N. Korea showcases newly-built 'Korean-style tactical nuclear attack submarine'

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a showcase event designed to present Pyongyang's newly-built nuclear attack submarine called "Hero Kim Kun Ok," North Korea's state-operated media agency said. The announcement was made a day before the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea, which is Pyongyang's largest holiday observed on September 9. In 2023, Pyongyang tried to accelerate the growth of its military capabilities by showing off its technology

September 8, 2023

BTS' V drops solo album 'Layover'

SEOUL -- BTS member V has released his very first solo album called "Layover." V had previously released original soundtracks for dramas and mix tapes, self-composed experimental songs distributed for free, but this is the first time for the 27-year-old to release an official album. Layover is a rhythm and blues (R&B)-themed piece containing six songs. V pre-released songs "Rainy Days" and "Love Me Again" about a month before the release of his album

September 8, 2023

​Boy band Seventeen completes two-day concert in Tokyo

SEOUL -- Multinational K-pop boy band Seventeen has completed its concert at Tokyo Dome, an indoor stadium regarded as a "dream stage" among Japanese artists. About 100,000 audience attended the two-day event held at the stadium with a total capacity of around 50,000. The group will continue its Japan tour at four other domes in Saitama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. The 13-member band debuted in May 2015 and won the "World Performer Award" at the 2016 Mnet Asian

September 8, 2023

S. Korea's main gateway gains highest level of customer service accreditation at global airport summit

SEOUL -- South Korea's main gateway in the western port city of Incheon has received the highest level of customer service accreditation at a global summit designed to evaluate airport operators' customer experience management capacity. This is the second time Incheon International Airport acquired the highest level in the accreditation program where 89 airports are involved. Customer experience refers to all activities experienced by airport visitors before they board the flig

September 7, 2023

S. Korea to invest $898 mln in AI industry in 2024

SEOUL -- South Korea will invest about 1.2 trillion won ($898 million) in 2024 to nurture its artificial intelligence industry. At a conference in Seoul, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the country plans to reduce various regulations and focus on improving AI-based services used in everyday environments including the legislative and medical sectors. "While tightening next year's budget as much as possible, the government has allocated 1.2 trillion for the AI sector, up 15.8

September 7, 2023

80% of foreigners satisfied with life in S. Korea: survey

SEOUL -- A survey showed around 80 percent of foreigners are satisfied with their life in South Korea. However, about 20 percent of them have experienced mistreatment in the country. According to government data, a total of 1,752,346 foreigners resided in South Korea for three months or longer in 2022. The national statistics office said the number of multicultural families was 399,396, up 25.2 percent from 2017. The number of multicultural households has steadily increased without bei

September 7, 2023

Global art fair Frieze begins in southern Seoul

SEOUL -- Frieze, a major global art fair, has started at a convention center in Gangnam District, Seoul's heart of fashion and finance. Some 120 galleries from 30 countries including the United States, Britain, and South Korea are presenting various artworks at the four-day event. The annual contemporary art event, run by a British art magazine publisher of the same name, is one of the largest art fairs along with Switzerland's Art Basel and France's Foire Internationale d&

September 6, 2023

S. Korean President Yoon promises to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN

SEOUL -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has pledged to enhance partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at a summit meeting held in Jakarta. The statement was made during his journey to Indonesia for the ASEAN summit meeting. After attending a set of meetings in Indonesia, Yoon is set to move to India to take part in the G20 summit in New Delhi. At the ASEAN summit meeting on September 6, the South Korean leader said his country would support the union of

September 6, 2023

​Korean Air starts bio-aviation fuel demonstration with oil refiner GS Caltex

SEOUL -- Korean Air, South Korea's flag carrier, has started the demonstration of bio-aviation fuel provided by the country's major oil refiner GS Caltex. The first biofuel-based cargo flight took off from Incheon International Airport, South Korea's main gateway, and headed to Los Angeles. A total of six cargo flights will be tested for three months. Biofuel is produced using plant-based or animal-based oil such as cooking oil from fast food restaurants or palm oil. Bi

September 6, 2023

Justin Timberlake's label signs contract with rookie boy band Riize

SEOUL -- RCA Records, an American record label that includes Justin Timberlake and Khalid, has signed a contract with Riize, a seven-member band formed by South Korea's entertainment powerhouse SM Entertainment. Pre-orders for the group's debut album "Get A Guitar" exceeded more than one million copies before its release on September 4. SM Entertainment said in a statement on September 5 that the boy band signed a label contract with the American label owned by Sony M

September 5, 2023