifices of our society and always strive to deeply understand and respect the feelings of the people. What I earnestly ask is that people look more warmly upon Starbucks partners and field employees at stores across the country. They are simply diligent workers doing their best in their respective positions from early morning until late at night for every Starbucks customer. The responsibility lies with the organization and management, including myself. Right now, I believe it is more important that we try to understand one another and move forward together. We all share the same desire to leave behind a better South Korea and a better world for future generations. Shinsegae, including myself, will take this incident as a lesson. We will listen more, and carry responsibility more heavily. We will sincerely approach customers again with genuine hearts. We will fundamentally reexamine our internal systems and risk management framework, while also raising our standards for social responsibility. Today's apology will not be the end, but a beginning. We will start again from the beginning and work to regain the public's trust not through words, but through actions. Once again, I sincerely bow my head in apology to everyone who has been hurt by this incident. 2026-05-26 10:39:48

BTS attend AMAs in Las Vegas, eyeing another award SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Members of K-pop juggernaut BTS are attending the American Music Awards (AMAs), one of the major U.S. pop music awards shows in Las Vegas on Monday. Their in-person attendance at the annual music awards ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena comes for the first time since 2021. They are competing for "Artist of the Year" and "Best Male K-pop Artist" awards. Their latest song, "SWIM," the title track from their fifth full-length album "Arirang" is also nominated for "Song of the Summer." If BTS win Artist of the Year, it would mark their second top honor at the awards after 2021, when they became the first South Korean act to receive the award. The AMAs are considered one of the leading U.S. pop music awards shows, along with the Grammy Awards and the Billboard Music Awards. Nominees are selected based on factors including streaming, album and track sales, radio airplay and tour revenue, and winners are decided entirely by public vote. K-pop-related nominees are also prominent this year. A remix version of "Dracula," a collaboration between BLACKPINK's Jennie and Australia's Tame Impala, is nominated for Song of the Summer as well. Girl group KATSEYE are nominated for "Best New Artist" and "Breakthrough Pop Duo/Group Performance," and their song "Gnarly" is up for "Best Music Video." Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" is also nominated for "Best Soundtrack," with its main theme song "Golden" is up for "Song of the Year." Meanwhile, BTS recently took their North American tour to Las Vegas, selling out all four shows — including the opening night at Allegiant Stadium, which drew over 60,000 fans. Attention is now on whether BTS can take home another top AMA trophy. 2026-05-26 10:27:30

Shinsegae's Chung vows to take full responsibility over police finding SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) -Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin issued a second public apology Tuesday over Starbucks Korea's controversial "Tank Day" promotion, bowing deeply in a five-minute televised public apology and saying he would seek forgiveness "through actions, not words" in a rare public act of contrition by a major South Korean business leader. Speaking at the Josun Palace hotel in Seoul, Chung said the company took the controversy "very heavily" and acknowledged that the campaign had deeply hurt the public by touching one of the country's most traumatic democratic memories. "We sincerely apologize," Chung said. "The reason the investigation took time was because we wanted to conduct a thorough review. We take very heavily the fact that many people were hurt and angered by Starbucks Korea's inappropriate marketing." "What hurt the hearts of the people is not something light," he added. "I will not make any excuses. This is my fault," he said, while strongly denying any ill intention. The extraordinary appearance underscored how a marketing campaign initially seen as a corporate blunder escalated into a broader political and social crisis ahead of local elections, triggering public boycotts, police complaints and mounting pressure from government agencies. The controversy erupted after Starbucks Korea launched a "Tank Day" tumbler promotion on May 18, the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. Critics accused the company of trivializing the massacre by using military-themed marketing language and the phrase "Tak! on the desk," widely associated in South Korea with the torture death cover-up of student activist Park Jong-chul during the military dictatorship era. The backlash intensified after President Lee Jae Myung openly condemned the campaign, prompting ministries and public institutions to suspend partnerships and review ties with Starbucks Korea. Chung said responsibility lay entirely with management, including himself, not with front-line employees working at stores nationwide. "What