Two firefighters killed in cold storage warehouse blaze in southern South Korea SEOUL, April 12 (AJP) - Two firefighters were killed after becoming trapped inside a burning cold storage warehouse in South Korea's southwestern county of Wando, authorities said, in a blaze that triggered a vapor explosion and prompted a national outpouring of grief. The fire broke out at about 8:25 a.m. Sunday at a seafood processing plant in Wando County, South Jeolla Province, according to fire authorities. A seven-member crew arrived within six minutes and entered the 3,693-square-meter facility to rescue a plant worker who had inhaled smoke. After pulling the worker to safety, the crew briefly withdrew. When fresh plumes of smoke appeared from another section of the warehouse, the team re-entered at about 8:45 a.m. to finish suppression, believing the fire was nearly contained. Minutes later, flammable vapors from epoxy and urethane materials that had accumulated near the sealed ceiling ignited, producing a flashover that sent flames erupting through the entrance. Commanders radioed evacuation orders three to four times, but two firefighters could not escape. A rapid intervention team located the body of a 44-year-old fire lieutenant from Wando Fire Station at about 10:02 a.m., roughly five meters from the entrance. A 31-year-old firefighter from Haenam Fire Station was found dead at 11:23 a.m. The blaze was fully extinguished three minutes later. Authorities believe the fire started when a worker used a blowtorch to strip paint from walls lined with urethane foam insulation and finished with sandwich panels. The sealed structure, designed to maintain freezing temperatures, trapped smoke and hindered rescue efforts. Police and fire investigators are probing the exact cause. President Lee Jae Myung paid tribute to the pair, saying they "rushed to the most dangerous scene to protect lives and fulfilled their duty to the very last moment," in a X post. He vowed the government would ensure all frontline personnel can operate in safer conditions. 2026-04-12 17:28:51

Singer Lee Hyo-ri’s Father Dies; She and Husband Lee Sang-soon Keep Vigil Singer Lee Hyo-ri is mourning the death of her father. Her agency, Antenna, said April 12 that her father, Lee Jung-kwang, died that day. A wake has been set up in Room 1 of the funeral hall at Chung-Ang University Hospital in Seoul. The funeral procession is scheduled for 7 a.m. April 14. Lee and her husband, Lee Sang-soon, are listed as chief mourners and have been keeping vigil at the wake. Lee has spoken publicly about her father on several occasions. She included family stories in the song “Barbershop Daughter” on her July 2008 album “It’s Hyorish.” On tvN’s “Canada Check-In,” which aired in January 2023, she said her father was ill.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 16:57:13

MBC’s ‘21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’ hits 10% in Seoul area by Episode 2 MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama “21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife” crossed into double-digit ratings in the Seoul metropolitan area by its second episode. Nielsen Korea said Saturday that Episode 2, aired Friday, drew a nationwide rating of 9.5% and 10.1% among households in the Seoul area, ranking No. 1 in its time slot. Its 20-49 rating was 5.3%, the highest among all Saturday programming. The minute-by-minute peak reached 11.1%. The top moments were a scene in which Seong Hui-ju wins a top entrepreneur award and another in which Prince Ian meets Lee Yun, who arrives alone at an event marking Entrepreneurs’ Day. The episode followed Seong’s efforts to win Ian’s affection. After her proposal, pitched as a show of her strengths, was rejected, she pursued him across locations including a road, a movie theater, a riding arena and an event venue, pressing forward at every turn. As Seong kept approaching him, Ian’s attitude began to shift. He tidied his appearance as if expecting her to appear at any moment and showed a subtle reaction to news of her blind date. Set in a 21st century constitutional monarchy, the drama centers on a romance between a woman who has everything but is a commoner and a king’s son who can have nothing. Episode 3 airs April 17 at 9:50 p.m.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 16:45:15

