Cheap currencies bring two neighbors closer than ever SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) - Cheap currencies, short flights and a growing fascination with each other's culture are bringing South Koreans and Japanese closer than at any time in decades, quietly reshaping one of Asia's most complicated relationships one weekend trip at a time. For 23-year-old South Korean college student Kim Yi-hyun, the favorite destination over the past year has been Japan. "As a student, I don't have much money," Kim said. "Japan is August 4, 2026

A Twosome Place gains ground as Starbucks struggles with 'Tank Day' controversy SEOUL, August 4 (AJP) - South Korea's oversaturated coffee market is showing signs of a potential seismic shift, as Starbucks, the long-dominant market leader, has taken a hit to sales and reputation following its so-called "Tank Day" controversy, while rivals such as A Twosome Place have gained ground in recent months. A Twosome Place recorded an estimated 117.05 billion won in card payment transactions in July, according to Mobile Index, a data platform opera August 4, 2026

Amorepacific rides K-beauty boom to strongest Q2 in years SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - Amorepacific Group reported sharply higher second-quarter earnings on Thursday as robust growth in North America, Europe and Japan offset weakness in Greater China, underscoring the South Korean cosmetics maker's accelerating shift toward a broader global business footprint. The company posted consolidated revenue of 1.25 trillion won and operating profit of 122.8 billion won for the April-June period, up 14.6 percent and 53.3 percent, respectively, from July 30, 2026

Why South Korean women are drinking more while men cut back SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) — Grabbing a beer after work, unwinding with a glass of wine while watching Netflix or sharing a highball with friends has become a familiar scene in South Korean dramas. Increasingly, it is reflecting real life. Every evening, Kim Ji-hyun, a 45-year-old office worker in Ilsan, pours herself a glass of wine or mixes a highball before settling in with Netflix. Her husband sometimes joins her. "It's not that I drink because of stress," she July 28, 2026

Korea's tourist boom spreads beyond Seoul, Busan rises fast SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) -South Korea's tourism boom is increasingly spreading beyond Seoul, with foreign arrivals through regional airports growing more than twice as fast as those through the capital area as inbound visitors topped 10 million in the first half for the first time since the pandemic. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday, 1.99 million foreign travelers visited South Korea in June, up 23.1 percent from a year earlier, lifting first-half July 28, 2026

BLACKPINK x Tamagotchi pop-up to open in Seoul SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - A limited-edition BLACKPINK x Tamagotchi collection will go on sale at a weeklong pop-up store in Seoul, giving fans in South Korea their first opportunity to purchase the collaboration in person, Lotte Department Store said Tuesday. The pop-up will run from Thursday to Aug. 5 at Lotte World Mall in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul. Lotte said it will exclusively host the collaboration's retail pop-up in South Korea. The collection features limited-e July 28, 2026

Seoul turns Han River into day-and-night summer destination SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) - Seoul city will turn the Han River into a day-and-night summer destination from Aug. 1 to 16 with a festival featuring what the city calls the river's first synchronized surface drone show, overnight programs and expanded water sports. The 2026 Hangang Summer Festival will be held across nine Han River parks and nearby waterfront areas, offering 16 programs ranging from live performances and outdoor screenings to water recreation, the Seoul Metropolitan Go July 27, 2026

Annual contest invites participants to share their first encounters with Korean culture SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) - A Korean culture-themed annual international contest began accepting entries on Monday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on Monday. Under the theme "My First K-Culture Moment," this year's “TalkTalk Korea” contest invites foreign nationals worldwide to share how they first encountered Korean culture through videos, photographs, illustrations and written works. Those interested can submit entries by Sept. 28 about ho July 27, 2026

Love, legacy and the price of a chaebol divorce SEOUL, July 26 (AJP) -There is no shortage of Korean dramas built around chaebol heirs falling in love against the odds. Real life has produced stories just as compelling — except that the endings are often written not by scriptwriters but by judges. Record 944 billion won ($680 million) divorce award involving SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and former wife Roh Soh-yeong last Friday has added another chapter to the small club of Korea's most consequential corporate brea July 26, 2026

Korea spotlights heritage impact assessments versus developments SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - Korea will bring together international heritage experts to discuss how Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) can help safeguard UNESCO World Heritage sites from mounting pressure caused by development projects, tourism and climate change, the Korea National University of Heritage, which operates under the Korea Heritage Service, said Friday. The forum, titled Making Impact Assessment Work for World Heritage: From Capacity Building to Practice, will be held from July 24, 2026