SHINee kicks off concert trilogy with sold-out Seoul shows SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - K-pop boy band SHINee opened its new concert trilogy with three sold-out shows in Seoul, drawing more than 30,000 fans over the weekend, the band's agency SM Entertainment said Monday. SHINee held "The Trilogy I - 2026 SHINee WORLD VIII: THE INVERT" from May 29 to 31 at KSPO Dome in Olympic Park, Seoul. All three shows sold out, including restricted-view seats. The first show was shown through live viewing events at cinemas in South Korea, Indo June 1, 2026

Fire and toxic gas leak at SK hynix plant force 3,600 workers to evacuate SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - A fire and subsequent toxic gas leak at an SK Hynix factory in Cheongju, South Korea, prompted the evacuation of 3,600 employees on Monday morning. Seven workers were transported to an affiliated hospital after exposure to the chemicals, though the company reported no disruption to overall production, firefighters said. The incident began at 10:32 a.m. (0132 GMT) in a sixth-floor gas room connecting the M15 and M15X facilities at the company's Cheongju 4 June 1, 2026

Update: Five killed in South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace factory explosion SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - An explosion at a Hanwha Aerospace factory in South Korea killed at least five people and injured two on Monday morning, according to police and rescuers. The blast prompted an emergency response as rescue workers continue to search for three unaccounted individuals. The incident occurred at 10:59 a.m. (0159 GMT) at the company's plant in Oesam, located in Daejeon's Yuseong District. Emergency dispatchers received about 30 simultaneous calls from peo June 1, 2026

South Korea's exports hit record high in May on strong AI chip demand SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - South Korea's exports surged more than 50 percent from a year earlier to a record high last month, fueled by robust semiconductor shipments, even as uncertainty persisted amid the prolonged war in the Middle East, according to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources on Monday. Exports in May totaled US$87.75 billion, up 53.2 percent from a year earlier, the highest monthly figure on record and the third straight month above $80 billio June 1, 2026

KAIST unveils mid-to-long-term strategy for artificial intelligence talent SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology outlined its mid-to-long-term strategy for nurturing artificial intelligence professionals and launched an international advisory board during a vision proclamation ceremony held at its main campus on Monday, the prominent institute said. The event shared the institution's direction for educational innovation, industry cooperation, and the establishment of a responsible artificial intelligence ecos June 1, 2026

CJ Olive Young's first U.S. store in Pasadena draws large crowds SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - CJ Olive Young, South Korea's largest beauty retailer, successfully launched its first U.S. brick-and-mortar store in Pasadena, California. According to the company on Monday, it plans to open a second store in Los Angeles this month, located at the Westfield Century City shopping mall. The Pasadena store opening drew significant consumer and media attention. Wait lines began forming the day before the opening on Friday, with a line of approximately 400 June 1, 2026

Kakao union sets June 10 partial strike as labor standoff sharpens SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - Kakao's union announced it would stage a four-hour partial strike on June 10, escalating a deepening standoff with management over job security and the company's executive pay structure. The Kakao branch of the Korean Chemical, Textile & Food Workers’ Union laid out its demands and walkout schedule in a statement on Monday, marking the latest step toward the messaging giant's first-ever headquarters strike. The union said its core dema June 1, 2026

K-pop girl band Hearts2Hearts to release second EP 'Lemon Tang' SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - K-pop girl band Hearts2Hearts will roll out its second EP, "Lemon Tang," on June 22, the group's agency SM Entertainment said Monday. Hearts2Hearts debuted under SM Entertainment in February 2025, becoming the agency's first new girl band in about five years. The six-track album will be available on major streaming platforms starting 6 p.m. (0900 GMT). A physical edition will also be released, with preorders beginning Monday through online June 1, 2026

Record visitor arrivals drive biggest-ever April spending in Seoul SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - Foreign visitors flocked to Seoul in record numbers in April and spent more than ever before, signaling that the city's tourism recovery is evolving into a broader consumer spending boom. The number of overseas visitors to the capital reached 1.56 million in April, up 18.8 percent from a year earlier and the highest figure ever recorded for the month, according to data released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Sunday. Foreign visi June 1, 2026

AI becomes defining battleground at World News Media Congress MARSEILLE, France, June 1 (AJP) — Artificial intelligence has emerged as the defining battleground for the global news industry as publishers, editors and policymakers gather in southern France this week to debate the future of journalism amid one of the most disruptive technological shifts in decades. The 77th World News Media Congress, organized by the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), will bring together more than 1,000 media executives, editors and innovat June 1, 2026