Baseball games in Seoul, Gwangju called off due to scorching heat SEOUL, August 4 (AJP) - Baseball games scheduled for Tuesday evening in Seoul and Gwangju were canceled as a relentless heatwave continues to grip the country. According to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the canceled games were between the NC Dinos and the Doosan Bears in Seoul, and the KT Wiz and the Kia Tigers in Gwangju. The cancellation came after the Korea Meteorological Administration issued the highest heat wave warning for both cities earlier in the day. A se August 4, 2026

AI becomes K-drama ingredient as soaring costs reshape filmmaking SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - A recent K-drama hit, Agent Kim: Reactivated, had all the ingredients of a blockbuster action sequence — North Korean agents, a former security-service commando, gangsters, explosions and a high-speed chase through a snow-covered tunnel ending in a plunge into icy water. None of it was filmed. The roughly three-minute sequence that fooled audience as an expensive location shoot was generated entirely with artificial intelligence. Described by its cr August 3, 2026

aespa to launch world tour with global cinema livestream from Seoul SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - K-pop girl group aespa will kick off its new world tour this week, with the opening concert simultaneously screened in movie theaters across 11 regions worldwide. SM Entertainment said Monday that the first show of "2026-27 aespa LIVE TOUR – SYNK : COMPLaeXITY" on Aug. 7 will be broadcast live in 146 cinemas across 11 markets, including South Korea, allowing fans around the world to watch the group's world tour opene August 3, 2026

South Korean soprano Sumi Jo receives Maria Callas SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - South Korean soprano Sumi Jo has received the 12th Premio Internazionale Maria Callas, becoming the first Asian artist to receive the Italian honor in the year she marks the 40th anniversary of her international debut. PRM, Jo's publicity agency, said Monday that she accepted the award in Verona on Sunday, where organizers hold the annual ceremony each Aug. 2, the anniversary of Maria Callas' debut at the Arena di Verona in 1947. The prize recogniz August 3, 2026

Hollywood stars indulge in Seoul's charms ahead of  'The Odyssey' release SEOUL, August 3 (AJP) - The cast and crew of Hollywood's upcoming epic saga "The Odyssey" on Monday shared their experiences of spending time here after arriving in Seoul over the weekend. Director Christopher Nolan, his wife and producer Emma Thomas, actor Matt Damon, and actress Charlize Theron attended a press conference for the action fantasy film at the Four Seasons Hotel in central Seoul, where they shared their experiences exploring the capital after arriving August 3, 2026

Stray Kids kicks off RUN IT world tour with five sold-out Seoul concerts SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - K-pop boy group Stray Kids successfully wrapped up it's five sold-out concerts in Seoul, officially kicking off its "RUN IT" world tour and giving fans an early preview of music from its upcoming mini album, "THIS & THAT," JYP Entertainment said Monday. The JYP Entertainment group performed at Seoul's KSPO Dome on July 25-26, July 29 and Aug. 1-2, drawing capacity crowds across all five dates. The Seoul concerts marked the o August 3, 2026

NCT 127 launches interactive 'CALL 127' campaign ahead of new album SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - K-pop boy group NCT 127 has launched an interactive promotional campaign ahead of its seventh studio album, "BLINGY," built around the idea that fans are the ones calling the group into action, SM Entertainment said Monday. SM Entertainment opened the CALL 127 website at midnight Monday as the centerpiece of the campaign leading up to the album's Aug. 24 release. Styled as a command center, the site allows visitors to browse teaser materials August 3, 2026

Na Hong-jin's sci-fi thriller attracts over 4 million moviegoers SEOUL, August 3 (AJP) - Director Na Hong-jin's latest film "Hope" has attracted over 4 million moviegoers less than a month after its release. According to ticket sales data released by the Korean Film Council on Monday, the sci-fi film reached the milestone the previous day, becoming this year's third film to do so, after "The King's Warden" and "Colony." The milestone is particularly impressive given the film's competition from August 3, 2026

Korean comic wins Eisner Award for first time SEOUL, August 01 (AJP) - A Korean comic has won a Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for the first time, marking a milestone for Korean graphic novels in the U.S. comics market. Sanho’s “Purgatory Funeral Cakes,” originally published in Korea as “Funeral Cake Shop Yeonokdang,” won the award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia at the 38th Eisner Awards, according to Comic-Con International. The English edition was translated by Danny August 1, 2026

Cortis teams with Juicy J for 'Motion' ahead of Lollapalooza debut SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - K-pop rookie boy group Cortis has enlisted Academy Award-winning rapper Juicy J for its latest digital single, "Motion," as the rookie group prepares for its debut appearance at Lollapalooza Chicago this weekend. BigHit Music said Friday that the track was released at 1 p.m. KST. Drawing inspiration from the Memphis hip-hop sound that emerged in the U.S. South during the 1990s, "Motion" reinterprets the genre through the group's own mus July 31, 2026