Rookie Kim Min-sol wins wire-to-wire at KLPGA iM Financial Open for third career title Kim Min-sol, billed as a “super rookie,” captured her third career title on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour on April 12 with a wire-to-wire victory at the iM Financial Open. Kim shot a 1-under 71 in the final round at Golfzon County Sunsan (par 72) in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, with four birdies, one bogey and one double bogey. She finished at 11-under 277, winning by four strokes over the trio tied for second at 7-under 281: Kim Si-hyeon, Jeon Ye-seong and Ahn Ji-hyeon. Kim led outright after the first round and again in rounds three and four, and shared the lead after the second round to complete the wire-to-wire win. The tournament purse was 1 billion won, and she earned 180 million won for first place. Born in 2006, Kim won her first KLPGA title last August at the BC Card-Hankyung Ladies Cup as a sponsor invite. She added a second victory in October at the Dongbu Construction-Korea Land Trust Championship. Competing this season as a rookie, she secured her third win in six months. The most recent rookie-eligible winner on the KLPGA regular tour before this was Yoo Hyun-jo at the KB Financial Star Championship in September 2024. Kim entered the week third in rookie-of-the-year points but moved into first with the victory. “This tournament was a fight against myself,” Kim said in a postround broadcast interview. “I wavered because I made a lot of mistakes, but I think I finished well to the end.” Ko Ji-won, who won last week’s The Siena Open, tied for sixth at 4-under 284 with Bang Shin-sil, Lee Ye-won, Song Eun-a and Kim Min-seon. Defending champion Kim Min-ju finished tied for 19th at 1-under 287.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 16:15:00

Search for escaped wolf at South Korean zoo drags into fifth day SEOUL, April 12 (AJP) - A wolf that tunneled its way out of a government-run zoo in the central city of Daejeon remained at large as search teams armed with thermal-imaging drones combed nearby hillsides for a fifth straight day without success. The two-year-old male wolf, nicknamed Neukgu, was last detected by a thermal camera mounted on a drone at about 1:30 a.m. on April 9, the day after its escape. Trackers lost the animal's trail when the drone was pulled back for a battery swap, and it has not been spotted since. Authorities deployed 12 drones on Sunday to sweep a radius of about 6 km around O World, the municipal theme park from which Neukgu escaped on April 8 by digging beneath an electrified wire fence surrounding its safari enclosure. Ground crews have been kept to a minimum over fears that a large human presence could spook the animal deeper into the forested terrain. Neukgu's last meal before the breakout was two chickens, fed the evening of April 7. Baited traps have been placed along likely travel routes, and experts estimate the wolf could survive about 10 days in the wild provided it finds water. But because Neukgu was born and hand-reared in captivity, it lacks hunting skills, and specialists warn it could perish if the search drags on much longer. The escape has drawn nationwide attention and a wave of public sympathy. President Lee Jae Myung weighed in, expressing hope for the wolf's safe return and urging that no one be harmed in the process. Citizens and animal-rights groups have demanded that Neukgu be captured alive, recalling a 2018 incident at the same zoo in which a puma was shot dead just four and a half hours after escaping its enclosure. The search has also been hampered by a flood of AI-generated fake photographs purporting to show the wolf at various locations around the city, with authorities saying the fabricated images caused confusion in the early stages of the operation and disrupted some media coverage. Reports say the search would continue through Monday before officials decide whether to launch a full-scale joint operation involving multiple agencies if no progress is made. 2026-04-12 15:40:52

Kakao VX Partners With Ourhome to Expand Food and Beverage at Screen Golf Sites Kakao VX, a sports platform company, has partnered with food service company Ourhome to expand food and beverage operations at screen golf venues. Kakao VX said it signed a memorandum of understanding on April 9 at Ourhome’s headquarters to promote food and beverage business tailored to screen golf sites. Attendees included Choi Gwang-ok, a director in charge of Kakao VX’s golf business, along with Shin Su-jin, head of Ourhome’s product business division, and Jeon Jun-beom, head of Ourhome’s marketing division. Under the agreement, starting in May, Ourhome products will be supplied through the food-and-beverage section of Kakao VX’s franchisee online mall, VX Mall. Store owners will be able to offer a wider range of Ourhome menu items to golfers, the companies said, aiming to improve customer satisfaction. Kakao VX said owners running locations with small staffs are expected to benefit from Ourhome’s distribution capabilities by selling products with consistent quality. The companies said they will cooperate across business development and promotion, solution design and delivery, ordering and supply processes, and operational communication. Kakao VX will handle franchisee recruitment and marketing based on its screen golf experience. Ourhome will provide a screen golf-focused food-and-beverage solution, proposing standard and simplified menus depending on each site’s cooking conditions and supporting on-site rollout. The companies also plan joint promotions to help drive sales. A Kakao VX official said the company will use its experience connecting screen golf sites and owners nationwide to develop food-and-beverage operations that provide practical help to stores, adding it aims to build a partnership model that improves both operational convenience for owners and customer satisfaction. An Ourhome official called the agreement a first step toward expanding a food-and-beverage model optimized for stay-type leisure spaces such as screen golf venues, and said the company will continue strengthening customized solutions based on its menu development and supply capabilities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 15:09:00

