ASIA DEEP INSIGHT: The center of global power is moving eastward SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - The world is passing through one of the great transitional eras of modern history. The global contest over artificial intelligence between the United States and China, the prolonged devastation of the war in Ukraine, and the widening instability caused by the conflict involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz have together accelerated the restructuring of the international order. Political uncertainty, energy insecurity, technological rivalry, and financial fra May 20, 2026

Homeplus stores fade as Korea's offline retail hunts for a lifeline SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Finding a grocery item for an impromptu home dinner has become something of a luxury, said Michelle, an expatriate homemaker in her 40s living in Seorae Village, a quiet enclave in southern Seoul that is home to much of Korea’s French community due to its proximity to the country’s only French international school. Apart from a handful of convenience stores, butcher shops and fruit vendors, the neighborhood’s only meaningful grocery option is May 20, 2026

Kakao union wins strike mandate as Korean tech labor unrest spreads SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Unionized workers at Kakao and four of its affiliates voted overwhelmingly in favor of industrial action, clearing the way for what would be the first joint strike in the South Korean tech giant's history and adding to a swelling wave of labor unrest sweeping the country's chip and platform industries. The Kakao branch of the Koren Federation of Chemical and Textile, and Food Workers Unions announced Wednesday all five affiliates — Kakao, Kakao Pa May 20, 2026

South Korea's 'beloved music coach' to bring spirit of cultural diplomacy to Paris SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - There are moments when music accomplishes what politics, diplomacy, and economics often cannot. It dissolves distance. It softens history. It reminds people, however briefly, that civilization is ultimately sustained not only by power and institutions, but by the human heart. This spring, Lee Gi-yeon, widely known in South Korea as the "Music Coach for the Nation" will travel to Paris with a group of South Korean amateur vocalists and professional m May 20, 2026

Rain drenches Seoul and cools off unseasonable heat wave SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Rain drenched Seoul and surrounding areas on Wednesday, offering some relief from the unseasonable heat wave in May. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the rain that began overnight in central and southern regions is forecast to spread across most parts of the country, with up to 80 millimeters of rainfall expected in Seoul, Incheon and other areas of Gyeonggi Province. The much-needed rain to end a late-spring drou May 20, 2026

LIGHTSUM's Nayoung releases cover of YOASOBI's 'Yoru ni Kakeru' SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Nayoung of K-pop girl group LIGHTSUM has released a cover video of Japanese duo YOASOBI's "Yoru ni Kakeru," according to a press release from Cube Entertainment. The video, uploaded to LIGHTSUM's official social media channels on Tuesday, features Nayoung performing the song at nighttime locations in Seoul, including Namsan and Hangang Bridge. The cover had drawn more than 22,000 views and 1,300 likes within about 14 hours of its release as May 20, 2026

Jeju casino operator Lotte Tourism gains "buy" reinforcement from Hana Securities SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Hana Securities reiterated a "buy" rating and a 28,000 won ($18.53) target price on Lotte Tourism Development on Tuesday, designating the Jeju Dream Tower operator its top pick in the leisure sector after the company posted a 121.5 percent jump in first-quarter operating profit even as its two foreign-only casino rivals both saw earnings fall. The stock traded at 19,080 won on Tuesday morning, leaving Hana's target roughly 47 percent above curren May 20, 2026

Samsung Live: Seoul presses management and union not to give up on talks SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) -The South Korean government pressured the management and union of Samsung Electronics not to give up talks to avert a general strike starting Thursday that could rattle the core chip sector sustaining Asia’s fourth-largest economy and one of the world’s hottest stock markets against Gulf war shocks. The presidential office Wednesday expressed “deep regret” after three days of government-mediated wage talks collapsed in Sejong City, while May 20, 2026

aespa to open 'LEMONADE' pop-ups in Seoul, LA, New York and Shenzhen SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - K-pop girl group aespa will open a series of pop-up events in Seoul and major overseas cities to celebrate the release of its second full-length album “LEMONADE,” SM Entertainment said Monday. The album is scheduled for release at 1 p.m. on May 29 on major streaming platforms and as a physical album. The pop-up campaign, titled “aespa WEEK - MAKE IT LEMONADE,” will run from May 29 to June 7 across Yeouido and Banpo in Seoul. In the ca May 20, 2026

Kazakhstan ties Golden Horde legacy to tech ambitions SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - The Kazakhstan Embassy in Seoul released a statement on Wednesday detailing an international symposium in Astana that frames the heritage of the Golden Horde as a pillar for the country's modern technological transformation. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that the medieval empire's advanced administrative and trade systems serve as historical precursors to the nation's current digital infrastructure goals. The UNESCO-backed event highlight May 20, 2026