KATSEYE Brings Surprise HUNTRIX Collaboration to Coachella, Crowd Sings Along KATSEYE delivered a surprise collaboration at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, sharing the stage with vocalists from HUNTRIX, the fictional girl group from “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” The group performed on the Sahara stage in Indio, California, on April 11 (Korea time). Opening with its newly released single “PINKY UP,” KATSEYE ran through 11 songs and dance breaks in a roughly 45-minute set. “We can’t believe we finally made it to Coachella. So many emotions are swirling,” the members said. “You’re making our dream a reality.” The set drew loud sing-alongs from the crowd on songs spanning multiple styles, including “Debut,” “Gameboy,” “Internet Girl,” “Gabriela” and “Gnarly,” as fans followed the lyrics and moved to the beat. Introducing “My Way,” the members offered a message of support: “We’re cheering for all of you who have the courage to do things your own way, not just what others tell you to do.” The night’s centerpiece was a surprise joint stage with HUNTRIX vocalists Rei Ami, Audrey Nuna and Leejae, who joined KATSEYE for “GOLDEN.” The song was rearranged at a slightly slower tempo to highlight the melody, with the performers trading eye contact and building harmonies. KATSEYE’s “PINKY UP,” released April 11, ranked No. 10 on Spotify’s “Daily Top Songs USA” chart dated April 10 and No. 18 on the “Daily Top Songs Global” chart. The track pairs hard-hitting percussion and bass with glossy synth textures, delivering an energetic sound and a message about living fully in the moment.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 10:55:13

South Korea Culture Ministry Sets 461.4 Billion Won Supplementary Budget for Tourism Loans, Ticket Discounts The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday that its first supplementary budget for 2026 was finalized at 461.4 billion won. The ministry said the package was designed to limit damage to the culture, sports and tourism industries amid economic pressures such as high oil prices and inflation, while providing early support for livelihoods including those of grassroots artists. It also aims to spur domestic spending through discounts for movies and performances and support for lodging and travel, linking that demand to a rebound in regional tourism and the domestic economy. To ease financing strains on tourism businesses facing rising costs, including from a weaker currency, the ministry will increase tourism-sector loans by 200 billion won, expanding the program to 837.5 billion won. It will also invest 28.1 billion won in overseas marketing to encourage foreign visitors to enter and stay in regional areas, boosting local consumption and economies. Additional funding includes 8.6 billion won for tourism startups and ventures and 3.1 billion won to expand the Youth Tourism Dure program. To support a recovery in household spending, the ministry will issue 4.5 million movie discount coupons, budgeted at 27.1 billion won, worth 6,000 won each. It will also issue 400,000 performing-arts discount coupons, budgeted at 4.1 billion won, worth 10,000 won each, to help theaters and performance venues rebuild audiences. For non-capital regions designated as areas with population decline, the ministry will provide an additional 300,000 lodging discount coupons, budgeted at 11.2 billion won. It will also expand eligibility for a worker vacation support program to include employees at mid-sized companies, allocating 4.2 billion won. A half-price travel support program for population-decline areas will expand to 30 locations from 20, with 4 billion won, to boost domestic demand and help restore sales. The ministry also set aside funding to help artists and the content industry sustain activity amid a downturn. It added 2 billion won each for operating private visual and performing arts creation spaces and supporting creators, and for supporting touring exhibitions in regional areas. It will expand support for performances by young artists with 2.4 billion won, increase loans for artists’ livelihood stability to 32.78 billion won, and expand financial support for the arts industry by 30 billion won. It also allocated 700 million won to add staff for administering the artist activity certification system. To counter a slowdown in the content industry, the ministry will invest a total of 38.5 billion won, including 26 billion won to support production of mid-budget films, 8 billion won for advanced production support, and 4.5 billion won for independent and art films. It will also increase support, by 6.3 billion won, for creation and production through regional Content Korea Labs and business support centers. The ministry said it will newly establish a 25 billion won youth content fund-of-funds to encourage investment in young “K-content” companies that are vulnerable during economic shocks. To expand youth employment in the field, the ministry will increase support for internship positions at cultural and arts institutions, allocating 3.4 billion won. It will also launch new programs: a youth internship at literature museums (750 million won), training tourism personnel linked to industrial sites (850 million won), and an internship matching program for top talent in the content industry (1.9 billion won). In sports, the ministry will add 4 billion won to its sports activity incentive program, known as Ttunteun Money, to cover an additional 80,000 beneficiaries. It will also increase funding for vouchers for sports classes for people with disabilities by 6.2 billion won, supporting 20,000 people with monthly tuition of 110,000 won. It will spend 9.5 billion won to roll out nationwide youth sports programs that use retired athletes and sports instructors as coaches. Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said high oil prices and inflation driven by the war in the Middle East were compounding difficulties across the culture, sports and tourism sectors. “This supplementary budget is an investment to respond proactively to the crisis,” Choi said. He said he expects it to achieve two goals at once: stabilizing livelihoods for artists and the tourism and culture industries, and reviving domestic demand to help energize regional economies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-12 10:54:17

