Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' surpasses 5 million admissions in South Korea A screening schedule for Christopher Nolan's Odyssey shows zero remaining seats at a cinema in Seoul on August 18, 2026. August 18, 2026

Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' surpasses 5 million admissions in South Korea Moviegoers purchase tickets for Christopher Nolan's Odyssey at a cinema in Seoul on August 18, 2026. AJP August 18, 2026

Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' surpasses 5 million admissions in South Korea A promotional display for Christopher Nolan's film Odyssey is shown at a cinema in Seoul on August 18, 2026. August 18, 2026

BIGBANG to celebrate 20th anniversary with new single SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - K-pop boy group BIGBANG released a teaser video for their upcoming digital single on Tuesday, offering the first look at the song, their agency YG Entertainment said on Tuesday. The single, "BiiiG," will be released at 6 p.m. on Aug. 19, the day BIGBANG marks their 20th debut anniversary. It will be the group's first new song in about four years. The teaser shows G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung moving through a dark party scene, with s August 18, 2026

Lim Young-woong to release 10th anniversary album SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - South Korean singer Lim Young-woong will release a special digital album next month to mark the 10th anniversary of his debut, his agency Mulgogi Music said on Tuesday. The album, "IM HERO 10," will be released on Sept. 8. Lim also unveiled the album's release date through a video posted on his social media accounts. The agency said the album is intended as a gift for his fans, known as "Hero Generation." The track August 18, 2026

Won stays firm as Korean bond yields jump SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - The South Korean won edged higher against the dollar on Tuesday as foreign equity purchases and exporter dollar sales outweighed renewed Middle East concerns, while government bond yields rose sharply after a surge in U.S. long-term rates and a domestic 10-year debt auction. The won closed daytime trading at 1,411.8 per dollar, strengthening by 1.2 won from the previous session's close of 1,413. The currency opened at 1,417.0 and briefly strengthened August 18, 2026

KOSPI wipes out early gains to close below 7,000 after weeklong rally SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - South Korean stocks surrendered sharp early gains on Tuesday as rising global bond yields and institutional selling erased a semiconductor-led rally, while trading remained subdued. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,869.83 points, down 1.55 percent from the previous session, ending a five-session winning streak. The index opened at 7,127.77 and surged more than 3 percent to an intraday high of 7,216.62 before reversing course and falling as low as 6,788.78. August 18, 2026

Trump's move to reduce military drills stirs debate in Seoul and Washington SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump's order last Sunday to "substantially" scale back a joint military exercise with South Korea has triggered political criticism on both sides of the Pacific, with Democrats in Washington blaming Trump for weakening a key alliance, while South Korea's conservative opposition faulted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for allowing relations with Washington to deteriorate. Trump instructed the Pentagon to "sub August 18, 2026

K-pop boy band NEXZ showcase new album in Los Angeles SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - K-pop boy group NEXZ showcased a track from their upcoming fourth mini album at KCON LA 2026, a week before the album's release, their agency JYP Entertainment said on Tuesday. The seven-member group performed the title track of "SAUCIN" at the K-pop convention in Los Angeles ahead of the album's release, slated for Aug. 24. JYP described the track as a fast-paced Eurodance track with a festival-like mood and an addictive melody. The August 18, 2026

Vascular disease biotech firm makes strong KOSDAQ debut SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - South Korean biotech firm Ingenia Therapeutics made its KOSDAQ debut on Tuesday. Its shares closed at 17,990 won (US$12.70) on their first day of trading, up 49.92 percent from the offering price of 12,000 won. The strong debut may have been supported by the firm's plans to develop more drugs and pursue additional global licensing deals. It develops treatments aimed at restoring damaged small blood vessels by modifying signals in the cells that form t August 18, 2026