Soprano Jung Chan-hee Says She Won’t Perform at Jeon Han-gil Concert Soprano Jung Chan-hee said she will not appear at a concert hosted by Jeon Han-gil, a hard-line conservative YouTuber who previously worked as a Korean history instructor. Jung wrote on social media on the 22nd, “I had decided not to appear in this performance and hadn’t said anything separately, but I’m posting this because so many people have contacted me. I will not appear in this performance.” She said she had verbally been asked to perform at a March 1 music concert and agreed, but learned about the poster only after an acquaintance sent it to her two days earlier. “I contacted them and decided not to appear,” she added. Jung said she initially thought no explanation was needed because she had already decided not to participate, but chose to clarify after hearing from many supporters. Earlier, Tae Jin-ah’s agency, Jina Entertainment, also issued a statement the same day saying he would not perform. The agency said it had only received an inquiry describing it as a general event, not a political one. It said an event official visited days earlier and asked whether Tae could appear at an event at 2 p.m. March 2 at KINTEX, and the agency replied that his schedule was available. The agency said it asked whether it was related to politics given the upcoming local elections, but was told it was “just a general event at KINTEX.” The agency added, “Tae Jin-ah has never accepted countless invitations from the political world, and he has absolutely no intention of appearing at political events in the future.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 09:42:15

Brazilian president receives warm welcome from Lee on first state visit in 21 years SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) -Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was welcomed with a warm embrace by President Lee Jae Myung on Monday, marking his return to South Korea for a state visit — his first in 21 years and the first by a foreign leader since the presidential office returned to Cheong Wa Dae. Lee greeted Lula in the main garden of the presidential compound with open arms as the Brazilian leader stepped out of his vehicle, before the two shared a brief embrace and proceeded to an official welcome ceremony featuring traditional honor guards and a children’s welcoming group. The visit includes bilateral talks, a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony, a joint press announcement, and a state dinner at the Yeongbingwan guest house, with discussions set to focus on deepening cooperation in high-value and emerging industries. The summit agenda covers trade, investment, climate change, energy, defense, science and technology, agriculture and cultural exchanges. Instead of focusing solely on traditional commerce, the talks will prioritize what Brazilian Ambassador to South Korea Marcia Donner Abreu recently described as "productive integration" during an interview with AJP on Feb. 19. The approach is designed to move bilateral ties beyond simple buying and selling, focusing instead on joint value creation through linked supply chains and investments. he two countries plan to collaborate on local downstream processing and refining, moving beyond trade beyond raw materials. The governments also aim to build joint production lines for the C-390 transport aircraft and deepen partnerships in high-growth industries such as biopharmaceuticals, digital technologies and K-beauty. The talks are supported by a personal rapport between the two leaders, who both experienced poverty and sustained work-related injuries as young factory workers. Lee and Lula previously bonded over their shared backgrounds during the Group of Seven summit in Canada last June and the G20 meeting in South Africa in November. Lula will conclude his state visit to South Korea on Feb. 24. 2026-02-23 09:37:20

Survey: New-Car Shoppers Rely on YouTube, Then Verify in Showrooms Before Buying New-car buying is increasingly following a “hybrid” path: shoppers research digitally, then confirm key details offline before deciding. Chabot Mobility said on the 23rd that it analyzed each stage of the car-buying journey for 450 people planning to purchase a new vehicle this year. More than half of respondents, 58.1%, said they got new-car information from YouTube auto reviews. Manufacturer websites followed at 42.2%, then automotive news outlets at 34.3% and online communities and cafes at 30.3%. Traditional channels lagged, with dealer consultations at 18.4% and visits to offline showrooms at 14%. The results suggest shoppers are narrowing candidates through digital channels first, then using consultations to make a final choice. By gender, men reported higher use of YouTube (59.9%) and online communities (32.6%). Women more often cited recommendations from acquaintances (30%), social media (22%) and dealer consultations (22%). By age, YouTube use was most active among people in their 30s to 50s, at about 57% to 62%. For comparing vehicles and checking quotes, the most common method was visiting manufacturer websites directly (48.7%). But asking dealers directly (40.1%) and using integrated comparison platforms (37.2%) were close behind. Next were online community information (35.0%), YouTube comparison videos (29.6%) and automotive media (23.1%). On the importance of seeing a vehicle in person, 61.4% said it is “absolutely necessary,” and 25.6% said they would “check if possible,” meaning 87% viewed an in-person look as a core step. Only 2.2% said online information is enough, and 0.4% said it is not important at all. The share calling it “absolutely necessary” rose with age: 68.6% among people in their 50s and 71.0% among those 60 and older. Offline channels dominated how shoppers check vehicles. Visits to traditional dealership showrooms ranked first at 79.4%, while visits to premium showrooms and brand experience centers were also high at 34.7%. On test drives, 41.2% said they are “absolutely necessary,” and 40.8% said they would “like to if possible,” for a combined 82% treating a test drive as essential or near-essential. Among respondents with monthly income of 10 million won or more, the “absolutely necessary” share was 48.7%, above the overall average. For final purchase decisions, 49.1% said they decide jointly with a spouse, the largest share. Another 35.7% said they decide alone, and 13.4% said they decide jointly with other family members. A Chabot Mobility official said the survey clearly shows a hybrid buying journey in which consumers gather information through digital channels and then make a final decision after offline verification such as test drives.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 09:33:18

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