BTS is officially back, but Hybe stock plunges nearly 16% SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - BTS may have returned in full force, but investors were in no mood to celebrate. Despite the group’s highly publicized comeback spectacle in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun on Saturday, distributed globally through Netflix, and the release of its first studio album in six years, Hybe shares tumbled sharply on Monday, the first trading session after the official return. Hybe closed down 15.55 percent at 290,500 won, a much steeper fall than the benchmar March 23, 2026

About 1 in 4 NK defectors show chromosomal anomalies; no proven radiation link SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - Roughly one in four North Korean defectors who lived near the country’s main nuclear test site has shown signs of chromosomal abnormalities potentially consistent with radiation exposure, the Unification Ministry said Monday, while stressing that no causal link has been established. The findings are based on 2024 tests conducted by the National Radiation Emergency Medical Center under the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences. The study e March 23, 2026

Vietnam emerges as new frontier for Korean movies SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - With The King’s Warden the latest South Korean movie set for release in Vietnam, the Southeast Asian country is emerging as a strategic growth market for Korean cinema. The film, which drew over 14 million viewers at home, is set in Yeongwol county in Korea’s Gangwon province, and depicts the relationship between a young dethroned king and a village chief. It is set to open on April 10 across more than 200 screens, including CGV, Lotte Cinem March 23, 2026

Korea joins Puppy Day with adoption push SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - From social media feeds filled with wagging tails to corporate campaigns backing animal welfare, South Korea joined the global celebration of National Puppy Day on Sunday, highlighting a growing culture of pet companionship — and responsibility. Established in 2006 by U.S. pet lifestyle expert Colleen Paige, the day has evolved into an international campaign promoting the protection of abandoned dogs and encouraging adoption. Pet owners arou March 23, 2026

President Lee vows self-reliant defense amid Middle East tensions SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung said Monday that self-reliant defense is the core of South Korea’s integrated defense strategy, citing increasingly complex and fluid global security conditions. “Self-reliant defense is the most important core of integrated defense,” Lee said while presiding over the 59th Central Integrated Defense Council at the Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. The council, held annually, brings together senior officials across various na March 23, 2026

Frenzied retail stock buying triggers Seoul warning on forced liquidation SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - Leveraged stock buying by retail investors remained feverish on Monday despite 6-percent rout on escalating Gulf war fears, prompting the financial regulator to warn on forced liquidations. The Financial Supervisory Service issued a set of guidelines on Monday aimed at preventing disputes in margin trading, saying recent sharp swings in the domestic stock market had heightened the risk of forced sell-offs for investors using credit financing. “When March 23, 2026

Korean pet food firms push into Vietnam's booming market SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) — South Korean pet food companies are increasingly targeting Vietnam as a key growth market, capitalizing on the Southeast Asian country’s rapidly expanding pet economy and rising demand for premium pet care. Vietnam has quickly emerged as a strategic destination for Korean exporters. Korean-made pet food already accounts for an estimated 30-40 percent of purchases in some segments, underscoring strong brand recognition and consumer trust. Sou March 23, 2026

BTS flies to New York sporting "Keep Swimming" SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - BTS flew off to New York less than 12 hours after they successfully pulled off their comeback stage in open-air Gwanghwamun in downtown Seoul and livestreamed worldwide via Netflix, and their appearance at the Incheon International Airport created an instant buzz over their groupwear featuring "Keep Swimming", a clever marketing nod to their title song SWIM from their new album. RM, Jin, Jimin, J-Hope, Suga, V and Jungkook stepped out in matching March 23, 2026

S. Korean broadcaster wins final copyright suit against China's video platform Bilibili SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - South Korean broadcaster MBC has secured a final victory in its high-stakes copyright infringement suit against the Chinese video-sharing platform Bilibili, the company said Monday. The Jiangsu High People's Court delivered a definitive blow to the digital "safe harbor" defense long utilized by Chinese tech giants, signaling a critical shift in how Beijing enforces international intellectual property standards for foreign content providers. By March 23, 2026

Korean cracking facilities shuttering amid naphtha crunch, Seoul reacting to crisis SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - South Korea's major naphtha cracking facilities at the Yeosu Industrial Complex are shuttering as a worsening naphtha supply crunch triggered by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz forces the industry into emergency measures. LG Chem, the country's largest petrochemical firm, said Monday it would suspend operations at its No. 2 naphtha cracking center (NCC) plant in Yeosu, which has an annual ethylene production capacity of 800,000 tons. The company March 23, 2026