• 
  K-pop girl band ITZY to return with 10th mini album 'Motto' on May 18 SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - K-pop girl band ITZY will return on May 18 with its 10th mini album "Motto," marking the group’s first release in six months following "TUNNEL VISION," JYP Entertainment said Monday. Debuting on Feb. 12, 2019, with "Dalla Dalla," the five-member band quickly emerged as the K-pop super rookie after the music video for its title song surpassed 14 million views within 24 hours and reached 100 million views in 57 days, setting May 11, 2026
• 
  Rent inflation adds to mounting price pressures in Korea SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) -Rental offerings from monthly to longer-term contracts of more than two years are drying up in South Korea, pushing rent increases above housing price gains and adding additional pressure on inflation and household spending. The surge first emerged in jeonse system, in which tenants pay a large lump-sum deposit for two years or longer lease instead of monthly rent. It is now increasingly spilling over into the monthly rental market as more landlords move away May 11, 2026
• 
  AI infrastructure rally lifts KOSPI to another record SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI outperformed regional and global peers Monday, surging more than 4 percent to another record high as investors piled into semiconductor and AI infrastructure-related shares despite escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and heavy foreign selling. The benchmark KOSPI closed up 4.3 percent at 7,822.24 after moving between a low of 7,713.49 and a record intraday high of 7,899.30. The rally contrasted with a 0.5 p May 11, 2026
• 
  Seoul condemns attack on HMM vessel in Strait of Hormuz SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - South Korea on Monday formally condemned a kinetic strike on a specialized cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz after a joint investigation concluded that two airborne projectiles hit the ship. The confirmation follows a week of uncertainty regarding the Panama-flagged HMM Namu, which was left with a massive hull rupture and an engine room fire after the May 4 strike. The vessel was carrying 24 crew members, including six South Korean nationals. The foreig May 11, 2026
• 
  K-pop band NCT to launch 10th anniversary pop-up in Seoul SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) -K-pop band NCT will open a large-scale pop-up event in Seoul starting Friday as part of the group’s 10th anniversary project, SM Entertainment said Monday. The event, titled "NCT 10TH Anniversary pop up : Neo Ground," will run from May 15 to 23 at Pi Factory in Seoul’s Gwangjin District, a district well-known as a hipster area frequented by tourists from around the world. Debuting in 2016, NCT has expanded into multiple sub May 11, 2026
• 
  Seoul prepares for Buddha's birthday celebrations SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - Colorful lanterns light up along Cheonggye Stream in central Seoul on Monday as Buddha's birthday approaches, with preparations underway for the annual lotus lantern festival, known as Yeondeunghoe. Large traditional installations and rows of glowing lotus lanterns have been set up around the stream and nearby walking paths, drawing attention from both locals and foreign tourists. Large traditional decorations and glowing lotus installations have been se May 11, 2026
• 
  Wall Street bias leaves Korean won lagging despite equity boom SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - The bias toward Wall Street stocks among South Korean investors has eased, but not nearly enough to offset foreign divestment from Korean equities — a gap that helps explain the won’s stubborn weakness. According to data released by the Bank of Korea (BOK) last Friday, outbound stock investment by residents rose by $4 billion in March, slowing sharply from $13.46 billion in January and $8.64 billion in February. The central bank said a strong d May 11, 2026
• 
  Seoul mulling deploying Hyundai Motor robots for border patrol  SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - South Korea’s military is quietly studying whether robotic dogs and wearables built by Hyundai Motor Group could one day complement human patrols along the tense front lines dividing the Korean Peninsula, as demographic collapse begins to hollow out the ranks of one of the world’s largest conscript armies. The discussions, still at an early stage, underscore how a shrinking birthrate is forcing Seoul’s military planners to confront a strategic May 11, 2026
• 
  Festival brings taste of rural coastal life to Seoulites SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - A fishing village-themed festival kicked off on Monday at Gwanghwamun Square, offering city residents a taste of coastal life and a glimpse into rural relocation opportunities. Hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Public Agency, the three-day festival provides information for those interested in relocating to fishing villages, along with details on government policies, support programs, and fisheries-related job May 11, 2026
• 
  Nami Island turns into an island of fairytales SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) -Under canopies of fresh spring leaves and tree-lined paths washed in soft May sunlight, families wandered through Nami Island this weekend as the 2026 Nami Island International Children’s Book Festival transformed the popular riverside retreat into a sprawling storybook playground. Held under the theme “Romance,” NAMBOOK 2026 opened on May 1 and runs through May 17, blending literature, art and performance across the island’s open-air May 11, 2026