I tried outdoor yoga — it was freezing, but strangely refreshing SEOUL, April 07 (AJP) - The latest global trend to land in a traditional Korean setting — after BTS turned Gwanghwamun into a stage — is yoga. I had imagined something serene: quiet breathing, sun-drenched calm, flowers in bloom, and that cinematic kind of spring healing. So I signed up for an outdoor yoga session at Namsangol Hanok Village in downtown Seoul on Tuesday morning. Instead, I got windburn. A stubborn cold snap had dragged temperatures close to freezing, and a sharp gust cut through the courtyard, slapping faces and seeping straight through the mat. Within minutes, my fingers were stiff, my shoulders tense, and my optimism fading. Turnout reflected the weather. Only about 30 people showed up for “Seoul Yoga Connect 2026,” an annual event hosted by the Indian Embassy’s Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) ahead of the International Day of Yoga on June 21. Still, we began. I wobbled into a cross-legged pose, palms facing upward on my knees, softly chanting “ah” to mark the start. The idea was calm. The reality was trying not to shiver. We leaned forward to stretch our backs and hamstrings, then stood to sway side to side, loosening stiff bodies under the pale morning sun. Lying flat on my back was the real test — the cold from the ground hit instantly. We moved through poses: bending legs, lifting hips toward the sky, then curling up to hold both legs while raising the chest. The instructor’s voice stayed calm and measured. My internal dialogue did not. The session, which began at 10:30 a.m., followed brief opening remarks and rolled into three consecutive classes led by instructors from SVCC, Viveka Yoga and the Korea Yoga Association. Gradually, something shifted. Breathing steadied. The wind, while still biting, felt less intrusive. Some participants closed their eyes as sunlight filled the courtyard, settling into a rhythm that seemed to ignore the temperature altogether. “Yoga is beneficial not only physically, but also mentally, spiritually and emotionally,” said Ashish Singh, an SVCC instructor. “It is not limited to posture or physical exercise. Yoga is a journey toward self-realization.” He explained that the focus on breathing helps guide participants toward a meditative state — the ultimate goal. For some, that journey has been long underway. “It has been almost 20 years since I started yoga,” said Moon Yeon-kyung, 62, who attends classes at the Indian Cultural Centre. “It is not just exercise. Yoga is special because it trains both the body and the mind.” “It has helped loosen tight muscles and clear my mind,” she added. By the end, I was still cold — but oddly refreshed. The United Nations adopted the International Day of Yoga in 2015 to recognize its benefits for physical and mental well-being. Since then, it has been marked worldwide with mass sessions and cultural programs. In South Korea, this year’s celebrations will begin on Jeju Island on June 7, followed by Busan on June 13 and Chuncheon on June 27. 2026-04-07 17:02:58

Actor Hyun Bin chosen as face of South Korea's spy agency SEOUL, April 7 (AJP) - Heartthrob actor Hyun Bin will take on the unlikely task of serving as the face of South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), the spy agency said Tuesday. The NIS said the star has been appointed to carry out promotional activities to raise awareness of the agency's broader role in protecting the country from various security threats, rather than its traditional Cold War–era focus on tracking down North Korean spies, amid an evolving security environment. The appointment follows last month's revision of relevant laws by the National Assembly, which expanded the definition and scope of espionage to cover threats from all foreign countries, not just North Korea, reflecting growing concerns over sophisticated spying and intelligence threats from overseas. Hyun Bin, who played an NIS agent in his 2023 film "The Point Men," appears a natural fit for the role, bringing his on-screen experience into a real-world engagement with the agency. 2026-04-07 16:39:27

NK holds photo exhibition to mark 114th Anniversary of Kim Il-sung's birth PYONGYANG, April 07 (AJP) - A central photo exhibition commemorating the 114th anniversary of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung's birth (April 15) opened up to the public at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on April 6, the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday. 2026-04-07 16:27:26

