AI reckoning: when Chinese algorithms start making movies SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - When clips of Spider-Man crouching on a rain-soaked Shanghai skyline and Deadpool delivering punchlines in fluent Mandarin began circulating on Chinese social media last month, Hollywood C-suite were impressed. Then they panicked. The videos were generated by Seedance 2.0, an artificial intelligence tool developed by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. With a short line of text, users could summon short films complete with soundtracks, camera mov February 23, 2026

Rate inaction likely in upcoming BOK meeting amid growing uncertainties SEOUL, Feb 23 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea is widely expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Thursday, hemmed in by political uncertainty abroad, domestic financial imbalances and a governorship nearing the end of its term. Since cutting rates to 2.5 percent in May last year, the BOK has remained on hold. That pause reflects a series of overlapping constraints: political turbulence triggered by impeachment fallout, renewed U.S. trade pressure, inflation risks from a February 23, 2026

KOSPI briefly tops 5,900 as individuals offset foreign selloff SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - Korean stocks closed higher Monday after briefly touching the 5,900 mark for the first time, although heavy foreign selling erased much of the early advance. The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.7 percent to finish at 5,846.1, after surging 2.1 percent in early trade to hit an all-time high of 5,931.9. The index later slipped down to 5,846.1 before the trading session ended. The KOSPI 200 gained 0.7 percent to 865.5. Volatility intensified as foreign investors February 23, 2026

Faith in the feed: virtual pastors and monks court young Koreans SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) — “I have to go prepare for Sunday service now, so we’ll wrap up today’s stream here. Thank you for watching.” With that, a 2D avatar known as “Pastor Kim” waves goodbye. The chat window erupts in emojis, hearts and rapid-fire comments. Viewers type “Amen,” “LOL” and “See you next time” in the same breath. Welcome to South Korea’s newest religious frontier: virtual You February 23, 2026

BOK governor sees economic recovery despite last year's stagnation SEOUL, Feb 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s central bank expects economic growth in 2026 to rise significantly compared to the previous year, despite last year’s performance falling short of initial market expectations. "Despite uncertainties surrounding US tariff policies, domestic demand is recovering on the back of favorable consumer sentiment, while exports continue their upward trend led by the robust semiconductor sector," BOK Governor Rhee Chang-yong stated du February 23, 2026

South Korea ends 17-day campaign across ice and snow as Winter Olympics close SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - The 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics concluded Sunday (KST), bringing down the curtain on a 17-day celebration of winter sports across northern Italy. The Games officially ended with a closing ceremony held at the Verona Arena early Sunday morning Korea time. South Korea, which sent a 130-member delegation including 71 athletes, collected a total of 10 medals — three gold, four silver and three bronze — to finish 13th ove February 23, 2026

For 2026 rematch with Apple, Samsung fields AI photo studio for short-form gen SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - Familiar scenes were repeated at the 2026 Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics: medalists capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments by flipping open pocket-sized Samsung phones. Despite strong sales of its foldable fleet, Samsung Electronics lost its decade-long position as the world’s top smartphone vendor last year to Apple, buoyed by the popularity of the iPhone 17 lineup. Samsung readies a rematch with the unveiling of its flagship Galaxy S26 seri February 23, 2026

BTS Comeback D-26: Jimin — from charts to cultural reference Editor’s Note — As BTS prepares to return as a full seven-member act with a new album set for March 20 and an open-stage performance at Gwanghwamun on March 21, following a near four-year hiatus for rotational military service, AJP revisits the group’s 13-year trajectory. This series reexamines BTS’s history, music, performance identity and enduring appeal. The sixth installment traces the roots and growth of Jimin. SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - BTS member Jim February 23, 2026

Samsung Electronics launches high-capacity, AI-powered ice water purifier SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics announced the release of its new "Bespoke AI Ice Water Purifier" for the domestic market, integrating voice recognition and high-capacity ice production into its home appliance lineup. Priced at 2.39 million won ($1,780), the countertop appliance is designed to produce up to 8 kilograms of ice per day—equivalent to approximately 1,000 ice cubes—and can store about 100 cubes simultaneously. The new model focuse February 23, 2026

South Korean researchers identify brain circuit that senses salt levels to control intake SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - A research team at Kookmin University has identified a neuroendocrine circuit in the brain that allows animals to dynamically adjust their salt intake based on internal sodium levels. The study, led by Professor Lee Young-seok of the Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence, reveals how specific brain cells act as internal sensors to maintain salt balance. The findings are scheduled for publication in the weekly issue of the Proceedings of the Nati February 23, 2026