BTS' agency HYBE to hold all-star music festival on western island in June

SEOUL -- HYBE, the entertainment company behind popular K-pop groups like BTS and TXT, will hold a two-day music festival called "2024 Weverse Con Festival" at the luxurious Inspire Resort on Yeongjongdo Island, located west of Seoul, on June 15-16. Originally launched as a year-end event in 2021, the Weverse Con Festival has evolved into a full-fledged outdoor festival designed to transcend genres and generations, offering a unique and immersive experience for fans.

February 23, 2024

Le Sserafim's mini album "Easy" sees surge in popularity in Japan

SEOUL -- Le Sserafim's mini-album "Easy" is experiencing a surge in popularity among Japanese fans. A total of 72,356 copies of the album were sold in Japan on its release date, setting a new record. According to the group's agency Source Music, this sales figure was recorded on February 22, marking about a 25 percent increase compared to the first-day sales of the band's previous album, "UNFORGIVEN." Through Easy, the five-member band delves into

February 22, 2024

LG Energy Solution signs supply deal with China's Changzhou Liyuan to receive 160,000 tons of cathode materials

SEOUL -- LG Energy Solution, the battery-making wing of South Korea's LG Group, signed a supply deal with China's Changzhou Liyuan New Energy Technology to receive about 160,000 tons of cathode materials for five years. This amount is enough to produce one million batteries for electric vehicles with maximum travel distances of more than 400 kilometers. Cathode materials play a crucial role in determining the capacity and voltage of batteries. Changzhou Liyuan New Energy T

February 22, 2024

[OPINION] Indonesia Election – Victory for Democracy, with Global Significance

KENOSHA -- On February 14, major national elections took place in Indonesia. The results, especially in historic context, are a victory for democracy. An enormous nation wi

February 22, 2024

Turkish Embassy in Seoul celebrates test flight of homemade 5th-gen fighter jet

SEOUL -- The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Seoul sent out a congratulatory message to celebrate the successful maiden flight of Türkiye's homegrown fifth-generation jet fighter known by its nickname "KAAN." The fighter jet formerly known as "TF-X" and "Milli Muharip Uçak" is a stealthy twin-engine all-weather air superiority fighter that is being developed by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and sub-contractor BAE Sy

February 22, 2024

S. Korean web comics app thrives in Japan, reaching $665 mln in annual transactions

SEOUL -- South Korean web comics app service Kakao Piccoma, a Japanese webtoon subsidiary of web service giant Kakao, achieved the top spot as Japan's highest-earning smartphone app service operator in 2023. This success stands out, considering Japan's strong association with "manga," iconic Japanese-style comic books like "Dragon Ball Z," "Naruto," and "One Piece." Webtoons, formerly known as web comics, are digital comic books opti

February 22, 2024

'Stun Gun' Kim Dong-hyun participates in second series of Netflix survival show 'Physical: 100'

SEOUL -- Kim Dong-hyun, a South Korean UFC fighter better known by his ring name "Stun Gun," will appear in the second series of Physical: 100, a Netflix reality show featuring physically fit contestants engaging in games and competitions. The first season, released in January 2023, has topped Netflix's weekly non-English TV show chart and made it into the top 10 lists in 82 countries. Stun Gun is a legendary mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter with the highest number o

February 22, 2024

Crime thriller 'A Killer Paradox' tops Netflix's weekly non-English series chart

SEOUL -- South Korean crime thriller series "A Killer Paradox," directed by Lee Chang-hee, has topped Netflix's weekly TV series chart for non-English content. The thriller series depicts the story of a killer who accidentally murders without leaving any evidence, and a detective investigating the case. The over-the-top (OTT) media service said that A Killer Paradox garnered some 5.5 million hours of viewing between February 12 and February 18. The South Korean conte

February 21, 2024

S. Korean aircraft maker to showcase homemade light-armed helicopter in Singapore

SEOUL -- At a global air show in Singapore, South Korea's aircraft maker Korea Aerospace Industries will present its light-armed helicopter, designed to replace an aging fleet of light helicopters such as MD500s and AH-1S Cobra. At the biennial event, some 1,000 companies from over 50 countries will showcase technologies in aviation and military capabilities. The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) unveiled its plan in November 2022 to mass-produce LAHs with an injection of 5.75

February 21, 2024

Coca-Cola releases K-pop version of zero-sugar Coke targeting global fans

SEOUL -- The Coca-Cola Company has released the K-pop version of Coca-Cola targeting the global market. The new zero-sugar Coke, inspired by the worldwide impact of K-pop and its dedicated fanbase, features the "Coca-Cola" logo written in Korean on the front. The beverage maker has collaborated with Park Jin-young, the head of South Korea's major entertainment agency JYP, who played a crucial role in expanding K-pop into the overseas market. Starting in March 2024, t

February 21, 2024