EcoPro secures C$6 mln from Canada to develop all-solid-state battery materials SEOUL, April 12 (AJP) - South Korean battery materials maker EcoPro said it has secured 6 million Canadian dollars (about $4.3 million) in research funding from Canada's federal government to develop lithium metal anode technology for next-generation all-solid-state batteries. The grant, awarded to EcoPro Lithium — a unit of subsidiary EcoPro Innovation — falls under Ottawa's Energy Innovation Program, which aims to bolster domestic battery supply chains. EcoPro Innovation signed a joint development agreement with Quebec state utility Hydro-Quebec in March last year to co-develop lithium metal anodes. The funding will bankroll efforts to build and demonstrate a full lithium metal anode value chain on Canadian soil by March 2027, spanning lithium metal production, high-purity refining, ultra-thin foil fabrication and performance validation. The company also plans to accelerate construction of a semi-mass-production pilot line for the material. Lithium metal anodes offer about 10 times the energy density of conventional graphite-based anodes, a leap that could dramatically extend electric vehicle driving range and position the technology as a linchpin of the all-solid-state battery era. Beyond anodes, the EcoPro group is developing solid electrolytes, solid-state cathode materials and lithium sulfide. Its solid electrolyte program, targeting commercialization next year, has a pilot facility at the company's Ochang headquarters in North Chungcheong Province producing samples at a rate of 40 tons per year. "We are advancing lithium metal anode technology in collaboration with the Canadian government and local partners to lead the all-solid-state battery market," an EcoPro Innovation spokesperson said. "This government funding is expected to significantly accelerate the pace of development." 2026-04-12 10:27:15

UPDATE: U.S.-Iran talks collapse in Islamabad over nuclear, Hormuz disputes SEOUL, April 12 (AJP) - The United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement after 21 hours of grueling negotiations in the Pakistani capital, plunging the fragile two-week ceasefire into uncertainty with its April 21 expiration now looming. The marathon session, mediated by Pakistan, stretched across multiple rounds from Saturday evening through Sunday morning but ultimately foundered over deep divisions on Iran's nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, told reporters after the talks that Washington had yet to see a fundamental commitment from Tehran. "We leave here with a very simple proposal: a method of understanding that is our final and best offer," Vance said. "We'll see if the Iranians accept it." Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency struck a defiant tone, reporting that the Iranian delegation had rebuffed what it characterized as Washington's attempt to extract through negotiation concessions it could not win on the battlefield, including the dismantling of Iran's uranium enrichment program and the immediate opening of the strait. The United States sought not only the surrender of Iran's existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium but also curbs on its enrichment capabilities — an effort to eliminate both Tehran's present nuclear capacity and its future weapons potential. Iran, for its part, refused to relinquish what it called its right to peaceful nuclear energy. The Strait of Hormuz emerged as an equally intractable flashpoint. Washington demanded the immediate reopening of the vital waterway, whose blockade has driven up global oil prices and rattled international markets. Tehran, however, views the strait as its most powerful bargaining chip and insisted it would lift the blockade only after a comprehensive deal is sealed, senior Iranian officials cited. Tensions along the waterway underscored the stakes. U.S. Central Command said it had begun preparations for mine clearance in the strait, with two Navy guided-missile destroyers transiting the passage. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any warships attempting to pass would face a forceful response. The breakdown of the first face-to-face encounter between the two adversaries casts a shadow over the ceasefire brokered on April 8. With the truce set to expire in nine days, concerns are mounting that Israel could intensify its military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, further complicating any return to the negotiating table. Experts note that Iran appears to believe time is on its side, calculating that the economic pain inflicted by the Hormuz blockade gives Washington greater incentive to make concessions. The United States and Israel, meanwhile, have signaled they reserve the right to strike Iran's nuclear facilities at any time. 2026-04-12 09:33:28

