'Bedford Park' Wins Sundance Special Jury Award for Debut Feature SEOUL, February 01 (AJP) -"Bedford Park", a romance starring Korean actors Son Suk-ku and Moon Choi, won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Debut Feature at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday, marking a strong showing for Korean-led storytelling at the world’s leading showcase for independent cinema. The award, which recognizes a first-time feature director, was presented during the festival’s closing ceremony in Park City, where the film had its worl February 1, 2026

Grammy night nears, Korean artists await the anticipated call SEOUL, February 01 (AJP) -As Grammy night nears in Los Angeles, anticipation is building around high-profile Korean artists and Korean-led content that could set historic records at the world’s most prestigious music awards. The 68th Grammy Awards will be held at the Crypto.com Arena, hosted by the Recording Academy. In South Korea, the ceremony will be broadcast live and exclusively on Mnet, with streaming available via Mnet Plus. Rosé, who entered the February 1, 2026

Korea's Jan exports up 34% on doubled chip shipments, trade surplus streak for 1-year SEOUL, February 01 (AJP) -South Korea’s exports jumped more than 30 percent in January from a year earlier, extending their on-year growth streak to eight consecutive months, driven by steamy semiconductor shipments. Exports totaled $65.85 billion, up 33.9 percent from a year earlier, marking the highest January figure on record, according to data released Sunday by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Semiconductor exports, the country’s top export item, mor February 1, 2026

Seoul's industry minister takes baton for Washington talks to head off U.S. tariff hikes SEOUL, February 01 (AJP) -South Korea has stepped up last-minute diplomacy in Washington to head off a threatened hike in U.S. reciprocal tariffs, with Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo widening outreach across the Trump administration, Congress and U.S. industry just days after Seoul’s industry minister returned home with limited tangible progress. Yeo Han-koo, who arrived in Washington early Friday, has continued meetings through the weekend with U.S. administration officials, la February 1, 2026

Seoul confident but cautious as Canada submarine bid turns into Korea–Germany contest SEOUL, February 01 (AJP) -South Korea has mounted a full-court, government-led push to win Canada’s next-generation submarine program, but Germany’s entrenched role within NATO and its long-standing engineering ties with Ottawa remain formidable obstacles, said a senior presidential official. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said Saturday that Seoul remains confident in its technological edge, even as it competes against Germany for what is widely regarded as o February 1, 2026

Foreign workers missing after deadly factory fire in South Korea SEOUL, January 31 (AJP) - A massive fire at a household goods factory in South Korea left at least one foreign worker dead and another missing, authorities said on Saturday, highlighting ongoing safety concerns involving migrant labor in the country’s manufacturing sector. The blaze broke out at around 2:55 p.m. on Friday at a factory in Eumseong County, North Chungcheong Province, which produces sanitary products such as wet wipes and diapers. Firefighters declared the f January 31, 2026

Korean political leaders pay final respects to former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan SEOUL, January 31 (AJP) - A funeral service for former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan was held on Saturday morning at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Seoul, drawing senior political figures from across the political spectrum. President Lee Jae-myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung attended the service alongside National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Lee’s family. Leaders and lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party as wel January 31, 2026

Korea signs $1bn-plus Chunmoo rocket deal with Norway SEOUL, January 31 (AJP) - South Korea has secured a major defense export deal with Norway, with presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik saying in a Facebook post on Saturday that the Norwegian government had signed a contract to purchase the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system. The contract is worth about 1.3 trillion won ($970 million). Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to President Lee Jae-myung, said the agreement was finalized following approval by the Norwegian governmen January 31, 2026

Korea, U.S. fail to reach deal in tariff talks as discussions set to continue SEOUL, January 31 (AJP) - South Korea and the United States failed to reach a conclusion in tariff negotiations this week, as talks over Washington’s potential reimposition of higher duties on Korean goods ended without agreement. South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Saturday that discussions with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had deepened mutual understanding but fell short of producing a concrete outcome. “Both sides were able to better January 31, 2026

BTS comeback D-49: Fans map out Gwanghwamun sites linked to the group SEOUL, January 31 (AJP) - With BTS set to return as a full group on March 21, attention is building not only around the stage at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square, but also across nearby districts closely associated with the group’s past global performances. As the countdown enters its final stretch, fans are increasingly extending their itineraries beyond the concert itself, mapping out locations around central Seoul that have become informal pilgrimage sites within the global BTS fando January 31, 2026