Survey: Nearly 70% of foreigners view Korean content favorably, with gains in U.S. and Europe Foreigners’ favorability toward K-content is nearing 70%, a survey found, underscoring the growing reach of K-culture, including its positive influence on purchases of Korean products and services.  According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, 69.7% of respondents said they had a favorable view of K-content in the “2026 Overseas Hallyu Survey (based on 2025),” released Monday.  The survey targeted people in 30 overseas markets who had experienced Korean cultural content. Compared with the previous year, it added countries including Singapore, Chile and Poland and expanded the sample to 27,400.  By country, favorability was highest in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines (87.0%), India (83.8%), Indonesia (82.7%) and Thailand (79.4%). Favorability also rose from a year earlier in the Americas and Europe, where it had been relatively lower. The biggest increases were in the United Kingdom (up 8 percentage points), Japan (up 6.4), Spain (up 6.2), the United States (up 6.1) and Australia (up 6.0).  As the Korean Wave has spread, negative perceptions have also grown. The share agreeing with negative views of Hallyu was unchanged from last year at 37.5%, but that was up 6.8 percentage points from five years earlier, in 2021.  By content category, popularity was led by food (55.1%), music (54.0%), beauty (52.6%), dramas (51.3%) and films (48.9%). Experience rates were highest for food (78.0%), films (77.9%), dramas (72.9%), music (71.9%) and beauty (61.8%). The results, as in the previous year, suggest that food and beauty have become core areas of Korean culture alongside traditional industries such as music, dramas and films.  For characters, domestic popularity in respondents’ countries was 38.9% and the experience rate was 52.6%, similar to other categories. For live performances excluding K-pop, popularity was 34.4% and the experience rate was 35.1%, indicating an early stage of diffusion.  For the ninth straight year, K-pop ranked first as the image most associated with South Korea at 17.5%, followed by food (12.1%), dramas (9.5%), beauty (6.2%) and films (5.9%). By contrast, “the Korean War” and “North Korea’s nuclear threat/war risk,” which previously ranked high, fell out of the top 10.  Asked what matters most in recognizing content as Korean cultural content, respondents most often chose “content reflecting Korean cultural elements” (23.3%), followed by “many Korean people appear” (21.8%) and “Korea is the setting” (19.1%). “Content produced by Korean directors and production companies” ranked fourth at 18.0%, suggesting respondents place more weight on identity in the content than on whether it was made in Korea.  Preferences for specific dramas and films largely held steady. Netflix’s “Squid Game” (12.4%), which ended with Season 3, ranked No. 1 among dramas for the fifth consecutive year. “Parasite” (8.4%) was selected as the most popular film for the sixth straight year.  In a newly added question on the “most influential Hallyu star,” BTS ranked first at 6.9%. E-sports player Faker entered the rankings at 1.9%, pointing to the Korean Wave’s diversification into gaming.  Average monthly time spent consuming Korean cultural content was 14.7 hours, and average spending per category was $16.6, up 0.7 hours and $1.2 from a year earlier. The most cited reason for buying Korean products and services was “quality” (61.8%), followed by “price” (43.0%) and “ease of use” (33.4%), largely unchanged from last year.  As for how people access Korean cultural content, dramas, films, animation and music were most often consumed through “OTT and video platforms,” while variety shows were most often accessed through social media and short-form video platforms.  * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-30 09:06:22

