Foreign spending in Seoul jumps 60% as experience tourism grows SEOUL, October 06 (AJP) - Foreign tourists’ credit-card spending in Seoul jumped 60 percent against a 22 percent gain in visitor numbers in the first eight months of the year as K-beauty and experience-based tourism gained traction, the city government said Tuesday. Spending rose 59.9 percent to 7.78 trillion won from 4.87 trillion won a year earlier, while the estimated number of foreign visitors increased 21.6 percent to 11.56 million. Tourist spending thus grew at abou October 6, 2026

Chipflation hastens Korea's decline as a gaming powerhouse  SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - South Korea is on course to become the fourth country to reach $1 trillion in annual exports, powered by chips that accounted for nearly half its $121 billion in overseas shipments last month alone. But the boom comes with a cost for consumers. As memory makers devote more production capacity to the giant cloud operators and advanced processors driving the AI buildout, supplies for everyday electronics are tightening. The resulting p October 2, 2026

Hanwha Foundation to hold emerging artists exhibition in New York SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - The Hanwha Foundation of Culture will bring together emerging Korean artists and international writers for a group exhibition in New York, the foundation said Thursday. Titled “MacGuffin,” the exhibition will run from Oct. 8 through Dec. 19 at Space ZeroOne in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, featuring five Korean visual artists and five international writers in collaboration with Art Omi, a New York-based international arts residency pro October 2, 2026

Korea to celebrate 100 years of Hangeul Day with nationwide events SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - South Korea will mark the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day with nearly two weeks of performances, exhibitions and public programs across the country, the Culture Ministry said Friday. The annual Hangeul Week will run from Oct. 6 to 17, with its main events centered on Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. A three day festival from Oct. 6 will feature musicals, concerts and more than 20 hands-on programs built around the Korean alphabet. An eve ceremony on Oc October 2, 2026

"Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's…" SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - The sky above Gwanghwamun can be entrancing on deep-blue autumn days, with mountains rising beyond the broad avenue in downtown Seoul. But on Thursday, there was another reason to look up. Eyes and phones tilted upward as a man somersaulted 120 meters above the ground. Beneath him lay modern high-rises, an ancient palace, the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and hundreds of spectators. Jaan Roose, a 34-year-old Estonian slackliner and three- October 1, 2026

When ads stop looking like ads SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - The digital wave has torn down the fence between advertising and entertainment in South Korea. Banks produce web dramas and variety shows. Retailers try short-form comedy. Brands commission songs and music videos, and even create their own idols. Construction companies are joining in, seeking an audience that can swipe past a conventional ad in seconds. As viewing shifts toward streaming services and algorithm-driven feed September 29, 2026

Shark draws 483,000 to Busan waterfront over Chuseok SEOUL, September 28 (AJP) - A shark lingering in an artificial waterway at Busan's North Port drew 483,000 visitors over the four-day Chuseok holiday, the Busan Facilities Corp. said Monday. The crowd accounted for about 85 percent of the 568,800 people counted at the waterfront park since official tracking began on Sept. 19. Daily attendance reached 101,000 on Sept. 24, 136,000 the following day and peaked at 140,000 on Sept. 26 before easing to 106,000 on Sunday. A ty September 28, 2026

Foreign visitors drive record crowds at Seoul palaces SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) -Royal palaces in Seoul drew record crowds last year, led by a surge in foreign visitors to Gyeongbok Palace as interest in Korean pop culture increasingly spilled over into traditional heritage sites. Gyeongbok, the largest of Seoul’s four main royal palaces, attracted 6.89 million visitors in 2025, up 6.9 percent from 6.44 million a year earlier, according to data submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Heritage Serv September 25, 2026

Chuseok scenes change, but fight for Eumma jeon remains hot SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - In a city where groceries can arrive at the door within hours, holiday food can be ordered on a smartphone and warehouse stores promise nearly everything under one roof, there is still a corner of Seoul where preparing for Chuseok begins with a queue. On Thursday, traffic around Eunma Shopping Center in Seoul's affluent Daechi-dong had nearly ground to a halt. Cars trying to enter the parking lot became tangled with vehi September 25, 2026

What's in a face? In Korea, seemingly a lot SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) -A gifted physiognomist played by Song Kang-ho sits at the center of the 2013 Korean film The Face Reader, able to divine a person's character and destiny simply by looking at a face. His gift eventually draws him into a struggle over the Joseon throne. After studying the face of Prince Suyang, he sees the makings of a ruthless usurper. His judgment proves accurate. But knowing what is coming does not mean he can stop it. Despite his efforts to prote September 23, 2026