JYP Entertainment donates 100 mln won for children's rehabilitation treatment SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - JYP Entertainment has signed a social contribution agreement with Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital and donated 100 million won to support rehabilitation treatment for children and young people with disabilities, the company said Monday. JYP Entertainment and Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital signed the agreement Monday at JYP Center in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong District, Seoul. Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital is a public children's rehabilitation hospital in the Seo May 20, 2026

Stray Kids notch 20th music video with 100 million YouTube views SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - K-pop boy group Stray Kids’ music video for “Walkin On Water” has surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, becoming the group’s 20th music video to reach the milestone, JYP Entertainment said Wednesday. The music video crossed the 100 million mark Tuesday afternoon. “Walkin On Water” is the title track of “合 (HOP),” a SKZHOP HIPTAPE project released by Stray Kids on Dec. 13, 2024. The video features large-sca May 20, 2026

Timeline: Samsung Electronics labor dispute SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and its labor union failed to reach an agreement in government-mediated wage talks on Wednesday, one day before a planned strike, as disputes over bonus caps and compensation structures remained unresolved. The union said it would proceed with its planned general strike starting Thursday following the collapse of negotiations. Above is the timeline leading to the general strike, beginning with the March 18 vote in which 93.1 percent of parti May 20, 2026

ASIA DEEP INSIGHT: The center of global power is moving eastward SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - The world is passing through one of the great transitional eras of modern history. The global contest over artificial intelligence between the United States and China, the prolonged devastation of the war in Ukraine, and the widening instability caused by the conflict involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz have together accelerated the restructuring of the international order. Political uncertainty, energy insecurity, technological rivalry, and financial fra May 20, 2026

Homeplus stores fade as Korea's offline retail hunts for a lifeline SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Finding a grocery item for an impromptu home dinner has become something of a luxury, said Michelle, an expatriate homemaker in her 40s living in Seorae Village, a quiet enclave in southern Seoul that is home to much of Korea’s French community due to its proximity to the country’s only French international school. Apart from a handful of convenience stores, butcher shops and fruit vendors, the neighborhood’s only meaningful grocery option is May 20, 2026

Kakao union wins strike mandate as Korean tech labor unrest spreads SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Unionized workers at Kakao and four of its affiliates voted overwhelmingly in favor of industrial action, clearing the way for what would be the first joint strike in the South Korean tech giant's history and adding to a swelling wave of labor unrest sweeping the country's chip and platform industries. The Kakao branch of the Koren Federation of Chemical and Textile, and Food Workers Unions announced Wednesday all five affiliates — Kakao, Kakao Pa May 20, 2026

South Korea's 'beloved music coach' to bring spirit of cultural diplomacy to Paris SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - There are moments when music accomplishes what politics, diplomacy, and economics often cannot. It dissolves distance. It softens history. It reminds people, however briefly, that civilization is ultimately sustained not only by power and institutions, but by the human heart. This spring, Lee Gi-yeon, widely known in South Korea as the "Music Coach for the Nation" will travel to Paris with a group of South Korean amateur vocalists and professional m May 20, 2026

Rain drenches Seoul and cools off unseasonable heat wave SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Rain drenched Seoul and surrounding areas on Wednesday, offering some relief from the unseasonable heat wave in May. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the rain that began overnight in central and southern regions is forecast to spread across most parts of the country, with up to 80 millimeters of rainfall expected in Seoul, Incheon and other areas of Gyeonggi Province. The much-needed rain to end a late-spring drou May 20, 2026

LIGHTSUM's Nayoung releases cover of YOASOBI's 'Yoru ni Kakeru' SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Nayoung of K-pop girl group LIGHTSUM has released a cover video of Japanese duo YOASOBI's "Yoru ni Kakeru," according to a press release from Cube Entertainment. The video, uploaded to LIGHTSUM's official social media channels on Tuesday, features Nayoung performing the song at nighttime locations in Seoul, including Namsan and Hangang Bridge. The cover had drawn more than 22,000 views and 1,300 likes within about 14 hours of its release as May 20, 2026

Jeju casino operator Lotte Tourism gains "buy" reinforcement from Hana Securities SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Hana Securities reiterated a "buy" rating and a 28,000 won ($18.53) target price on Lotte Tourism Development on Tuesday, designating the Jeju Dream Tower operator its top pick in the leisure sector after the company posted a 121.5 percent jump in first-quarter operating profit even as its two foreign-only casino rivals both saw earnings fall. The stock traded at 19,080 won on Tuesday morning, leaving Hana's target roughly 47 percent above curren May 20, 2026