South Korea launches Global Sports Leadership program to train senior sports diplomacy talent The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it will work with the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation to train a small annual cohort of senior-level talent in international sports, aiming to strengthen South Korea’s sports diplomacy. The ministry said on the 7th it has created a “Global Sports Leadership Program” and will recruit its first class of trainees from the 8th through the 30th. The initiative was designed to expand South Korea’s influence in international sports in line with its status as a leading athletic nation. The ministry said it plans to strategically develop senior talent in the field, citing the recent election of former national team bobsledder Won Yun-jong to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission as momentum for the effort. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies was selected through an open competition to run the program. The new course targets future senior officials at major international bodies, including the IOC, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and international federations. The program will run for six months starting in June, combining overseas training with a four-stage curriculum: foundation, specialization, application and feedback. The foundation stage in June covers the Olympic Movement and international sports values. The specialization stage, from June to November, provides advanced training in sports organizations and industry, bidding to host events and administrative topics including artificial intelligence. The application stage includes simulated meetings and assignments, followed by a final evaluation and career planning in the feedback stage. A key component is overseas training in Lausanne, Switzerland, described as a hub of international sports. Trainees will visit the IOC headquarters as well as the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), World Archery (WA) and the International Academy of Sport Science and Technology (AISTS). The ministry said participants will complete joint projects on site and meet senior officials to build practical skills and expertise. The program also includes close support to strengthen global competencies, including language training. It will offer intensive English courses by level and a second-language French track, along with practical exercises such as mock international meetings, policy presentations and report writing. All language courses will be operated through the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Language Education and Evaluation Center. Monthly one-on-one guidance with foreign instructors will also be provided. Applicants include sports administrators and athletes seeking senior posts in international sports organizations, as well as international referees and people from government and business. Evaluations will focus on sports-related experience and job fit. The ministry said it will give preference to former athletes, noting that about 40% of current IOC members are Olympians. It plans to fully cover tuition for Olympic and world championship medalists and provide half tuition support for Asian Games medalists. Applications will be accepted through the official website from the 8th through the 30th. Successful candidates will begin the program with an entrance ceremony on June 1. A ministry official said South Korea needs sports diplomacy capabilities that match the growing presence of its athletes on the international stage. “Through this program, we will systematically develop talent capable of making real decisions within international sports organizations and continue to produce international sports leaders like IOC Athletes’ Commission member Won Yun-jong, in a second and third generation,” the official said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-07 16:21:46

Naver partners with EBS to build trusted knowledge video content SEOUL, April 07 (AJP) - Naver and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly produce large-scale knowledge and educational video content, the companies said. Under the agreement, inked at Naver's headquarters on Tuesday in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, the two sides will co-produce content spanning health, finance and economics as well as material aligned with South Korea's elementary, middle and high school curricula. The partners plan to steadily expand a knowledge video archive by tapping into a broader range of topics. EBS is South Korea's public educational broadcaster, operating under guidance of the Ministry of Education with a mandate to provide nationwide learning resources across television, radio and digital platforms. The content will be distributed across Naver's search engine, home feed and online encyclopedia services, aiming to help users access more accurate and in-depth information throughout the portal's ecosystem. "High-quality data has emerged as a core competitive edge in the AI era, and the combination of Naver's AI technology and platform capabilities with EBS's proven content production expertise will drive the expansion of a trustworthy knowledge content ecosystem," Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon said. EBS President Kim Yu-yeol called the agreement "a starting point for innovation that merges EBS's production know-how with Naver's AI technology." He added that, at a time of growing vigilance over AI hallucinations, the broadcaster would work to ensure its credible video content is properly utilized through Naver's AI services, contributing to a more reliable digital environment. 2026-04-07 16:09:54

