NewJeans' Japanese debut album tops Oricon chart 

SEOUL, June 24 (AJU PRESS) - K-pop girl group NewJeans topped Japan's major music chart with their Japanese debut album. The quintet's four-track album, "Supernatural," ascended to No. 1 on the Oricon's daily singles chart on June 21, immediately after its release and remained there the following day. First released in 1968, the chart serves as one of key indicators for gauging the popularity of songs and albums in the island country. "Supernatural&q

June 24, 2024

500 yoga practitioners gather in southern Seoul to celebrate 10th International Yoga Day

SEOUL, June 24 (AJU PRESS) - Despite heavy showers, 500 yoga practitioners and enthusiasts gathered last Saturday at COEX, a massive underground shopping mall complex in Seoul's southern district of Gangnam, to celebrate the 10th International Yoga Day. The event, jointly hosted by the Embassy of India to Korea and the Korea Yoga Association (KYA), was attended by Indian Ambassador Amit Kumar and KYA President Cheon Jun-pil, who greeted guests and yoga practitioners at the ope

June 24, 2024

LG, Samsung dominate US consumer TV rankings

SEOUL, June 24 (AJU PRESS) - Korean electronics giants LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics have secured top positions in Consumer Reports' annual best TV rankings, with their organic light-emitting diode (OLED) models receiving particular praise. The influential U.S. consumer magazine selected eight models as this year's best TVs, with four from LG and two from Samsung, according to market insiders on Monday. LG's OLED evo (model G4) and Samsung's 65-inch OLED

June 24, 2024

Emart24 enters Cambodian convenience store market

SEOUL, June 24 (AJU PRESS) - Emart24 has opened its first store in Phnom Penh, becoming the first South Korean convenience store chain operating in Cambodia. The company said Sunday that it launched the store in Boeung Keng Kang, one of the busiest districts in the Cambodian capital, in partnership with Saihan Partners, a joint venture between Cambodia's Saisons Brother Holding and Korea’s Hanlim Architecture Group. Emart24 and Saihan aim to operate 100 stores within fi

June 24, 2024

Foreign students flock to Seoul, shunning provincial universities

SEOUL, June 24 (AJU PRESS) - Foreign students are increasingly choosing Seoul and surrounding areas for their studies in Korea, according to a report released by the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) on Monday. The influx is further exacerbating the country's ongoing issue of urban concentration, with nearly half of the population now residing in the capital region. According to the Bank of Korea, more than 40 percent of Korea's population lives in the Seoul met

June 24, 2024

Samsung launches Olympic outdoor campaign in Paris

SEOUL, June 24 (AJU PRESS) - Samsung Electronics has launched its Olympic outdoor advertising in Paris, building anticipation for the 2024 Games one month before their opening. The Korean tech giant announced Monday the campaign, featuring its Olympic message, "Open Always Wins," is on display at iconic Parisian locations such as Opéra Garnier and La Défense. The advertisements also highlight breaking, a new Olympic sport for 2024, along with its Galaxy Z

June 24, 2024

Opinion: why Kim-Putin deal is coded message aimed at China and how it worries Beijing

SEOUL, June 24 (AJU PRESS) - The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, paid a visit to Pyongyang this week and signed a defense pact with reclusive North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, as he looks for new allies who can help him increase Russia's supply of munitions for the war in Ukraine. As part of this mutual aid deal, the two leaders promised that each country will come to the defense of the other if attacked. Kim also promised North Korea's full support for Putin's invasi

June 24, 2024

PHOTOS: Unification Culture Festival opens in central Seoul

SEOUL, June 21 (AJU PRESS) - The Unification Culture Festival opened at Cheonggye Plaza in Jongno, Seoul, on Friday for a two-day run. Organized by the Ministry of Unification, the cultural event aims to raise public interest in national unification. The festival will feature various programs, including performances by North Korean defectors, concerts by indie bands, a water percussion event and magic shows. An awards ceremony, honoring individuals who have contributed to unification ef

June 21, 2024

PHOTOS: Summer solstice marks longest daylight hours of the year

SEOUL, June 21 (AJU PRESS) - June 21 was this year's summer solstice, marking the longest daylight hours of the year. Following this event, the sun rises higher, increasing daylight hours and leading to hotter weather. The temperature in Seoul reached 34 degrees Celsius that day.

June 21, 2024

Emart discounts pork belly amid consumer outrage over price hikes

SEOUL, June 21 (AJU PRESS) - Amid consumer outrage over recent spikes in the prices of samgyeopsal (pork belly), Emart, a leading South Korean retailer, announced a promotion involving a sharp price cut on the meat on Friday. The campaign, running until July 7, offers discounts of up to 40 percent on a total of 500 tons of pork products. From Friday to June 30, domestic refrigerated pork belly and neck meat will be available at 1,000 won ($0.77) less than regular prices, bring

June 21, 2024