Gary Woodland Wins Houston Open, First PGA Tour Title in Nearly Seven Years After Brain Tumor Surgery Gary Woodland of the United States completed a long comeback from brain tumor surgery and its aftereffects, winning a PGA Tour event for the first time in six years and nine months. Woodland shot a 3-under 67 on Sunday in the final round of the Texas Children's Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course (par 70) in Houston. He had four birdies and one bogey in the $9.9 million tournament. He finished at 21-under 259, beating runner-up Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark by five shots. Woodland earned $1,782,000 (about 2.68 billion won). The victory carried added weight for the 41-year-old. Woodland won his first PGA Tour title in 2011 and captured the U.S. Open in 2019, establishing himself among the tour's top players. But his career was threatened after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2023. He underwent surgery in September that year and later was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, among other severe aftereffects. He returned to the tour in the 2024 season, but struggled. He missed the cut 11 times in 26 starts and recorded only one top-10 finish. Woodland kept chasing another win and finally broke through in Houston, securing his fifth PGA Tour title and his first in nearly seven years. Among South Koreans in the field, Kim Joo-hyung finished tied for 56th at 2-under 278, and Im Sung-jae tied for 60th at 1-under 279. Lee Min-woo of Australia, a Korean Australian who won this event last year, closed tied for third at 15-under 265.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-30 08:48:54

BTS Documentary Sparks Controversy Over New Album 'Arirang' Following the release of a Netflix documentary, controversy surrounding BTS's new album 'Arirang' has resurfaced. BTS released 'Arirang' on April 20, receiving praise for its modern reinterpretation of traditional themes. However, it sparked debate online over excessive nationalism, known as 'gukppong' in Korea. Criticism also emerged towards RM, a key producer for the group. In response, their agency announced legal action against malicious comments directed at the members. The documentary, which details the album's production, reignited discussions. It features Bang Si-hyuk, the head of HYBE, discussing the album's concept. Bang stated, "When you gather 60,000 to 70,000 people for a performance, having over 50% of foreigners singing along to the chorus of 'Arirang' is incredibly iconic," and expressed concerns about not discussing significant ideas. He dismissed the opinions of members like J-Hope and Jungkook when they cautiously disagreed, insisting that even if their suggestions were better, the larger benefits outweighed any losses. The documentary's release led to widespread discussion on domestic online platforms. Comments included, "If the documentary hadn't been released, BTS would have faced all the criticism," and "BTS is not a cultural ambassador but an artist." One user remarked, "The decision to finalize and release this documentary shows a lack of awareness," suggesting it aimed to validate Bang's perspective against the members' views. Additionally, a review published on the music community 'Eizm' on April 23 drew attention. Critic Han Seong-hyun noted, "BTS is no longer just the seven members' names; it has become a proxy for the long-standing thirst for recognition from the West and a key factor for HYBE's stock fluctuations." Meanwhile, BTS continues its global activities, with the new album receiving mixed reactions. 2026-03-30 08:48:22

BTS returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 With 'ARIRANG' SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - BTS has claimed the top spot on the Billboard 200 with ARIRANG, the group's fifth studio album, earning 641,000 equivalent album units in its first week, the largest opening for a group album since the chart adopted unit-based tracking in December 2014, Billboard reported Sunday. The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on physical and digital sales, streaming activity converted into album units, and track-equivalent albums. Of that total, 532,000 came from pure album sales, the biggest sales week for a group in more than a decade. Physical sales accounted for 516,000 units, driven by a release configuration of 17 vinyl variants and nine CD editions. Vinyl alone tallied 208,000 units, the strongest vinyl sales week ever recorded for a group in the modern era. The achievement marks BTS's seventh No. 1 on the Billboard 200, extending a run that began in 2018 when LOVE YOURSELF Tear became the first K-pop album to top the chart. ARIRANG was released March 20 alongside a Netflix live special and lead single "SWIM." The group followed with back-to-back appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 25 and 26. A supporting world tour opens April 9 in Goyang, South Korea, with the North American leg running from April 25 through Sept. 6. 2026-03-30 08:41:00

Actress Sa Mija Seen Using Cane After Fall, Colleague Says Actress Sa Mija has been seen in an update following a fall. Actor Han Ji-il posted a message and video on his social media on the 29th, writing, "National mom senior Sa Mija had a fall and can’t walk well, so she is getting help from juniors. Please recover quickly." In the video, Sa uses a cane and takes steps with assistance from younger colleagues. Sa debuted in 1964. She has previously said she collapsed from a heart attack in 2005 and again from a cerebral infarction in 2018.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-30 08:09:13

BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 for Group’s Seventh Chart-Topper 그룹 방탄소년단(BTS)이 정규 5집 '아리랑'(ARIRANG)으로 미국 빌보드 앨범 차트 '빌보드 200' 1위를 차지했다. Billboard said in a chart preview posted on its website on the 29th (local time) that BTS’ fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, ahead of Luke Combs’ “The Way I Am” and Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem.” The result gives BTS its seventh No. 1 album on the chart. The Billboard 200 ranks albums by total album units, combining physical and digital album sales, streaming equivalent albums (SEA) and track equivalent albums (TEA). “ARIRANG” posted 641,000 album units during the tracking week, the biggest total for any group since Billboard began measuring the chart by album units in December 2014. Billboard said the figure is the largest since Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl,” which debuted last year with about 4 million album units. BTS first topped the Billboard 200 in 2018 with “LOVE YOURSELF 轉 Tear,” becoming the first K-pop act to reach No. 1. The group later returned to the top with “LOVE YOURSELF 結 ANSWER” (2018), “MAP OF THE SOUL : PERSONA” (2019), “MAP OF THE SOUL : 7” (2020), “BE” (2020) and “Proof” (2022).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-30 06:03:15

Samsung Biologics Faces First-Ever Strike Threat as Union Vote Tops 95% Samsung Biologics is facing the threat of its first strike since it was founded in 2011. The company’s union said March 29 that 95.52% of eligible voters backed strike action in a completed vote. Of 3,678 eligible voters, the union said, the approval rate reached 95.52%. The union has 3,689 members, about 75% of the company’s workforce. Labor and management have held 13 rounds of wage and collective bargaining talks but have not narrowed their differences. The union is seeking an average 14% pay raise, a 30 million won incentive payment per employee, a profit-sharing bonus equal to 20% of operating profit, and allocations of company shares over three years. It also wants the company to obtain the union’s prior consent when exercising key management and personnel authority. Management has countered with a 6.2% raise, citing standards used at major group affiliates such as Samsung Electronics. Market watchers have raised concerns that a strike could disrupt Samsung Biologics’ 15 trillion won plan to expand production capacity and affect the operating schedule for its contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) plants. The union said it plans to hold informal talks after CEO John Rim returns to South Korea. Union Chairman Park Jae-seong said, “If the company brings an improved proposal during the remaining period, we are willing to talk at any time,” adding that “there is clearly room to compromise at an appropriate level” if management does so. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, the union said it plans to begin a strike on May 1. 2026-03-29 19:54:00

Mideast War, Oil Spike Squeeze South Korea Pharma-Bio Supply Chains and Shipping Costs South Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industry is facing a double hit from soaring oil prices tied to a prolonged Middle East war: disruptions in raw-material supplies and higher logistics costs. Major drugmakers are expanding inventories and seeking alternative suppliers amid concerns over shortages of key inputs such as naphtha, while the government is stepping up supply-chain monitoring and exploring joint measures with the industry. Industry officials said Sunday that the Middle East crisis, fueled by the war involving the United States and Israel and Iran, has heightened fears of instability in crude supplies from the region. International oil prices have topped $100 a barrel, setting new record highs. The combination of surging input prices and supply uncertainty is rippling through the sector. With domestic refiners heavily dependent on Middle Eastern crude, supply chains have come under strain and naphtha prices have jumped more than 20% this month. Naphtha is a core material used to make pharmaceutical packaging containers and IV fluid bags, raising concerns across the industry. Suppliers of basic IV solutions, including JW Jungoe Pharm and HK inno.N, are moving urgently to prepare for possible shortages of IV bags. The companies held an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to discuss bringing in alternative materials and freezing inventories, according to industry officials. “If the situation drags on, hospitals could face supply disruptions due to a shortage of IV bags,” a pharmaceutical company official said. Major drugmakers have also taken preemptive steps to secure materials. Yuhan Corp. has stockpiled two to three months’ worth of pharmaceutical packaging materials, and Dong-A Pharmaceutical and Korea United Pharmaceutical have increased inventories through early orders. Rising logistics costs are another pressure point. With oil prices surging, sea and air freight rates have climbed 15% to 20%, pushing up the cost of importing raw materials. Smaller drugmakers said the added burden is difficult to absorb given already thin margins. The food and drug safety ministry is frequently checking the supply of pharmaceutical packaging containers. It is also reviewing regulatory support, including faster approval procedures when changes in packaging materials are needed. A pharmaceutical company official said the business environment is deteriorating rapidly as global instability drives up oil prices, exchange rates and freight costs while worsening uncertainty over raw-material supplies. The official warned that disruptions could lead to imbalances in supplies of essential medicines such as cold remedies and antibiotics, posing a potential threat to health security. Some in the industry said the turmoil should be used to reshape supply chains. A biotech industry executive noted that most domestic companies import active pharmaceutical ingredients, making broader drug production vulnerable if supply chains falter. The executive called for government incentives to raise self-sufficiency in active ingredients.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 18:33:21

