Korea's own children, still waiting to belong SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - High school senior Kim Min-jeong is like many other university applicants in South Korea — hopeful about what comes next and anxious about getting there. For relief, she turns to her favorite K-pop group, ATEEZ. Her face lights up as she talks about the band and shows off its dance moves to their latest hit "BAD." Her family history is something she has been taught to share less freely. “My mother always tells me, ‘Never October 19, 2026

Ctrl+C goes pro SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - Adobe has spent 36 years perfecting Photoshop. A lone developer armed with artificial intelligence needed about a week to produce a free lookalike. The imitation is far from the finished article. But when a familiar set of tools can be recreated in days, the companies that spent decades building them face an uncomfortable question: What will customers still pay for? U.S. developer Brandon Thomas released ArtCraft in early October, a collection of seven f October 19, 2026

TVXQ's Max Changmin to roll out first solo album SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - K-pop boy band TVXQ's member Max Changmin will release his first solo album in nearly five years Monday, returning with a six-track EP that he helped produce, SM Entertainment said. His third mini-album, "All Of My Life," will be released at 6 p.m., four years and nine months after his previous solo album. The title track of the same name is a pop-rock song built around Changmin's vocals, with lyrics about continuing forward through dif October 19, 2026

Record tourist arrivals bring rising complaints in South Korea SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) -Tourism complaints in South Korea have surged alongside record foreign arrivals, with persistent overcharging adding to concerns about the country’s welcome for overseas visitors. The Korea Tourism Organization received 1,753 tourism complaints from January through July, already surpassing the 1,744 filed during all of last year. Foreign nationals submitted 84.3 percent of the total. South Korea welcomed 15.05 million foreign visitors in the first October 19, 2026

Electric vehicles buck trend amid overall slump in car sales SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - Automakers sold fewer vehicles both overseas and at home last month, although eco-friendly cars continued to gain ground, accounting for nearly half of the country's total auto exports, according to a report released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Monday. Automotive exports in September fell 5.5 percent from a year earlier to US$6.05 billion, as growth in North America and the European Union was offset by sharp drops in exports to Asia October 19, 2026

Seoul's files complaint over USFK Brunson's DMZ remarks SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - South Korea has lodged complaint with Washington over U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson's remarks on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the U.S. has sympathized with its concerns, according to a government source Monday. Seoul conveyed its concerns through multiple diplomatic and military channels, and Washington responded that it recognized and understood South Korea's position, according to the source. The dispute follows Brunson October 19, 2026

FSS chief says Solidigm IPO conflicts with double-listing rules SEOUL, October 19 — South Korea's top financial regulator said Monday that SK hynix's plan to list its U.S. subsidiary Solidigm could violate the country's restrictions on double listings, raising questions over whether the proposed initial public offering (IPO) can proceed under Korean regulations. Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Chan-jin told a parliamentary audit that both the FSS and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) believe the proposed October 19, 2026

Octogenarian cult leader sentenced to 33 years in prison for sexual abuse SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - Cult leader Jung Myug-seok was sentenced to 33 years in prison on Monday for sexually assaulting and molesting female followers. The Daejeon District Court found the 81-year-old founder of religious sect Jesus Morning Star (JMS) guilty of sexually assaulting and molesting 16 female followers between 2018 and 2022, handing down him to 33 years in prison, six years more than the 27 years sought by prosecutors. The court said its ruling was based on consist October 19, 2026

Lee set to discuss AI cooperation with World Bank chief in Seoul SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is holding talks with the World Bank Group's president Ajay Banga in Seoul, Cheong Wa Dae said on Monday. They are expected to discuss ways to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), energy and other areas including how South Korea can share its technological expertise and experience from its rapid economic growth to help strengthen AI capabilities, particularly in developing countries. Their talks will also co October 19, 2026

LS ELECTRIC shares fall despite major deal for US data center project SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - Shares of South Korean power equipment maker LS ELECTRIC fell more than 4 percent in early trading on Monday amid broader concerns over a potential artificial intelligence (AI)-related investment bust, despite securing a 168.9 billion won (US$125.2 million) contract to supply electrical equipment for a U.S. data center project in 2027. The stock fell as low as 150,000 won before recovering to 158,800 won as of around 9:50 a.m. LS ELECTRIC will supply swi October 19, 2026