INTERVIEW: BTS wear them, but hanbok is still misunderstood SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Hanbok is everywhere — on global stages, red carpets and tourist hotspots. Recognition, however, remains elusive. From BTS’s Gwanghwamun comeback performance in armor-inspired hanbok to the Oscar-stage showcase of K-pop Demon Hunters, Korean traditional dress is increasingly projected onto the global screen. The imagery travels easily. It resonates visually. To many, it simply registers as something “cool.” But familiarity s April 13, 2026

Seoul city to bring books outdoors with libraries on lawns next week SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - With the return of balmy weather, several spaces in central Seoul will be transformed into outdoor libraries starting next week, where Seoulites can read books on the lawn in front of City Hall, at Gwanghwamun Square, or along Cheonggye Stream. These open-air libraries, part of the city government's annual summer events, are scheduled to open next Thursday and will feature bookshelves with more than 12,000 books, as well as bean bags, mats, and parasols, April 13, 2026

South Korea emerges as top travel destination for spring SEOUL, April 9 (AJP) - With the growing popularity of the Korean Wave, more travelers are choosing South Korea as their spring destination to enjoy cherry blossoms and other attractions, shifting from the long-standing tradition of visiting Japan. According to figures released by online travel agency Trip.com on Thursday, Seoul ranked first among global cities in flight bookings for the spring travel period from March 20 to May 3. Bookings for flights to Seoul jumped 83 p April 9, 2026

Lawyers in Korea clash over bar pass rates amid glut and AI threat SEOUL, April 08 (AJP) - Lawyers usually fight for others, but in South Korea these days, they are fighting for themselves. The Korean Law School Student Association on Wednesday issued a statement signed by 1,024 students from 25 law schools, calling on the government to ease entry barriers by raising the bar exam pass rate to 75 percent from the current median of around 50 percent. Just days earlier, on Monday, an unseasonably chilly spring drizzle did not deter about 200 lawy April 8, 2026

Coupang reclaims e-commerce dominance in South Korea as Chinese rivals gain ground SEOUL, April 07 (AJP) - Coupang, South Korea's largest online retailer, has effectively shaken off the fallout from a massive data breach that exposed the personal information of about 33.7 million users late last year, with its monthly active user base and estimated transaction volume rebounding to pre-crisis levels in March. Data from IGAWorks MobileIndex on Monday showed Coupang's monthly active users (MAU) reaching 35.03 million in March, up from 33.64 million in Februar April 7, 2026

LG's clothing-care machine surpasses 2 million units in cumulative global sales SEOUL, April 5 (AJP) - LG Electronics' clothing-care contraption, called the LG Styler, has sold over 2 million units in cumulative global sales, the home-appliance giant said on Sunday. The milestone comes just five years after over 1 million units were sold in 2021, about a decade after its release in 2011. The machine, which resembles a combination of a wardrobe and a fridge, removes odors, dust, and wrinkles while sterilizing clothes, all without the time-consuming effo April 5, 2026

INTERVIEW: How Jay Songzio shaped BTS's return in armor and restraint SEOUL, April 3 (AJP) — More than 18 million viewers tuned in live. Add to that over 30 million registered fans worldwide, and the scale of the moment becomes clear. When the lights rose on March 21 over all seven members of BTS — together on one stage for the first time in nearly four years — it was less a comeback than a global event. The afterglow has yet to fade. The album ARIRANG has climbed the Billboard charts, and its music videos continue to ripple across April 3, 2026

Alone but together: inside Korea's burgeoning "admin night" culture SEOUL, April 1 (AJP) — “Roasted sweet potato.” “Yes.” “Hamster Prince!” “Yes.” “Homebody.” “Yes.” It’s 8pm Tuesday and organizers in a café in the Gwanak district of southern Seoul have started a roll call of participants, using their nicknames. One by one, people share what they plan to accomplish that day. “I’ll finish the book I started last week.” “I&rsq April 1, 2026

Pulmuone vows AI-driven growth push at annual shareholder meeting SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - South Korean food company Pulmuone held its annual general meeting, pledging to accelerate its artificial intelligence transformation strategy and expand into new business segments as it eyes a deeper footprint in global markets. The meeting, held at the Korea Science and Technology Convention Center in Seoul's Gangnam district on Tuesday, drew shareholders and company executives under the theme "ONE" — a reference to the firm's corpor March 31, 2026

Global love for K-content hits new highs, but fatigue also on the rise SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - That K-content is widely loved is no longer in doubt. With K-pop-themed animation sweeping the Grammys and Oscars, and Netflix livestreaming BTS’ comeback, the latest data only puts a number to the momentum: nearly 70 percent approval worldwide. According to data released Monday by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, 69.7 percent of respondents expressed favorable views tow March 30, 2026