Xdinary Heroes Unveil Track Sneak Peeks for New EP 'Dead and' Ahead of Release JYP Entertainment boy band Xdinary Heroes has released all track sneak peeks for its upcoming album, building anticipation for its return. The band is set to release its eighth EP, "Dead and (DEAD AND)," on April 17. Ahead of the release, it has been rolling out short previews of songs on its official social media channels. On April 11, it shared snippets of "No Cool Kids Zone" and the title track, "Voyager." On April 12, it unveiled part of the opening track, "Helium Balloon." In the "No Cool Kids Zone" preview, Jun Han delivers witty lyrics over a hard-driving sound, highlighting the song’s garage-band energy and humor. In "Voyager," vocals from Gun-il, Jungsu, Gaon, O.de, Jun Han and Jooyeon ride a powerful rhythm and full band sound, with a fast-moving arrangement that heightens the emotional intensity. "Helium Balloon" leans on a lyrical melody and wistful mood, blending dreamy, vintage tones with delicate phrasing. "Dead and" will include seven tracks: "Voyager," the previously released "X room," "Helium Balloon," "No Cool Kids Zone," "Hurt So Good," "Rise High Rise" and "KTM." The group has continued its practice of taking part in songwriting since debut, with all members credited on the new release. After the comeback, Xdinary Heroes will expand its stage to Europe and the U.K. The band will hold its special live series, "Xdinary Heroes The New Xcene Special Live in Europe & UK," starting May 31 in Manchester, followed by June 2 in London, June 4 in Paris, June 7 in Frankfurt and June 9 in Milan. The dates follow the group’s first solo concerts in Japan, held in Osaka and Yokohama in January. The eighth EP "Dead and" and its title track "Voyager" will be released at 1 p.m. on April 17 through major music streaming sites. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 14:57:14

Golfzon Cultural Foundation Opens 13th 'Daejeon: Draw and Dream' Exhibition Golfzon Cultural Foundation is hosting the 13th 'Daejeon: Draw and Dream' exhibition through April 22 at Art Center Koo on the sixth floor of Golfzon Joymaru in Daejeon, showcasing works by emerging artists. Launched in 2012, the annual exhibition marks its 13th edition this year. The foundation said the program is a signature social contribution effort aimed at highlighting talented young artists, encouraging their creative work and helping energize the local arts scene. It provides broad support, including exhibition operations and production of promotional materials. This year's show features five artists — Kim Man-seop, Kim An-seon, Ryu Jae-seong, Won Daniel and Yoon Seung-won — presenting works that explore the theme of 'the search for identity' from their own perspectives. Admission is free. The exhibition is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the run. About 100 guests, including foundation Chairman Kim Young-chan, attended the opening ceremony on April 9. The program included congratulatory performances by the Daejeon-based string ensemble 'Hwal' and tenor Jang Kyung-hwan, followed by remarks and introductions to the artists and their works. "Through support for cultural artists, the Golfzon Cultural Foundation is cheering on artists' dreams while giving local residents a chance to encounter new worlds of art," Kim said. "We will continue sustained support and efforts so more people can enjoy art in their daily lives." Participating artist Kim Man-seop said, "I'm grateful to the foundation for giving me the opportunity to share my valued work with the public," adding, "I hope the emotions and interpretations each person feels will connect in many different ways." Founded in 2010, the Golfzon Cultural Foundation said it has worked to strengthen artists' creative energy and expand cultural experiences for local residents. Beyond this exhibition, it runs a charity golf tournament to support artists and promotes traditional culture through activities to advance cheolhwa buncheong ceramics, among other initiatives.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 14:54:00