BTS Launches 'Arirang' World Tour in Goyang, Drawing 132,000 Fans Over Three Shows BTS returned to solo touring with a stadium-scale production that paired mass choreography and fireworks with distinctly Korean imagery, using its new album, "Arirang," to signal what the group called a new chapter, "BTS 2.0." The group held "BTS World Tour Arirang in Goyang" on April 9 and April 11-12 at the main stadium of Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, south of Seoul. It marked BTS’ first standalone tour in about four years since "BTS Permission to Dance on Stage" ended in April 2022. About 132,000 people attended across the three shows. BTS opened with "Hooligan," "Aliens" and "Run BTS," driving the pace from the start. A mega crew of dozens joined the group for synchronized choreography that filled the stadium and quickly lifted the crowd’s energy. After the opening, Jung Kook told fans the weather was better than the day before and promised to "heat up" the venue even if it felt chilly. V said it had been a long time since BTS performed on a 360-degree stage and that being surrounded by ARMY, the group’s fan base, felt good. Jimin said the audience response seemed even hotter and that ARMY’s voices were especially clear. He added that BTS released "Arirang" after four years and resumed a concert tour after six and a half years, saying the group tried many new approaches in both the album and the stage production. Suga said BTS also made new attempts in songs and staging and asked fans to stay with the show even if some elements felt unfamiliar. The concert framed "BTS 2.0" as a step forward while revisiting the group’s roots. Fans saw new songs from the fifth full-length album, "Arirang," alongside established hits, arranged to trace BTS’ musical path and point to its next direction. The setlist was organized into three themes. In the "BTS" section, the group performed "they don’t know ‘bout us" with large screens showing modernized images of traditional Korean masks, followed by "Like Animals," "FAKE LOVE," "Swim" and "Merry Go Round." In the "2.0" section, BTS centered on "Normal," inspired by ink-wash painting, and ran through performance-heavy tracks including "Not Today," "MIC Drop," "FYA" and "FIRE." "Body To Body" featured choreography evoking the traditional circle dance ganggangsullae and was paired with fireworks. "IDOL" included a march along the stadium track. The final "Arirang" section pushed the crowd into a festival mood with "Come Over," "Butter," "Dynamite," "Fleet" and "Into the Sun." Korean aesthetics ran through the production, reflecting themes BTS said it explored on "Arirang" about origins, roots and identity. Traditional symbols were presented with a modern sensibility and tied closely to the music. The stage design placed a pavilion-like structure inspired by Gyeonghoeru at the center of an open 360-degree stage, reimagining a shared banquet space. The floor was designed after the South Korean flag: the taegeuk circle anchored the center, while four protruding stages extended outward, drawing on the trigrams. The layout also brought the group closer to fans around the venue. With the world tour resuming after six and a half years, the show emphasized the full seven-member lineup rather than individual stages, leaning on large-scale group choreography and a setlist packed with fan-favorite hits while presenting the message of cohesion and evolution tied to "BTS 2.0." RM thanked fans for coming after what he called a long wait, saying, "You’re the best." He said many things were changing, but the most important points had not: that the seven members chose to do this work together and that they genuinely think of their fans. He added that BTS would not take filling the venue lightly and asked fans to trust the group and watch its changes with patience, noting he first met Jung Kook when he was 15 and that they are now all over 30. Suga said the good weather seemed to match the crowd’s energy and asked fans to tell those attending the next day to come ready to shout and blow off stress. "Thanks to you, I’m taking home good memories. Thank you, and I love you," he said. Jimin said it had been six and a half years since the group toured and four years since the album release, adding he missed fans and wanted to thank them for waiting. He said BTS would keep working to deliver strong stages and music and asked fans to stay by the group’s side. V said he used his voice so much during the first show that the back of his neck hurt afterward, but that seeing ARMY made the pain "disappear like magic." Jung Kook said he was relieved the show ended safely and said the weather and cheers made him feel good. He told fans he hoped they understood that his actions and feelings toward them were sincere in any situation, adding he would keep giving everything for them and would repay their waiting with strong performances. J-Hope said he is always curious about fans’ thoughts and reactions and that the members talked extensively while preparing the concert, considering in detail how to deliver good feelings and create memories. He said the seven members’ commitment to the stage is genuine and that they want to keep showing their best performances. BTS is set to continue the tour with shows April 17-18 at Tokyo Dome, followed by dates across North America, Europe, South America and Asia. The plan calls for 85 concerts in 34 cities, described as the highest number of shows for a single tour by a Korean artist, with additional dates in Japan and the Middle East also announced.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-11 21:39:17

