Daejeon museum fair draws 151 institutions SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - Over 150 museums, galleries and related organizations will gather in Daejeon this week for a three-day fair highlighting how artificial intelligence and digital technology are reshaping the museum sector, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday. The 2026 Museum and Art Museum Fair will run from Sept. 18 to 20 at the Daejeon Convention Center. A total of 151 public, private and university museums, local governments, cultural org September 16, 2026

Over 5,000 minors hold stocks worth more than 100 million won SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - The number of minors in South Korea holding at least 100 million won (US$73,600) worth of listed stocks nearly doubled last year, even as the overall number of underage shareholders edged down. According to data from the Korea Securities Depository obtained by Rep. Park Sung-hoon of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), 5,400 minors held stocks worth 100 million won or more as of the end of last year, up 92.9 percent from 2,800 a year earlier. The num September 15, 2026

K-fashion next big K-thing in Japan after K-pop SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - Takuya Enomoto, a 32-year-old pharmacist in Tokyo, watched his girlfriend's infatuation with South Korea move from SEVENTEEN on her playlist to her clothing collection. She first became a fan of the K-pop group, particularly member Hoshi, before branching out to other Korean acts and then Korean dramas, he said. Following K-pop artists on Instagram brought still more Korean content into her feed. "I think the algorithm exposed her to mor September 15, 2026

'Prost!' Oktoberfest fills Seoul with beer, brass bands and crowds SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - A vast white festival tent rose across the main plaza of Seoul's Oil Tank Culture Park on Saturday, surrounded by rows of blue parasols, beer and food stalls and crowds spilling beyond its entrance. A long line stretched along the park's main walkway toward the festival grounds. In the outdoor Beer Garden, visitors moved between tables, food stands, merchandise booths and a stall renting Bavarian-style clothing. Some of the longest lines were September 13, 2026

Korean singles spend $83 per date, with men paying nearly twice as much SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - A typical date costs unmarried South Koreans 115,000 won ($83), with men spending nearly twice as much as women, a survey showed Saturday, highlighting persistent differences between the sexes over who should pick up the bill. Men aged 25 to 39 reported spending an average 145,800 won per date, compared with 84,000 won for women, according to a survey of 506 unmarried adults conducted by matchmaking agency Gayeon. The gap amounted to 61,800 won p September 12, 2026

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