Finance chief to attend series of key financial meetings in US this week SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol is set to depart for the U.S. on Monday to attend a series of international meetings and other events, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said on Monday. Koo is scheduled to host an investor blitz in New York on Tuesday for major global investment banks, outlining South Korea's economic fundamentals and key policy priorities to attract investment in the country. He will also meet top executives of global asset managers April 13, 2026

WGBI impact muted as external shocks pressure Korean bonds, won SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - South Korean sovereigns joining the World Government Bond Index (WGBI) hardly proved to be a magic wand for both the currency and bonds in the first month. Extraordinary factors — including escalating Middle East conflicts and a shifting interest rate and inflation environment — have partly undermined the honeymoon period. Some experts say Korea’s structural challenges run too deep to rely simply on a WGBI boost. Since FTSE Russell be April 13, 2026

INTERVIEW: BTS wear them, but hanbok is still misunderstood SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Hanbok is everywhere — on global stages, red carpets and tourist hotspots. Recognition, however, remains elusive. From BTS’s Gwanghwamun comeback performance in armor-inspired hanbok to the Oscar-stage showcase of K-pop Demon Hunters, Korean traditional dress is increasingly projected onto the global screen. The imagery travels easily. It resonates visually. To many, it simply registers as something “cool.” But familiarity s April 13, 2026

Following the tracks, following the taste (Gangneung) -1 SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - The journey begins before the sea comes into view.Steel rails draw a quiet line from Seoul to the East Coast, and along that line, time seems to fold. Since the opening of the KTX Gangneung Line in 2017 ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the city has moved closer (two hours) —not just in distance, but in rhythm. What once required a night’s stay now fits within a single day. The train does not merely carry passengers April 13, 2026

Korean Air posts record Q1 revenue as Middle East risks loom SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Korean Air posted record first-quarter revenue despite rising geopolitical risks in the Middle East. The airline said Monday it recorded 4.52 trillion won ($3.03 billion) in revenue and 516.9 billion won in operating profit for the first quarter on a standalone basis. Revenue rose 14.1 percent from a year earlier, marking the highest first-quarter performance in the company’s history. Operating profit climbed 47.3 percent year-on-year, while net prof April 13, 2026

Korean stocks fall as Hormuz blockade threat triggers risk-off SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Korean stocks closed lower Monday as investors moved to the sidelines amid fresh uncertainty in the Middle East, following U.S. threats to launch a maritime blockage operation in the Strait of Hormuz starting later in the day. The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.9 percent to 5,808.6, after trading between a high of 5,827.73 and a low of 5,730.23. Regional markets moved in tandem. Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.7 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng April 13, 2026

S. Korean special envoy enters Tehran as failed US-Iran talks trap tankers in Hormuz SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Special envoy Chung Byung-ha arrived in Tehran on Monday to negotiate the release of 26 South Korean tankers and 173 crew members currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. The diplomatic surge follows a direct order from Foreign Minister Cho Hyun as Seoul attempts to bypass the paralysis of international mediation to protect the maritime corridor that provides 70 percent of the crude oil imports of the nation. The arrival of the envoy marks a strategic pi April 13, 2026

Seoul's two landmark statues get spring wash SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Seoul's two landmark statues in Gwanghwamun are being bathed this week as part of regular maintenance and preservation efforts. As spring arrives, dust and other stains that have accumulated on the statues of King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-shin over the long winter months will be washed off on Monday and Tuesday. Any damaged areas will also be touched up and recoated to prevent rust and preserve the statues' original condition. April 13, 2026

Tehran blames shifting US demands as marathon Islamabad talks fail SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington concluded in Islamabad after a 21-hour marathon session ended without a final agreement. According to a debriefing released on Monday by the Iranian Embassy in South Korea, the discussions represented the highest level of engagement between the two sides in the past year. While the talks were the longest held in twelve months, the Iranian mission detailed a collapse in momentum just as the parties were report April 13, 2026

Seoul city to bring books outdoors with libraries on lawns next week SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - With the return of balmy weather, several spaces in central Seoul will be transformed into outdoor libraries starting next week, where Seoulites can read books on the lawn in front of City Hall, at Gwanghwamun Square, or along Cheonggye Stream. These open-air libraries, part of the city government's annual summer events, are scheduled to open next Thursday and will feature bookshelves with more than 12,000 books, as well as bean bags, mats, and parasols, April 13, 2026