Kang Gye-yeol, 102, Featured in ‘My Love, Don’t Cross That River,’ Dies Kang Gye-yeol, who appeared in the documentary film “My Love, Don’t Cross That River,” has died. She was 102. Director Jin Mo-young announced her death on social media on the 10th. Jin said he visited Kang on March 31 to say goodbye. Though her memory had faded, she recognized the group, greeted them and offered kind words, he said. “Even when I first met her in September 2012, she was like a young girl,” Jin wrote, mourning her death after she lived past 100. Released in 2014, “My Love, Don’t Cross That River” follows the lives of Kang and her husband, Cho Byeong-man. The film drew about 4.8 million viewers, an unusually strong box-office showing for an independent movie. Cho died in 2013 while the film was being shot.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-11 19:33:14

Police intensify search as escaped wolf remains at large for fourth day SEOUL, April 11 (AJP) - Authorities in the central city of Daejeon have deployed drones and specialized tracking teams on Saturday to locate an escaped wolf that fled a zoo safari as the search enters its fourth day without a confirmed sighting. The two-year-old male wolf was last detected by a thermal imaging camera at 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, but it has since vanished into the rugged terrain surrounding the facility. Recent heavy rainfall and deteriorating weather conditions hindered initial aerial efforts, leading officials to believe the wolf may be taking cover in burrows or dense brush that obscured its heat signature from recovery teams. The search operation involves approximately 90 personnel and 10 drones focused on the mountainous areas of the Jung District. To prevent the animal from fleeing further into inhabited zones, ground teams have been minimized in favor of high-altitude surveillance. Officials expect that as temperatures drop after sunset, the wolf’s body heat will provide a sharper contrast against the cooling ground, allowing thermal sensors to pinpoint its exact location. Once spotted, the strategy will shift from observation to containment, with experts planning to herd the animal toward a designated capture zone without causing undue stress that could provoke a flight response. The prolonged disappearance has placed local authorities on high alert, as the window for a controlled recovery narrows. City officials emphasized that night operations remain the most viable path to a resolution, given the increased visibility of moving targets under infrared light. A spokesperson for the city of Daejeon stated, "It is much easier to find moving individuals by checking with drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras at night than during the day. It is important to find the wolf quickly by focusing on night searches from tonight until dawn." 2026-04-11 17:54:19

Police launch manhunt as burglar flees with BTS entry bracelets SEOUL, April 11 (AJP) - Law enforcers in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, have launched an intensive manhunt on Saturday for a burglar who snatched 500 BTS concert entry bracelets from a ticket booth, police said. The robbery could spark a massive security disruption involving scalpers and ordinary fans. The suspect reportedly seized the cache of credentials at approximately 3:20 p.m. (0620 GMT) before escaping the scene, prompting the police to secure surveillance footage and monitor major exit routes. The theft represents a sophisticated threat to the event’s perimeter, as the stolen items serve as the primary physical authorization for fans to enter the concert grounds. The loss of 500 bracelets creates a significant security vacuum that could allow unauthorized individuals to bypass rigorous digital checkpoints. While organizers typically cross-reference tickets with government identification to issue the bands, those wearing the bracelets are regarded as having passed all security checkpoints, including bag-checks and ID-checks. If the stolen credentials enter the illicit secondary market, they risk triggering a wave of illegal entries that could overwhelm the venue’s designated capacity and compromise the safety of the people. Organizers now face the daunting task of invalidating the serial numbers associated with the stolen batch or implementing an entirely new identification system hours before the gates open. Any lack of synchronization between legitimate ticket holders and those possessing the stolen wristbands is expected to cause substantial delays and friction at the entrance. In Seoul and its surrounding districts, where crowd management is a matter of heightened administrative concern, this breach exposes a critical vulnerability in the logistical chain of international touring. Police investigators are currently analyzing forensic evidence and witness testimony to narrow the search for the suspect. A police official told reporters: "We are mobilizing available personnel to swiftly apprehend the suspect and are cooperating with the organizers to ensure the stolen bracelets are not used illegally." 2026-04-11 17:38:14

