BTS Comeback D-20: Police scramble to curb mass overnight camping ahead of Gwanghwamun concert SEOUL, March 01 (AJP) - South Korean police are wrestling with how to manage the prospect of mass overnight camping by BTS fans ahead of the K-pop group's free comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Plaza on March 21, as global audiences descend on the capital with no ticket in hand. Reports say officers are in talks with the Seoul Metropolitan Government over administrative guidance measures to deter fans from seizing stretches of the plaza and surrounding pavements for extended perio March 1, 2026

ANALYSIS: Seoul on alert in fear of Iran crisis shockwaves reaching Northeast Asia SEOUL, March 01 (AJP) -South Korea convened an emergency National Security Council working-level meeting Saturday evening as the Iran crisis escalated, underscoring how quickly a Middle East conflict can translate into strategic and economic risk in Northeast Asia. The National Security Office reviewed the situation on the ground, assessed impacts on national security and the economy, and prioritized the safety of Korean nationals in the region. President March 1, 2026

US begins major combat operations against Iran after Israeli strikes on Tehran SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - United States President Donald Trump announced the start of "major combat operations" against Iran in an eight-minute video posted to Truth Social at approximately 2:30 a.m. Saturday (local time). The move marks a massive military escalation in the Middle East, ending an eight-month period of relative calm following the 12-Day War last June. "The United States military has undertaken a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wic February 28, 2026

BTS Comeback D-21: BTS to play one-hour comeback set at Gwanghwamun Plaza SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - BTS will headline a 60-minute performance at Gwanghwamun Plaza next month, featuring a setlist that balances new material with the group's global hits. The free concert, titled "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG," is scheduled for Mar. 21 and marks the first time the group will perform tracks from its fifth studio album in nearly four years. HYBE, the agency for BTS, confirmed Saturday that it is finalizing a program to showcase songs from the February 28, 2026

BTS Comeback D-21: Gyeongbokgung Palace to close for BTS comeback at Gwanghwamun SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - Gyeongbokgung Palace will deviate from its standard operating schedule and close its gates on a Saturday next month to accommodate a massive live performance by BTS at the adjacent Gwanghwamun Plaza. The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center at the National Heritage Administration announced on February 28 that the landmark will be shuttered on March 21. While the palace typically remains open on weekends and takes its weekly break on Tuesdays, officials cited s February 28, 2026

Number of single-person households exceed 30% in S. Korea as traditional family structures decline SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - South Korea's residential landscape has undergone a radical atomization over the last 40 years, with the number of households nearly tripling even as population growth stalled. A report released Saturday by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs reveals that the traditional multi-generational family has been largely replaced by individuals living alone and elderly couples. According to the report, "Trends and Implications of Household February 28, 2026

Trump calls for rehearing on tariff ruling as South Korean firms seek massive refunds SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) questioned whether the Supreme Court could revisit its decision to strike down his administration's tariff authority, a move that comes as South Korean exporters and other global firms prepare to seek billions of dollars in refunds. Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump expressed frustration with the February 20 ruling, which invalidated reciprocal tariffs he had imposed under the February 28, 2026

K-wave at a high tide; ripples of dissent surface in ASEAN SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - At a moment when the Korean Wave appears once again near its global crest — with artists climbing international charts and anticipation building ahead of BTS’s March 21 return at Gwanghwamun — a quieter, less comfortable current has begun to surface in one of Hallyu’s most enduring strongholds: Southeast Asia. On Monday, an X user posted a terse declaration of disillusionment. “I used to really like Korea. But what happened February 27, 2026

Korea, Japan end lower Fri after stunning February SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Asian equities diverged Friday as chip-heavy markets in South Korea and Japan retreated following a reassessment of AI earnings momentum, while sentiment improved modestly in China-related markets ahead of next week’s pivotal Two Sessions. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI fell 1.0 percent, or 63.14 points, to close at 6,244.13, after swinging between a high of 6,347.4 and a low of 6,153.9. The pullback followed a near-uninterrupted rally since Feb. 9. February 27, 2026

How South Koreans celebrate Lunar New Year's first full moon SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Markets are bustling with shoppers as the first full moon of the lunar year, known as Daeboreum, approaches. As Daeboreum, a day when people traditionally pray for health and a good harvest falls next Tuesday, Gyeongdong Market, one of the largest farmers' markets in Seoul, was packed with shoppers on Friday. Stores and stalls there were selling a variety of nuts such as walnuts, peanuts, pine nuts, and ginkgo nuts, tempting shoppers. In an age-o February 27, 2026