Korean Film Directors Lee Joon-ik, Lee Byung-hun Move Into Short-Form Dramas Korean film directors are increasingly turning to short-form dramas, a format once seen largely as a proving ground for newcomers. After director Lee Byung-hun joined Lezhin Snack’s original series “The Baby’s Dad Is My Guy Friend” as planner and director, director Lee Joon-ik has also stepped into the space with “A Father’s Home-Cooked Meal.” Lezhin Snack said “A Father’s Home-Cooked Meal” wrapped filming March 24 and has moved into postproduction. Based on a webtoon of the same name by writer Gorita, the story follows a family after the wife, Soon-ae, can no longer cook following an accident. Her husband, Ha-eung, who has kept his distance from the kitchen his whole life, begins making home-cooked meals for the first time, and family relationships shift along the way. The company said the adaptation builds on the original’s emotional tone — using food to explore intergenerational ties — while deepening the narrative and character interpretations for the screen. Lee Joon-ik, known for films including “The King and the Clown,” “Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet” and “The Book of Fish,” is directing a short-form drama for the first time. His move from feature-length theatrical storytelling to a vertical frame and faster pacing has drawn industry attention. Lee said, “This is my first time trying a short-form drama. Within a vertical frame, you can clearly observe even the deepest corners of a character. I set it up so we don’t miss the good parts of the original, while allowing the story to gain depth.” The cast includes Jung Jin-young, Lee Jung-eun and Byun Yo-han. Jung plays Ha-eung, who takes responsibility for home cooking after his wife can no longer do it. Lee plays Soon-ae, who has long anchored the family table but suddenly forgets how to cook, disrupting everyday life. Byun plays their son, Myung-bok, who watches the changes up close. Their participation reflects a broader trend of lead-level actors joining short-form projects. The shift is not limited to Lee Joon-ik. Lee Byung-hun’s “The Baby’s Dad Is My Guy Friend” has continued to draw viewers since its release and has emerged as one of the platform’s notable hits, according to the report. The involvement of directors already recognized for commercial appeal and directing skill in film and television suggests the market mood around short formats is changing. Lezhin Snack said it is expanding production of “premium content” that delivers polished storytelling within the short-form format. The company described “A Father’s Home-Cooked Meal” as a project drawing expectations through its combination of source material, creators and cast — and as an example of its strategy to pursue both quality and broad appeal within a short runtime. The company’s upcoming slate also points to a widening range for short-form dramas. Beyond “A Father’s Home-Cooked Meal,” Lezhin Snack plans to roll out “Special Conditions of My Live-in Boyfriend,” “A Naughty Blind Date,” “Bad Kid Good Partner” and “Mujin: A Female Professor Seduces Her Student,” spanning family drama, romance, BL and revenge stories. “Mujin: A Female Professor Seduces Her Student” is directed by Kim Hwi, who made the films “The Neighbors” and “The Murder Case at Itaewon,” while “Bad Kid Good Partner” is directed by Kim Sun-bin, who has drawn attention in the independent film scene. With Lee Byung-hun followed by Lee Joon-ik moving into short-form drama directing, industry watchers are paying closer attention to how the format could reshape content strategies going forward.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-07 16:09:14

Ryanghyun Ryangha’s Kim Ryangha Confirms Relationship With Model Kim Hee Kim Ryangha of the group Ryanghyun Ryangha has confirmed he is dating Kim Hee, a racing model and influencer. A video titled “Nago-mab: Did you blow the 2 billion won you made as Ryanghyun Ryangha?!” was posted Sunday on the YouTube channel “Byeongjin-ihyeong.” In the video, Kim said he and Kim Hee, who had been friends for a long time, recently became a couple. He said he works in online marketing and hosted a party for influencers and business people, where he ran into her again after a long time. “We clicked,” he said, adding that they agreed to meet on Pepero Day and that their relationship grew from friendship into romance. “We’re really on the same wavelength,” he said. Ryanghyun Ryangha debuted in 2000 as JYP’s first signed act and gained popularity with the hit song “I Didn’t Go to School.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-07 16:06:17

KDI warns of downside risks to economy as Gulf crisis clouds recovery SEOUL, April 7 (AJP) - South Korea's governmental Korea Development Institute think tank warned on Tuesday that the nascent economic recovery is facing increased downside risks as the conflict in the Middle East disrupts global supply chains and triggers a spike in energy prices. In the April edition of its "KDI Monthly Economic Trends," the institute said that while domestic demand and exports had been showing signs of gradual improvement, the "volatility stemming from the Middle East war, combined with surging international oil prices, is expanding downward pressure on the economy." ICT-led export boom hampered by soaring oil prices Economic indicators through February remained generally positive, KDI reported. On the production side, the service sector maintained steady growth, and the manufacturing sector expanded its gains, bolstered by a surge in semiconductor output. Exports continued a robust upward trajectory, particularly in ICT items such as semiconductors (140.5 percent) and computers (176.6 percent), driven by strong demand related to artificial intelligence (AI). Consumption also showed a moderate recovery, with average retail sales for January and February rising 2.7 percent year-on-year, excluding the seasonal distortion of the Lunar New Year holiday. Facility investment also performed well, increasing by an average of 9.3 percent in the first two months, centered on the semiconductor industry. The landscape, however, shifted abruptly in March following the outbreak of the conflict. The price of Dubai crude, South Korea’s benchmark, skyrocketed from $68.4 per barrel in February to $128.5 in March. Consequently, consumer prices in March rose 2.2 percent year-on-year – up from 2.0 percent in February – with petroleum product prices jumping 9.9 percent. Sinking sentiment and financial market volatility These escalating uncertainties are weighing heavily on economic sentiment, KDI said. The Composite Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) plummeted to 107.0 in March from 112.1 in February, while the Business Survey Index (BSI) also retreated across the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors. Financial market volatility has intensified as well. Driven by safe-haven demand and concern over the country’s reliance on Middle Eastern oil, the won-dollar exchange rate climbed into the 1,500 won range. Meanwhile, the benchmark KOSPI index dived from 6,244.1 at the end of February to 5,052.5 by the end of March. While the labor market showed some relief as the number of employed persons increased by 234,000 in February following the resumption of government job programs, employment among people in their 20s remained sluggish. "The inflationary pressure and global economic instability caused by the Middle East war could worsen export conditions and constrain investment," the report said. The think tank warned that increased costs for building materials are emerging as a significant headwind, likely delaying new projects, and hindering a rebound in construction investment. 2026-04-07 15:58:42

