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i-dle perform 'Gimme Dat Love' at 'We Made' media showcase SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) - i-dle perform their title track "Gimme Dat Love" at the media showcase for the group's ninth mini album We Made at YES24 Concert Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on July 6, 2026. 2026-07-06 20:42:49 -
Shuhua at i-dle's 'We Made' media showcase SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) - i-dle member Shuhua poses at the media showcase for the group's ninth mini album We Made at YES24 Concert Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on July 6, 2026. 2026-07-06 20:41:16 -
Minnie at i-dle's 'We Made' media showcase SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) - i-dle member Minnie poses at the media showcase for the group's ninth mini album We Made at YES24 Concert Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on July 6, 2026. 2026-07-06 20:39:51 -
Miyeon at i-dle's 'We Made' media showcase SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) - i-dle member Miyeon poses at the media showcase for the group's ninth mini album We Made at YES24 Concert Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on July 6, 2026. 2026-07-06 20:38:20 -
Yuqi at i-dle's 'We Made' media showcase SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) - i-dle member Yuqi poses at the media showcase for the group's ninth mini album We Made at YES24 Concert Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on July 6, 2026. 2026-07-06 20:36:44 -
Soyeon at i-dle's 'We Made' media showcase SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) - i-dle leader Soyeon poses at the media showcase for the group's ninth mini album We Made at YES24 Concert Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on July 6, 2026. 2026-07-06 20:35:23 -
Samsung Card Rescinds Payment Hold Amid Homeplus Opposition; Hyundai Card Suspends Points Program Samsung Card has reversed its decision to withhold payments to merchants in response to opposition from Homeplus. Meanwhile, Hyundai Card's points payment service remains suspended.According to Yonhap News on July 6, Homeplus demanded an immediate withdrawal of the payment hold after Samsung Card and Hyundai Card notified it of the suspension of payments to offline merchants and the termination of their online points partnership following a decision by the Seoul Rehabilitation Court to terminate the rehabilitation process.Homeplus argued that the termination of the rehabilitation process does not take immediate effect and can be appealed within 14 days from the announcement date, asserting that the rehabilitation process is still in effect. Therefore, it contended that the card companies' notifications regarding the termination of the points partnership do not meet legal requirements and are thus invalid.Homeplus also countered that withholding payments due to outstanding debts or canceled sales is unreasonable, especially since there are no credit transactions occurring offline and online operations have been halted. It emphasized that blocking card payment collections would inevitably disrupt normal business operations.As the controversy escalated, Samsung Card changed its initial stance. The company determined that the trend of canceled sales had stabilized and decided to resume normal payments to merchants starting July 7.Initially, Samsung Card explained that it temporarily withheld payments as a precautionary measure to prevent consumer harm due to a surge in canceled sales following the termination of the rehabilitation process. It also stated that if the rehabilitation process were to be reinstated or if a bankruptcy trustee were appointed, it would negotiate payment terms accordingly.Samsung Card's standard merchant agreement includes provisions allowing the card company to withhold payments if significant operational changes occur, such as the filing for rehabilitation or bankruptcy by the merchant.However, Samsung Card confirmed that there would be no changes to its points partnership agreement with Homeplus.Hyundai Card reported that it continued to make payments to Homeplus on the same day and communicated that it would offset any canceled sales. The suspension of the points payment service was described as a measure to consider potential consumer harm, but it is understood that discussions with Homeplus are still needed to finalize the contract termination.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-06 20:20:00 -
Kang Hoon-sik Calls for Investigation into Abuse of Special Housing Supply for Disabled Kang Hoon-sik, head of the Presidential Office, directed a thorough investigation and strict measures against illegal activities exploiting the special housing supply system for the disabled and national veterans on July 6.During a closed meeting with senior aides at the Blue House, Kang emphasized the seriousness of the issue, referencing a recent case where a broker was caught illegally obtaining an apartment valued at 2.08 billion won under the name of a hearing-impaired individual. He stated, "It is a very serious problem that the special supply system, designed to ensure housing stability for the disabled, has been exploited for organized crime."Kang further noted that similar illegal practices have been identified in the special supply for national veterans, necessitating a comprehensive review and improvement of the entire system.He urged relevant authorities to conduct a more thorough investigation into illegal activities such as falsifying real estate subscription qualifications and to establish fairness in the special supply system through strict measures, including cancellation of subscriptions and criminal penalties for detected violations.Additionally, he called for enhanced guidance to ensure that individuals eligible for special supply, including the disabled and national veterans, fully understand the intent of the system. He requested the development of measures to fundamentally block attempts at proxy contracts through name lending and brokers.Kang also addressed recent media reports indicating that teenagers can easily purchase electronic cigarettes at unmanned stores using forged identification. He pointed out that the current adult verification system is failing to function properly, undermining the effectiveness of laws aimed at protecting youth.He instructed the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the National Police Agency to promptly assess the sales status of harmful substances like electronic cigarettes to minors and take necessary administrative actions. He also called for collaboration with relevant agencies, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, to improve the adult verification system and ensure effective measures are in place to prevent minors from purchasing harmful substances.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-06 20:08:00
