North Korean cargo ship sinking raises questions on sanctions evasion SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - A North Korean cargo ship sank off China's eastern coast late last year after colliding with a fishing vessel, Voice of America (VOA) reported on Wednesday. Citing recently disclosed records from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the U.S. government-funded broadcaster said the North Korean-flagged UNSON 7, which departed from Nampo, South Pyongan Province, carrying about 4,600 tons of coal and was reportedly bound for Chongjin, collided with June 17, 2026

Netflix's 'Teach You a Lesson' tops non-English TV chart for second week SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - Netflix's Korean series "Teach You a Lesson" remained No. 1 on the streamer's global Top 10 list for non-English TV shows in its second week, Netflix said Wednesday. "Teach You a Lesson" ranked No. 1 in 46 countries, including South Korea, Japan and Singapore, and entered the Top 10 in 91 countries, including the United States, Britain, India, France, Germany, Australia, Mexico and Brazil. The series logged 21.1 million views, June 17, 2026

SK hynix scraps degree requirements in major hiring push for AI era SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - South Korean chipmaker SK hynix said on Wednesday it has completely abolished educational requirements for its new recruitment drive, shifting its focus to practical skills and growth potential as it gears up for the artificial intelligence era. Starting with its latest rolling recruitment that opened Wednesday, the world's second-largest memory chipmaker has removed the traditional prerequisite of a "four-year bachelor's degree or higher" June 17, 2026

Korean researchers develop AI-driven process for next-gen 2D chips SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - South Korean researchers have developed a system that lets artificial intelligence diagnose and control the manufacturing of next-generation two-dimensional semiconductors as thin as a single atomic layer, a breakthrough that could ease one of the industry's persistent production hurdles. The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) said Wednesday that a team led by senior researcher Kim Hyeong-woo had combined low-temperature plasma processing wi June 17, 2026

Beyond 'Teach You a Lesson': Why Korean teachers say real life can be more tragic SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - Netflix's hit K-drama "Teach You a Lesson" may depict elite inspectors restoring order in dysfunctional schools, but teachers in South Korea say the most unsettling aspect of the series is not its violence. It is how accurately it captures their sense of abandonment. The methods may be exaggerated. The stakes, they argue, are not. In fact, real life is often more tragic. Unlike television, there is rarely a dramatic resolution when sch June 17, 2026

Why 'Teach You a Lesson' is resonating around the world — and beyond the screen SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - The latest Netflix K-drama "Teach You a Lesson" is taking the world by storm because, quite literally, classrooms around the world may be in need of a figurative whipping of their own. Forbes recently called it one of the best dramas of the year despite criticism over excessive violence, racism and some over-exaggerated acting, because it ultimately offers "a hopeful perspective on justice in a corrupt world." For teachers actually wor June 16, 2026

Occupation Jamsil turns into political battleground SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - South Korean and American flags fluttered in the scorching summer heat, handmade signs covered the sidewalks and hundreds of protesters occupied entrances to Seoul's Olympic Park on Tuesday as the Jamsil demonstrations entered their 12th day, turning a dispute over ballot shortages into a broader political confrontation over democratic legitimacy. What began as a protest over ballot shortages reported during the June 3 local elections has June 16, 2026

Won, bonds stay calm despite BOJ hike; credit spread widens slightly SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - South Korea’s foreign exchange and bond markets remained largely steady Tuesday despite the Bank of Japan’s first rate hike to 1 percent in 31 years, while corporate credit showed mild signs of caution following default concerns at JoongAng Group affiliates. The won closed at 1,513.5 per dollar, little changed from the previous session. Korean government bond yields fell. The three-year yield dropped 2.7 basis points to 3.717 percent, while the June 16, 2026

K-pop sells out the world. Seoul can't always host the show SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - BTS returned to Busan on June 12 for the homecoming stretch of its "Arirang" tour, but the concert began about 75 minutes later than scheduled. HYBE later apologized, citing confusion in on-site guidance, bottlenecks in fan gift distribution lines and delays in merchandise pickup. Two months earlier, the same tour had opened on April 9 at Goyang Stadium, an open-air athletic stadium in Goyang, north of Seoul, where fans watched the show in the rain June 16, 2026

Impending peace deal with Iran lifts KOSPI as Nikkei briefly tops 70,000 SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - South Korean stocks extended their rally on Tuesday as hopes for an impending peace deal between the U.S. and Iran later this week, along with SpaceX’s blockbuster Nasdaq debut, boosted investors’ appetite. Despite missing out on the record-breaking initial public offering (IPO), South Korean investors continued betting on artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace, and other growth sectors. Japan’s main index, meanwhile, briefly crossed the 70, June 16, 2026