BTS Live D-1: Gwanghwamun already bustling with crowds and excitement SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) -Gwanghwamun in downtown Seoul has gone all purple to match BTS signature color from signboards to ice cream as it receives a swarm of guests for the blowout street-stage BTS comeback show that is expected to draw nearly 300,000 crowds and livestreamed for global audience. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, an estimated 46,000 to 48,000 people had gathered around Gwanghwamun and Deoksugung as of 2 p.m., marking a 26.7 percent increase from the March 20, 2026

Last tanker to clear Hormuz before closure arrives in Korea SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - A crude oil tanker that narrowly passed through the Strait of Hormuz before Iran’s closure has arrived in South Korea on Friday, raising concerns over potential supply disruptions. The government and the refining industry are bracing for a worsening supply situation, viewing the vessel as the last shipment to clear the strait before the blockade took effect. According to industry sources, the tanker Eagle Vellore arrived at the Port of Daesan in Seos March 20, 2026

KOSDAQ shines alone; Nikkei suffers "Black Friday" on Gulf crisis, hawkish BOJ SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) — Asian equity markets showed mixed results with limited volatility on Friday, yet a sharp divide emerged between Seoul and Tokyo. While the tech-heavy KOSDAQ rallied by over 1 percent, Japanese stocks suffered a bruising "Black Friday" as monetary tightening fears gripped the Nikkei. The South Korean won showed no signs of recovery amidst the prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance on int March 20, 2026

Samsung union chief: 'No. 1 means nothing without first-class treatment' PYEONGTAEK, March 20 (AJP) - Riding a two-year windfall from the global AI boom, Samsung Electronics is ramping up investment and shareholder returns at an unprecedented scale — but one stakeholder feels left out of the bounty: its employees. The company is pouring more than 110 trillion won ($74.6 billion) into semiconductors and has pledged to return 50 percent of its free cash flow to shareholders. Yet workers say the rewards of the AI-driven surge are not being shared o March 20, 2026

Kakao Mobility launches recruitment drive for end-to-end autonomous driving engineers SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - Kakao Mobility announced it has launched a recruitment drive targeting engineers in four autonomous driving specialties as the South Korean mobility platform accelerates its push to develop in-house end-to-end self-driving technology. The company said Friday it has created a dedicated "Physical AI" tab on its hiring page and will recruit experienced engineers in autonomous driving AI, SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), hardware, and elect March 20, 2026

BTS Live D-1: Leader RM injured ahead of landmark Seoul comeback SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - K-pop sensation BTS' leader and rapper RM has injured his ankle during a rehearsal for the seven-member band's comeback performance scheduled on Saturday, the agency said. The injury means fans will be unable to witness a full-scale choreography by the rapper or the group as a whole during their highly anticipated return. This setback occurred just as the ensemble concluded a nearly four-year hiatus necessitated by mandatory military service. The pe March 20, 2026

IMF to factor Middle East shock into world economic outlook in April SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - The International Monetary Fund perceives rising downside risks in the global economy from volatility in energy prices and financial market stemming from Middle East conflict and will factor the negative impact on growth and inflation into its updated economic outlook in April, according to a senior official. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol met visiting Dan Katz, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Mo March 20, 2026

Kia targets 13 EV models by 2030, accelerates PBV and software pivot SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - Kia outlined plans to expand its electric vehicle lineup to 13 models by 2030 and deepen its push into purpose-built vehicles and software-defined cars, as the automaker seeks to reposition itself amid a global slowdown in EV demand. President Song Ho-sung presented the strategy at the company's annual general meeting held at its headquarters in southern Seoul on Friday, identifying three priorities: EV mass-market expansion, growth of its purpose-built v March 20, 2026

Kookmin University joins major EU research project for quantum and AI security SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - Kookmin University Professor Yoo Il-sun has been selected to participate in Horizon Europe, the European Union’s premier research and innovation program. This partnership marks a significant milestone for South Korean academia, positioning the university at the forefront of a global effort to integrate quantum technology with digital security. The three-year project, known as the Quantum Computing European Union–South Korea Working Team (QuoUSKW March 20, 2026

Korea stays out of joint statement by US allies condemning Iran SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - South Korea signaled strategic caution by staying out of a joint statement by key U.S. allies, condemning Iran over its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz while stopping short of committing to the U.S. call for naval support in the region. warships to the crippled waterway. A foreign ministry official said Friday that Seoul is “well aware of the situation” regarding the joint statement by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Ne March 20, 2026