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The wisdom of the wind and the sun—and how the sun prevailed in Gwangju The wind and the sun is one of the best-known fables of Aesop. They quarrel over who is stronger and decide to settle the argument by making a traveler remove his cloak. The wind blows with all its might. But the harder it blows, the tighter the traveler clutches his coat. The sun simply shines a little warmer, and before long the traveler removes it himself. Gentleness can be more powerful than force. Perhaps a true adult is one who possesses not the power to overpower another, but the warmth and understanding to open another person's heart. That lesson was quietly demonstrated on Monday by Lee Kyu-yeon, principal of Gwangju Jeil High School. A week after students of Seoul-based Paichai High School mocked the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement with chants of "Let's go to Starbucks" and "Tank Day" during a baseball tournament, all 36 players, accompanied by parents, teachers and school officials, traveled to Gwangju to apologize in person. The atmosphere was heavy. Many of the teenagers kept their heads down. Some cried. Parents cried with them. Lee could have humiliated them further. Instead, he lifted them. "Raise your heads. Straighten your shoulders," he told the students. "Your future is not over." He reminded them that sincere apology begins in the heart but is ultimately proven through how one lives afterward. The greatest act of asking forgiveness, he said, would be to meet again on the baseball field and play a fair, honorable game. He also refused to let the children shoulder the burden alone. "It was adults who led the children in the wrong direction," he said. "That responsibility belongs to us." Those few words may have done more to teach accountability than any punishment ever could. Remarkably, Lee also reached back into history not to deepen division but to build a bridge. He reminded both schools that their proud traditions were intertwined: that students of Paichai had joined the 1929 student independence movement alongside students of Gwangju Jeil, and that the inscription on Gwangju Jeil's student independence memorial was written by President Syngman Rhee himself. History, in his telling, became not another weapon but common ground. On the very same day, however, another adult paid a different price. Lee Byung-tae, vice chairman of the presidential committee on regulatory rationalization resigned after mounting pressure over remarks criticizing what he described as the "sacralization" of the May 18 movement. He argued that the punishment imposed on the students had become excessive and warned against turning youthful misconduct into ideological warfare. His comparison with Kim Il-sung and North Korea drew fierce condemnation, prompting the presidential office to recommend his resignation. One can disagree with his analogy. Many reasonably will. But his departure also illustrates another uncomfortable reality: in today's South Korea, the boundary between defending historical memory and narrowing the space for public debate has become increasingly difficult to navigate. The two developments offer a revealing contrast. One adult exercised authority by extending grace. Another lost his position after questioning the limits of public orthodoxy. Both episodes were responses to the same incident. The students themselves accepted responsibility without excuse. They traveled hundreds of kilometers, apologized face to face, and left with tears in their eyes. Whether six months of suspension was proportionate will remain open to debate. What is beyond dispute is that they confronted the consequences of their actions. Democracies require accountability. They also require room for forgiveness. Without accountability, history is forgotten. Without forgiveness, history becomes a prison. Leadership is measured not only by how firmly it condemns wrongdoing, but also by whether it leaves open a path for people—especially young people—to become better than their worst mistake. As author Simon Sinek once observed, "Accountability is hard. Blame is easy." On Monday in Gwangju, one principal showed the difference. The author is the managing editor of AJP. 2026-07-06 20:01:00 -
Unification Ministry: North Korea Continues to Emphasize Naval Power Enhancement The Unification Ministry stated on July 6 that North Korea conducted a major weapon system test for its 5,000-ton destroyer, 'Ganggeonho,' and will closely monitor developments in naval power enhancement in collaboration with relevant agencies.Yoon Min-ho, a spokesperson for the ministry, said during a regular briefing at the government complex in Seoul, "North Korea has consistently emphasized the strengthening of its naval power through the 9th Party Congress and recent plenary meetings."Regarding the recent test, Yoon explained, "This follows the order for the commissioning of the destroyer 'Choe Hyon-ho' on June 23, leading to the armed system test."On the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency reported that on July 3, tests were conducted on the combat system performance evaluation plan for the destroyer 'Ganggeonho,' which included the launch of strategic cruise missiles, as well as tests of onboard guns, automatic cannons, and electronic warfare systems.The tests assessed the ship's target detection and information processing capabilities, as well as the integrated fire control system, followed by firing exercises and the launch of strategic cruise missiles.'Ganggeonho' is a new 5,000-ton destroyer from North Korea. During its launching ceremony in May of last year, the vessel capsized while being floated, leading to its grounding. The ship was salvaged 22 days later, and the launching ceremony was held, but questions about its operational status have persisted.Yoon noted that this test is part of the armed system tests following the commissioning order for the destroyer 'Choe Hyon-ho' on June 23.Previously, on June 23, North Korea also held a commissioning ceremony for the new 5,000-ton destroyer 'Choe Hyon-ho' at Nampo Port and announced its deployment to the West Sea Fleet.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-06 20:00:00