South Korea Medical AI Approvals Jump 2.5-Fold in Three Years, Reaching 157 in 2025 South Korea’s medical artificial intelligence market is expanding rapidly, with government approvals rising more than 2.5 times over the past three years, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The technology is also evolving beyond diagnostic support to systems that can generate preliminary findings for imaging readers, industry officials say. The ministry said approvals, certifications and filings for AI-based software medical devices climbed from 62 cases in 2023 to 108 in 2024 and 157 in 2025. Another 55 cases were added in the first quarter of this year, it said. That compares with 4 cases in 2018, 13 in 2019 and 50 in 2020, underscoring how quickly the market has grown in less than a decade. The industry attributes the broader uptake to results from early leaders such as Lunit and VUNO, along with progress by newer entrants. Lunit said it received domestic approval last year for its 3D breast tomosynthesis AI image analysis solution, “Lunit INSIGHT DBT.” The product received U.S. Food and Drug Administration premarket approval in November 2023 and is being supplied through major U.S. imaging centers including SimonMed Imaging and Resolute, the company said. Lunit reported consolidated revenue of 83.1 billion won last year, up 53% from 54.2 billion won a year earlier, its highest annual total. Overseas revenue was 76.8 billion won, or 92% of the total, up 61% from 47.8 billion won. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 32% to 26.5 billion won from 20.0 billion won a year earlier. VUNO said it expanded its lineup after receiving ministry approval for “VUNO Med-DeepECG Kidney,” an AI-based electrocardiogram analysis software designed to screen for declining kidney function. The company said the deep-learning algorithm analyzes 12-lead ECG data to provide noninvasive, rapid and accurate screening. VUNO posted revenue of 34.8 billion won last year, up 34.4% from the previous year, a record. Sales of its flagship AI-based cardiac arrest prediction device, “VUNO Med-DeepCARS,” rose 18% to 25.7 billion won. Revenue from its AI-based ECG measurement device “Hativ” also increased to 1.9 billion won, the company said. Other companies, including Noeul and 3billion, are also contributing to market growth by targeting areas not dominated by the leading firms, such as AI-based blood and cancer diagnostics and AI-based rare disease diagnosis, the report said. In contrast, the number of approvals for medical AI clinical trial plans has declined, the ministry said, falling from 59 in 2023 to 56 in 2024 and 38 in 2025. Seven plans were approved in the first quarter of this year. A ministry official said the drop reflects the Digital Medical Products Act, under which data-based clinical trials are exempt from plan approval. “Because AI software often relies on data-based clinical studies, there are likely many trials conducted without ministry approval,” the official said. 2026-04-12 14:27:00

S. Korea secures 80 pct of May crude needs without tapping reserves, minister says SEOUL, April 12 (AJP) - South Korea has secured about 80 percent of its crude oil import needs for May and expects to weather the ongoing supply disruptions triggered by the Middle East conflict, Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-kwan said. Kim said the volume of crude oil locked in for May had risen by 10 percentage points from the previous week, bolstered by private-sector stockpiles held by domestic refiners. "We believe we can get through April and May without releasing government reserves, unlike during the Russia-Ukraine war when such a release was necessary," Kim said. The minister, who returned Friday from a four-nation envoy trip, struck a guarded tone on the fate of seven South Korean-linked oil tankers stranded near the Strait of Hormuz. He said Seoul was working to secure their passage but cautioned that the outcome remained unpredictable. As an alternative to the choked strait, Kim said the government was preparing to route South Korean vessels through the Red Sea via Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port, with escort support from a destroyer. He added that Riyadh had pledged to give South Korean shipments top priority in allocating Yanbu port capacity. To diversify away from its heavy reliance on Middle Eastern crude, Seoul is pursuing imports from the United States and Kazakhstan. Kim said negotiations with Astana had made considerable headway and that specifics on volumes and terms could be announced early next week. Naphtha supply, a critical petrochemical feedstock often called the lifeblood of South Korea's manufacturing sector, is also stabilizing. Kim said procurement is projected to recover to about 80 percent of normal levels in April and May, with daily monitoring in place alongside industry partners to prevent further disruption. The government has earmarked 869.1 billion won (about $585.4 million) in a recently enacted supplementary budget for supply chain stabilization, including subsidies covering half the cost increase on naphtha imports for domestic petrochemical producers. Kim said the intervention was urgent because soaring feedstock prices had made it more economical for some firms to idle their plants entirely. On helium — a gas essential to semiconductor fabrication — Kim said supplies from U.S. sources had been secured through the end of June, ensuring that no chip production facility would face a shutdown over the interim. 2026-04-12 14:11:48