Court grants bail to far-right pastor in courthouse intrusion case SEOUL, April 7 (AJP) - Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, who had been detained for allegedly instigating a courthouse intrusion, is set to be released on bail Tuesday. The Seoul Western District Court granted bail after the outspoken far-right pastor cited health reasons in his request. The court said the pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, a presbyterian church in northern Seoul, needs regular hospital visits to treat a urological condition related to diabetes, adding that "his face is widely known, so the risk of flight is low." It also said that a travel ban would prevent him from fleeing overseas. Once he fulfills the bail conditions set by the court, which require him to pay 100 million Korean won and bar him from any direct or indirect contact with people connected to the intrusion, he will be released. Jeon has been accused of inciting the incident in January last year in an attempt to prevent the arrest of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. He allegedly encouraged his church members and Yoon's diehard supporters to storm the Seoul Western District Court in search of the judge who issued the arrest warrant, damaging court property and assaulting police and others. 2026-04-07 15:37:23

Korea’s Mortgage Curbs Hit Policy Loans as Didimdol, Bogeumjari Lending Slumps The government’s continued tightening of mortgage lending has sharply reduced the volume of policy loans such as Didimdol and Bogeumjari, with lending down by about half. With authorities capping this year’s growth in household lending — including policy loans — at 1.5%, the lending squeeze is expected to deepen.  According to the financial sector on Monday, 4,567 first-time homebuyer Didimdol loans were issued from November through February. That was down 57.9% from 10,844 in the same period a year earlier. The total amount also fell 67.8%, to 651.8 billion won from 2.0212 trillion won.  The drop is widely attributed to tighter eligibility rules introduced last year under the government’s household lending cap. Under the June 27 measures, the loan-to-value ratio for first-time home purchase mortgages in the Seoul metropolitan area and other regulated zones was lowered to 70% from 80%, and the change was applied to policy loans as well. The maximum Didimdol loan limit for first-time buyers was also cut to 240 million won from 300 million won.  Didimdol loans for general households and newlyweds have also weakened. Applications for general-household Didimdol loans averaged 1,424 a month in 2023 during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, but fell to a monthly average of 528 in the second half of last year after President Lee Jae-myung took office. Newlywed Didimdol applications were 2,493 in 2023 and 3,798 in 2024, then dropped to 2,067 in the second half of last year. The loan amount rose from 588 billion won in 2023 to 960.5 billion won in 2024, before sliding to 382.8 billion won in the second half of last year.  Analysts say funding options for end users are narrowing as borrowing hurdles rise under the current government, including a cut in the loan limit for newlywed Bogeumjari loans to 150 million won from 200 million won and a reduction in the guarantee ratio for jeonse loans in the Seoul metropolitan area and other regulated zones to 80% from 90%.  Bogeumjari loans have also declined. Last year, applications — including special programs for newborns — totaled 135,043 cases, down 46% from a year earlier. The loan amount, which was 12.3288 trillion won in 2022, surged to 26 trillion won in 2023 but fell to 13.5043 trillion won last year.  A financial industry official said the lower guarantee ratio reduced loan limits, contributing to the decline in policy lending. The official added that while standards such as home price and floor area remain unchanged, faster home price increases have also played a role.  Policy lending is likely to shrink further this year. The Financial Services Commission has limited annual growth in household lending, including policy loans, to 1.5%, leaving banks little choice but to scale back policy-finance products. 2026-04-07 15:27:00