BTS fans unite to defend Suga, calling for trust in 'official' sources

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - BTS's global fan base, ARMY, spanning 58 countries, voiced their support for Suga on Monday following his recent investigation for drunk driving. In a joint statement, 127 ARMY groups reaffirmed their backing for all seven BTS members. "The Global ARMY Alliance supports all seven members of BTS," the statement read, emphasizing that fans do not expect the members to take any more responsibility than what is legally required. Suga was

September 10, 2024

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in reportedly dating postgraduate student

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in is dating a postgraduate student, Dispatch, a Korean entertainment media, reported Monday. Dispatch released photographs of Lee and Park Sang-hyo, a 25-year-old family member of the 17th largest conglomerate in Korea, dating in Paris. The images showed the couple wearing thick winter coats. According to Dispatch's report, the couple had dinner at Siena Paris, a restaurant where celebrities often visit

September 10, 2024

'Haenyo' female divers to gather on Jeju island for heritage celebration

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - About 100 "Haenyeo," or "sea ladies," will gather on Jeju Island for the 17th annual Haenyeo Day, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced Monday. The female divers will represent some 10,000 Haenyo in Korea to launch an association. Haenyeo are female divers who harvest sea life like mollusks and seaweed from the ocean floor using only basic equipment: wetsuits, diving masks, fins, gloves, chest weights, weeding hoes, an

September 10, 2024

Musinsa reports 5.8-fold growth in beauty transactions during sales fest

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Musinsa, a leading online fashion platform in South Korea, on Tuesday reported a 5.8-fold year-on-year increase in beauty category transactions during the Musinsa Beauty Festa, held both online and offline from Aug. 19 to Sept. 8. During the three-week period, customers who bought beauty products accounted for 21.8 percent of all Musinsa store purchasers, with 27.5 percent of them being male, the company said. The offline portion of the festival, held

September 10, 2024

North Korean leader vows to boost nuclear capabilities

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged to enhance the country’s nuclear capabilities to counter rival nations, including the United States, and to ensure that its nuclear forces are always combat-ready, the Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday. Kim made the remarks during a meeting with military officials at a celebration marking North Korea’s founding day on Monday. Stressing the importance of power for national security, Kim said:

September 10, 2024

PHOTOS: 'I, The Executioner' to hit theaters this week

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - A press conference and screening for "I, The Executioner" was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Monday. Director Ryoo Seung-wan and actors Hwang Jung-min and Jung Hae-in were in attendance. "I, The Executioner," the sequel to the hit film "Veteran," is an action-packed crime investigation drama that follows veteran detective Seo Do-cheol (Hwang Jung-min), known for his relentless pursuit of criminals. It wi

September 10, 2024

Apple's latest iPhone 16 fails to impress despite AI features

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Apple's unveiling of the iPhone 16 series, touted for its artificial intelligence capabilities, received a lukewarm response from the market. The company's stock barely moved, closing just 0.04 percent higher at $220.91, underperforming compared to the broader tech-heavy Nasdaq index. CEO Tim Cook emphasized the iPhone 16 series was “designed from the ground up” for AI. However, key AI functionalities are not fully integrated and will

September 10, 2024

Korean defense firms showcase advanced arms technologies at global AI military summit

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Korean defense firms are showcasing advanced defense technologies at a global artificial intelligence military summit in Seoul. The second REAIM Summit, an international conference aimed at enhancing the understanding of AI-based military technologies and establishing relevant international norms, is being held in Seoul on Monday and Tuesday, with participation from defense and foreign ministers, as well as other officials from about 90 countries. Duri

September 10, 2024

Coupang challenges 162 billion won antitrust fine in Korean court

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Korea's leading e-commerce platform Coupang has filed an administrative lawsuit against the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), contesting a record fine of about 162 billion won ($120 million) for alleged unfair business practices, market insiders said on Tuesday. The legal action, initiated on Sept. 5 at the Seoul High Court, seeks to overturn both the corrective order and the monetary penalty imposed by the antitrust regulator last month. The KFT

September 10, 2024

PHOTOS: Inside the IFA 2024

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - IFA 2024, Europe's largest consumer electronics show, is held from Sept. 6 to 10 in Berlin, Germany. Major electronics companies from around the world, including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, participated in the event, showcasing their latest technologies and products. Both companies focused on AI-based smart home technologies, with Samsung presenting the theme "AI for All" and LG featuring "AI Home Reimagined with Affectionate Intelligen

September 9, 2024