South Korea defends president as historical parallel triggers diplomatic crisis SEOUL, April 11 (AJP) - South Korea defended its president on Saturday after his explicit comparison between Israeli military operations and 20th-century historical atrocities ignited a diplomatic quarrel with Tel Aviv. The rupture started on Friday when President Lee Jae Myung shared a video on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The footage, posted by a user named Jvnior and captioned with claims that Israeli soldiers were torturing a Palestinian child, was from September 2024. Bridging the current conflict with East Asian historical trauma, Lee wrote, "Wartime homicide is no different from matters that we take issue with, such as the forced (enslavement of) comfort women, and the massacre of Jewish people." The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a swift condemnation, accusing Lee of relying on a fake account to spread anti-Israeli disinformation. Arguing that the South Korean leader trivialized the mass murder of Jews right before Holocaust Remembrance Day, the ministry stated, "The remarks by the President of Korea, Lee Jae Myung … are unacceptable and warrant strong condemnation." It further noted, "Yet we have not heard a single word from the President about the terrorists who were at the center of this event. Nor have we heard a word from the President regarding the recent Iranian and Hezbollah terror attacks against Israeli citizens." Lee refused to retract the statement. Shifting the argument to international law, he posted an update expressing frustration with Israel's reaction. "It is disappointing that the Israeli Foreign Ministry has not once reflected on the global community's criticism of its relentless inhumane and internationally unlawful actions, which have caused immense suffering," he wrote. He added, "For the sake of universal human rights and the national interests of the Republic of Korea, I must work harder to find things I can do." By Saturday morning, the escalating friction forced the South Korean foreign ministry to intervene. Attempting to manage the fallout, the ministry posted on its official X account that Israel had misunderstood the president's intent. The government expressed regret that Tel Aviv interpreted a statement of belief in universal human rights as an attack on a specific geopolitical issue. This explicit departure from Seoul's usual quiet alignment with Washington stems from a mix of personal ideology and acute economic pressure. The president's political lens was shaped by his childhood as an underage factory laborer and his career as a human rights lawyer. His reference to comfort women points to the unresolved trauma of Korean women sexually enslaved by imperial Japanese forces during World War II, a history that deeply influences his view on state violence. At the same time, the expanding Middle East conflict is creating immediate problems for South Korea. With Israel conducting strikes in Iran and Lebanon, and civilian casualties mounting, the resulting disruption to the global economy is hitting South Korea hard. The country relies heavily on exports and imported energy, making the regional instability a direct threat to its national interests. The foreign ministry concluded its intervention by balancing its defense of the president with reassurances to Israel. "The Government of the Republic of Korea remains steadfast in its opposition to all forms of violence and anti-humanitarian acts, including the acts of terrorism pointed out by Israel," the ministry stated, adding: "Furthermore, we continue to empathize deeply with the unspeakable suffering endured by Israel due to the Holocaust, and we once again express our profound condolences to the victims of the Holocaust.." 2026-04-11 14:38:29

‘A Man Living With the King’ Becomes South Korea’s No. 2 All-Time Box Office Hit The film ‘A Man Living With the King’ has risen to No. 2 on South Korea’s all-time box office list. On its 67th day in theaters, it reached a cumulative 16,283,970 admissions on Friday, surpassing the final total of ‘Extreme Job’ (16,266,641). The only domestic release with more viewers is ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents,’ which drew about 17.61 million. Showbox and the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing network said the movie has sustained a long run since opening Feb. 4. After topping 16 million admissions on April 5, it climbed to second place. Its cumulative revenue is about 156.9 billion won, already the highest ever for a domestic release. Whether it can take the top spot remains unclear. It ranked third at the box office on Thursday with 38,704 daily admissions, after drawing 32,843 on Wednesday. The gap with No. 1 ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ is about 1.33 million admissions. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, ‘A Man Living With the King’ is set during the exile of King Danjong of the Joseon Dynasty. Performances by Yoo Hae-jin and Park Ji-hoon helped drive the film’s success.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-11 13:42:14