Nexon reopens revamped Jeju game museum SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - Nexon reopened its museum on Jeju Island after a four-month renovation, recasting Asia's first computer museum as a destination devoted to the South Korean publisher's three-decade catalogue of online games and the players who built its communities. The Jeju City venue, originally launched in July 2013 as the Nexon Computer Museum, has been rebranded simply as Nexon Museum, its grand opening on Tuesday. The overhaul shifts the institution away from a May 12, 2026

ASIA INSIGHT: Iran war story by Seeker of Truth -- Truth, Justice and Freedom Sinokor Chairman Tae-soon Jung’s Breakthrough in the Strait of Hormuz: The Diverging Fate of Korean Shipping, from the Basra Energy to HMM’s Namwoo The waters of the Middle East are burning again. Yet this fire is not confined to a military clash among Iran, the United States and Israel. It is a blaze threatening the arteries of the global economy and shaking the very heart of industrial civilization. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world&r May 12, 2026

ASIA INSIGHT: Soprano and model to anchor fragile US-China Summit SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - In November 2017, inside the amber-hued silence of the Forbidden City, Donald Trump handed a tablet computer to Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan. On the screen, a small, blonde girl sang a folk song and recited ancient poetry in Mandarin. The girl was Arabella Kushner, the American president’s granddaughter. As she watched the video, Peng—a woman whose own soprano voice once stirred the nationalist fervor of a billion people—beamed with the practiced May 12, 2026

Hanwha highlights unmanned, AI defense systems in Romania SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - Hanwha Group will showcase next-generation unmanned and artificial intelligence-based military systems at a defense exhibition in Romania this week, as it seeks to deepen partnerships in Europe and expand its presence across EU and NATO markets. Hanwha said Tuesday that its key defense affiliates will participate in the Black Sea Defense & Aerospace, or BSDA 2026, which will take place from Wednesday to Friday at ROMAERO in Bucharest. The biennial event is May 12, 2026

Annual Cannes Film Festival opens with South Korean cinema in spotlight SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - This year's Cannes Film Festival kicked off its 11-day run in the southern French city on Tuesday, with South Korean films among the highlights. Widely regarded as one of the world's most prestigious film festivals, alongside those in Berlin and Venice, the festival, now in its 79th year, is known for recognizing auteur-driven, bold, and artistic films. Its top prize, the Palme d'Or, also known as Golden Palm, is considered one of the highest hon May 12, 2026

Krafton's 'Subnautica 2' opens Steam preloads as wishlists pass 5 million SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - Krafton's creative studio Unknown Worlds opened Steam pre-orders and pre-downloads for "Subnautica 2" at midnight Tuesday, three days before the underwater survival sequel enters early access on Friday. The title has held the top spot on Steam's global wishlist for nine straight months and recently crossed 5 million cumulative wishlists, the company said. It also climbed to No. 1 on Steam's global top-grossing chart shortly after pre-order May 12, 2026

Korea joins UK-France-led Hormuz defense talks, Sinokor vessel slips through Hormuz SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - South Korea will take part in a defense ministerial video conference led by Britain and France on Tuesday to discuss efforts to restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as Seoul faces growing pressure to clarify its role in a possible multinational maritime mission. The Ministry of National Defense said Woo Kyung-seok, director general for defense policy planning and an Army major general, will attend the meeting on discussions related to a U.K.- and May 12, 2026

BOK holds BIS board seat for third straight term SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) —New governor Shin Hyun-song of the Bank of Korea has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements, extending South Korea’s representation at the top decision-making body of the global central banking community for a third consecutive term. The BOK said Tuesday that Shin officially began his three-year term on Monday after being elected as an elected director during a regular board meeting held at the BIS headquar May 12, 2026

CJ CheilJedang Q1 profit falls 26% on bio slump SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang, South Korea's largest food maker, reported a 26.0 percent drop in first-quarter operating profit, as a sharp downturn in its bio business overshadowed steady gains overseas from its frozen dumpling franchise. According to regulatory filings released Tuesday, operating profit fell to 148.5 billion won ($100 million) for the three months ended March, while revenue edged up 4.3 percent to 4.03 trillion won, the company said. The figures exclude May 12, 2026

ASIA INSIGHT: Xi Jinping crafts imperial mirage at Temple of Heaven The meeting between the world’s two most powerful men is less a diplomatic summit than a calculated ritual of psychological capture. SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - In a quiet corner of the Treasury Department, the steel plates have been etched with a flourish that feels more like a royal decree than a bureaucratic necessity. For the first time in the history of the American Republic, the currency carries the aggressive, looping signature of the man in the Oval Office. Combined wit May 12, 2026