I earnestly ask is that people look more warmly upon Starbucks partners and field employees at stores across the country," he said. "The responsibility lies with the organization and management, including myself." "Right now, I believe it is more important that we try to understand one another and move forward together," Chung said. "We all share the same desire to leave behind a better South Korea and a better world for future generations." "Shinsegae, including myself, will take this incident as a lesson," he added. "We will listen more, and carry responsibility more heavily. We will sincerely approach customers again with genuine hearts." Chung also pledged that the company would treat Tuesday's apology as a starting point rather than a conclusion. "Today's apology will not be the end, but a beginning," he said. "We will start again from the beginning and work to regain the public's trust not through words, but through actions. The company also unveiled findings from its internal investigation into how the campaign was planned and approved, though officials did not immediately disclose whether additional disciplinary measures would follow beyond the dismissal of former Starbucks Korea chief executive Sohn Jung-hyun. The apology marks one of the most serious reputational crises faced by Shinsegae Group in recent years, exposing the growing political and cultural risks facing corporations in South Korea as historical memory and social sensitivities increasingly intersect with branding and consumer culture. The full statement of his apology is as follows: To the people of the nation, I stand before you today with a heavy and apologetic heart. First, as chairman of Shinsegae Group, I sincerely bow my head in apology and ask for forgiveness from the bereaved families of the victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, the bereaved family of the late activist Park Jong-chul, the citizens of Gwangju and the people of the nation who have felt deep pain and disappointment because of this incident. The reason the investigation took time was because we wanted to conduct a thorough review. We take very heavily the fact that many people were hurt and angered by Starbucks Korea's inappropriate marketing. I take very seriously the fact that many people felt deep pain and anger because of Starbucks Korea’s inappropriate marketing campaign. Regardless of the reason, what hurt the hearts of the people is not something light. I will not make any excuses. This is my fault. All members of Shinsegae Group, including myself, will remember the history and sacrifices of our society and always strive to deeply understand and respect the feelings of the people. What I earnestly ask is that people look more warmly upon Starbucks partners and field employees at stores across the country. They are simply diligent workers doing their best in their respective positions from early morning until late at night for every Starbucks customer. The responsibility lies with the organization and management, including myself. Right now, I believe it is more important that we try to understand one another and move forward together. We all share the same desire to leave behind a better South Korea and a better world for future generations. Shinsegae, including myself, will take this incident as a lesson. We will listen more, and carry responsibility more heavily. We will sincerely approach customers again with genuine hearts. We will fundamentally reexamine our internal systems and risk management framework, while also raising our standards for social responsibility. Today's apology will not be the end, but a beginning. We will start again from the beginning and work to regain the public's trust not through words, but through actions. Once again, I sincerely bow my head in apology to everyone who has been hurt by this incident. 2026-05-26 09:20:03

KOSPI breaks 8,000 as oil retreat lifts Asia, though the rally rests on unfinished Iran deal SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - South Korea's Kospi pushed above the 8,000 mark at Tuesday's open, reaching roughly 8,060 as the market reopened from a holiday to a weekend of falling oil prices and record highs across Asia, even as the diplomatic breakthrough driving the move remained far from settled. The benchmark traded about 2.7 percent above Friday's close of 7,847.71. It marked only the second time the index has crossed 8,000 and the first time it has opened and sustained the level, after an earlier attempt on May 15 collapsed into a 6.1 percent rout by the close. The advance reflected a sharp reversal in the single variable that has governed Korean equities for three months: the price of oil. The war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which erupted in late February, had effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz and driven crude sharply higher, weighing on energy-importing economies across Northeast Asia. That pressure eased over the weekend after U.S. President Donald Trump said an agreement with Iran to reopen the strait would be announced shortly. Crude fell accordingly in early Asian trade. West Texas Intermediate dropped 5.87 percent to $90.93 a barrel and Brent declined 5.58 percent to $97.76. The relief was immediate, but its foundation was not. Trump himself cautioned that the framework was not yet final and that his negotiators should "not rush" into a deal — a reminder that the catalyst behind Tuesday's rally remains a provisional understanding rather than a concluded settlement. Korean markets were closed Monday for the substitute holiday for Buddha's Birthday, as were those in Hong Kong, while U.S. exchanges were shut for Memorial Day. The Asian markets that did trade rose in unison. Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 2.87 percent to a record close of 65,158.19, its steepest three-day gain in more than six years, while Taiwan's Taiex reached an all-time high, rising 2.91 percent to 43,495.92. China's CSI 300 added 0.91 percent, Australia's ASX 200 gained 0.45 percent and India's Nifty 50 rose 1.09 percent. For Seoul, the implication was direct. Japan and Taiwan are Korea's closest structural counterparts — energy importers whose indices are anchored by semiconductors — and both set records while Korean markets were dark. Tuesday's open, in that light, was less a breakout than a convergence: Korea catching up to a move the region had already priced over the long weekend. That distinction also separates this attempt from the failed one a fortnight ago. The Kospi had advanced from 7,000 to its first touch of 8,000 in just seven sessions. When it arrived on May 15, however, it was running ahead of an overnight gain on Wall Street rather than alongside a regional consensus. Foreign investors that day sold a net 5.6 trillion won, sending Samsung Electronics and SK hynix down more than 7 percent and dragging the index to a 6.1 percent loss. The behavior of foreign investors remains the decisive variable. Overseas funds net-sold roughly 24 trillion won of Kospi shares over a recent six-session stretch, with the selling concentrated in the very chip stocks leading the rally. Domestic brokerages have characterized that flow as profit-taking after a rapid ascent rather than a structural withdrawal from Korean equities, though the distinction will only become clear in the sessions ahead. A labor dispute at Samsung Electronics adds a further domestic overhang, and the won — which weakened beyond 1,500 per dollar during the May 15 sell-off — will signal whether foreign sentiment is genuinely turning. Analysts had anticipated the level before the holiday. NH Investment & Securities projected the Kospi to trade between 7,200 and 8,500 this week, citing earnings momentum, valuation appeal and hopes for an Iran ceasefire. By the opening bell on Tuesday, the market had claimed the upper half of that range. Yet the durability of the move depends on a settlement that Washington itself has declined to finalize. Should the Iran framework stall — over uranium enrichment, the duration of restrictions or the timing of sanctions relief — the oil-price relief underpinning Tuesday's gains could prove as provisional as the diplomacy behind it. For now, the Kospi's record open reads less as a verdict on Korea's fundamentals than as the local expression of a regional bet that the worst of the energy shock has passed. 2026-05-26 09:15:33

S. Korean prosecutors seek arrest of YouTuber over AI-fabricated rumors involving actor Kim Soo-hyun SEOUL, May 25 (AJP) - South Korean prosecutors have sought an arrest warrant for a prominent YouTuber on charges of defaming actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress Kim Sae-ron through heavily fabricated evidence, including AI-manipulated audio. The legal representative for Kim Soo-hyun reaffirmed on Sunday their policy of not directly responding to the allegations, emphasizing that the actor is strictly a victim of a cybercrime. "Actor Kim Soo-hyun is simply a victim of a crime, not a party engaging in a legal dispute on equal footing with the suspects," lawyer Go Sang-rok said in a statement posted on social media. "We have not responded to these nonsensical claims and will continue to maintain this principle." The statement follows a recent police conclusion that rumors spread by the YouTuber, identified as Kim Se-eui, were entirely false. Kim had publicly claimed that the actor dated and had sexual relations with the late Kim Sae-ron between 2015 and 2018, when she was a minor. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office requested an arrest warrant for Kim Se-eui on May 19 on charges including defamation, violation of the sexual violence punishment act, and attempted coercion. According to the police warrant request, Kim allegedly manipulated text messages from 2016 by altering the sender's name and profile picture to make it appear as though the deceased actress was conversing with Kim Soo-hyun. Furthermore, he is accused of playing an AI-generated voice file at a press conference in May of last year, falsely mimicking the late actress's voice to claim a relationship dating back to middle school. Police concluded that Kim Se-eui repeatedly distributed these fabricated materials with the malicious intent to defame the actor, fully aware that the allegations were untrue and that the actor had no connection to the actress's passing. A court hearing to determine whether to grant the arrest warrant is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Seoul Central District Court. 2026-05-25 17:58:38