Japan looks to introduce Korea's AI-backed copyright system SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Japan has secured budget funding to introduce a system modeled on South Korea's AI-backed response to online copyright infringement, Seoul's culture ministry said Friday. Japanese officials saw a demonstration of the Korea Copyright Protection Agency's integrated response system at a bilateral seminar in 2024 and later secured funding to consider a similar system in Japan, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The dis September 11, 2026

Korea targets Chinese tour demand for regional travel push SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - South Korea will bring Chinese travel agencies to meetings with Korean tourism officials this week as part of a push to send more Chinese visitors beyond Seoul, the culture ministry said Thursday. The first Korea-China travel industry exchange will be held in Incheon on Thursday, followed by a regional tourism briefing and business-to-business travel market in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on Friday. The program is hosted by the ministry and organ September 10, 2026

Coupang users and spending stronger than pre-data leak SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) -Coupang’s grip on South Korean consumers appears largely intact despite a massive personal-data leak and regulatory crackdowns, as shoppers continue to choose speed and convenience over lingering privacy and ethical concerns. Estimated credit and debit card payments on Coupang reached 4.930 trillion won in August, up 12.6 percent from 4.378 trillion won a year earlier, according to Mobile Index operated by AI data technology company IGAWorks Wednesda September 9, 2026

At Kiaf and Frieze, Seoul's art crowds come before the buyers SEOUL, September 03 (AJP) - Kiaf Seoul, Korea's flagship art fair, has plenty to celebrate in its 25th edition. On Thursday morning, its audience looked ready for the occasion. Minutes before the 11 a.m. opening, VIP guests were already gathered inside COEX. The dress was polished rather than extravagant: neat jackets, muted colors, the practiced restraint of an art-fair crowd. Then the doors opened and the phones came out. Visitors paused before paintings, stepped back September 3, 2026

Jinwoo wins reelection as head of Korea's largest Buddhist order SEOUL, September 03 (AJP) - Ven. Jinwoo won reelection Thursday as head of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, becoming its first chief executive in 13 years to secure a second term. Jinwoo, the incumbent 37th president of the Jogye Order's General Affairs Office, was elected the order's 38th president with 183 votes, or 57 percent, in an indirect election held at the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall in central Seoul. All 321 membe September 3, 2026

Korea to open culture data for AI SEOUL, September 03 (AJP) - South Korea will open five sets of culture-sector public data in AI-ready formats, covering traditional music, tourism, policy information and cultural assets, the culture ministry said Thursday. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the data will come from four public institutions: the National Gugak Center, the National Library of Korea, the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea Culture Information Service Agency. Project is part of t September 3, 2026

Korea's squishy toy craze puts 14+ labels under scrutiny SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) -South Korea's squishy-toy craze is getting a sober safety check. In Seoul's Dongdaemun toy district, the old staples of childhood are still everywhere. Children weave between shops packed floor to ceiling with transforming robots, Lego sets, dolls and BB guns. Wedged among them is a newer kind of toy, designed less to build or shoot than to squeeze, stretch and crack. There are croissant-shaped squishies, tubs of brightly colored slime, September 2, 2026

Italy at Frieze spotlights Korean-Italian art ties SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - The Italian Embassy in Seoul opened a joint exhibition of Korean and Italian art Tuesday as part of its Frieze week program, highlighting growing cultural ties between the two countries. "Italy at Frieze: The Golden Trace" pairs Korean artist Yeesookyung with Italian artist Andrea Francolino at the Italian ambassador's residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. Now in its third Seoul edition, the show runs alongside the fifth Frieze Seoul th September 1, 2026

Korean jobseekers face an AI test with no rulebook SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - AI literacy is becoming the latest addition to the long list of so-called "specs" young South Koreans need to compete for already-scarce entry-level jobs. The problem is that employers themselves are still figuring out what they want. SK hynix is removing its traditional personal-statement questions from applications in the second half of this year. Instead, applicants will be asked to describe how they have used AI in projects, r September 1, 2026

Korea opens monthlong nationwide art festival SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - South Korea opened a monthlong art festival Tuesday, linking major biennales and airport exhibitions in a nationwide push to promote Korean art at home and abroad. The 2026 Korea Art Festival will run through Sept. 30 across the country, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. This year's program brings together four biennales: the Gwangju Biennale, Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale, Busan Biennale and Jeju Biennale. Two major art fairs, Ki September 1, 2026