Pro-Palestinian, pro-U.S. rallies converge in Seoul on Land Day eve SEOUL, March 29 (AJP) - Rival demonstrations filled the streets of central Seoul on Sunday, as pro-Palestinian activists and Iranian expatriates backing the United States held back-to-back rallies that briefly brought opposing crowds face-to-face without incident. The larger of the two gatherings, organised by the group dubbed "People in Solidarity with Palestinians," drew about 200 participants to Jongno-district before marching toward the U.S. and Israeli embassies. South Koreans, resident Palestinians, and resident Americans joined the march, calling for an end to U.S. strikes on Iran and Israel's offensive in Gaza. The rally was timed to mark the 50th anniversary of Land Day, commemorated each March 30 in memory of six Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in 1976 during protests against land seizures. Participants laid out photographs of Iranian children killed in airstrikes alongside small backpacks in a silent tribute. A separate cycling contingent from the "BDS Korea" group rode from Jongno-district to the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-district, their bicycles bearing Palestinian flags and banners demanding a halt to what they described as a massacre in Gaza. On the opposing side, the "Iranian Network in Korea" held a pro-U.S., anti-regime rally near Uijeongbu Station in the afternoon. About 20 Iranian residents waved the flags of Iran, the United States, and Israel, chanting slogans including "We are the revolution" and "No justice, no peace." Tensions briefly spiked when the pro-Palestinian march passed the Iranian rally in progress, prompting the counter-demonstrators to raise their voices. Police, who had maintained control of the march route throughout the afternoon, prevented any physical confrontation between the two groups. 2026-03-29 18:00:05

Lee Sun-bin Tries to Deliver Party Invite to Park Bo-young on MBC’s “Manitto Club” Lee Sun-bin launches a mission to deliver an invitation to Park Bo-young on MBC’s variety show “Manitto Club.” Episode 9, airing today (29), follows third-generation members Cha Tae-hyun, Park, Lee, Hwang Kwang-hee and Kang Hoon as they carry out individual “manitto” missions. Lee, an eight-year friend of Park and her assigned partner, plans an “early birthday party” and prepares a special surprise for her. In a preview clip, Lee disguises herself as a part-time worker to hand Park the invitation. Lee moves in as soon as she spots Park and passes along the invite, but Park quickly senses something is off and asks, “Are you my manitto?” catching Lee off guard. Lee keeps up the act, signaling that she was sent by someone else, and the show says she manages to fool Park. To maintain the cover, she continues doing actual part-time work to stay in character. The preview also shows Park checking the invitation and offers a look at the party venue, building anticipation for Lee’s surprise and Park’s reaction in the full episode. “Manitto Club” Episode 9 airs at 6:05 p.m. today.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 16:36:15