Enhyphen's new album tops iTunes charts in nine countries one day after release

SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) -- "Memorabilia," the latest album by K-pop boy band Enhyphen, topped iTunes album charts in nine countries Tuesday, just one day after its release, its agency said. The six-track album was dropped on Monday and debuted at the top position in the Philippines, India, Brazil and other countries as of 9:00 a.m., according to Belift Lab. It also made the top 10 list in 21 countries. The album's title track, "Fatal Trouble," was includ

May 14, 2024

Hospitals required to check patients' IDs to curb health insurance abuse

SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - Starting next week, patients will be required to present their valid IDs to receive medical treatment at hospitals and clinics in Korea, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) said Tuesday. The stricter ID checks are part of measures to prevent foreigners or others from abusing the state health insurance coverage, amid concerns about the lavish use of medical insurance by some foreigners who exploit health benefits using aliases or forged identities

May 14, 2024

PHOTOS: Riverside park ablaze with yellow: The Hangang Seoraeseom Flower Festival

SEOUL, May 13 (AJU PRESS) - The vibrant Hangang Seoraeseom Flower Festival is in full swing, transforming Seorae Island within Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul, into a sea of yellow from May 10 to 19. This popular spring celebration, established in 2004, takes place on the artificial island. Beyond the sprawling fields of rapeseed flowers, the festival offers a variety of attractions for all ages. Visitors can capture memories at nine themed photo zones, including one featuring the giant air ballo

May 14, 2024

PHOTOS: Overtourism at Bukchon Hanok Village

SEOUL, May 13 (AJU PRESS) - Bukchon Hanok Village, nestled in the heart of Seoul, is a major tourist draw. This historic neighborhood, lined with traditional Korean houses (hanoks), offers visitors a glimpse into the country's past. However, while it thrives as a cultural destination, Bukchon remains a residential area. With the approaching summer picnic season, concerns are rising over the impact of increased tourism. Influxes of foreign visitors and student field trips have brought nois

May 14, 2024

Opinion: International Booker prize 2024: six expert reviews of shortlisted books

SEOUL, May 14 (AJU PRESS) - From a longlist of 12, six novels have been shortlisted for the 2023 International Booker prize. Our academics review the finalists ahead of the announcement of the winner on May 21. Not a River by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott In Not a River, the final instalment in Selva Almada's "trilogy of men," past and present collide in a nightmarish sleepwalk towards inevitable violence. Two men take Tilo, the son of their friend E

May 14, 2024

Opinion: Paris 2024 Olympics: How the Games are being used to marginalize the most vulnerable

SEOUL, May 13 (AJU PRESS) - Athletes from around the world are gearing up for the 2024 Summer Olympics that are being held in Paris this year. While the Games are often billed as a beacon of global unity, they have historically marginalized the most vulnerable communities in host cities. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) routinely makes grandiose claims about its commitment to humanity. Looking over the Olympic Charter and the IOC's guiding philosophy of "Olympism

May 13, 2024

VISUALS : Viet Nam's legendary founders remembered in Korea

SEOUL, May 11 (AJU PRESS) - Every year on the 10th day of the third lunar month, Vietnam commemorates Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the nation. This year, the Vietnamese community and its Korean friends organized an event to mark the day for the first time in Korea, showcasing the deep cultural ties between the two countries. The event featured a reenactment of the Hung Kings memorial ritual, honoring the Vietnamese people's ancestors. It was followed by a collaborative fashion

May 11, 2024

Korea exports first batch of Samgyetang to Europe

SEOUL, May 10 (AJU PRESS) - Samgyetang or chicken soup with ginseng is now making its way into the European market amid the growing global popularity of Korean cuisine. The first batch of the ready-to-eat packages, totaling approximately 8.4 tons, was exported to Germany from the southern port city of Busan, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Thursday. After nearly three decades of negotiations with European authorities began in 1996, the export of Korea&#

May 10, 2024

VISUALS: Africa Culture Festival begins at Gwanghwamun

SEOUL, May 10 (AJU PRESS) - The 2024 Africa Culture Festival began Friday for a three-run at Gwanghwamun, Seoul. The event was organized to promote understanding of Africa culture among Koreans ahead of the Korea-Africa Summit, scheduled for June 4-5 at KINTEX in ilsan, northwest of Seoul.

May 10, 2024

Southern port city to be transformed into Korea's coffee business incubator

SEOUL, May 10 (AJU PRESS) - The southern port city of Busan will be transformed into Korea's incubator for coffee-related businesses, city officials said during a press event on Thursday. This initiative under the slogan "Coffee City Busan" aims to serve as a growth engine for the country's second-largest city. Busan which serves as Korea's main maritime gateway, boasts a diverse culture. Notably, an annual average of about 92 percent of imported coffee produ

May 10, 2024