news highlight

• 
  High schoolers sit for nationwide test to gauge their academic levels SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Over a million high school students nationwide took a test to assess their levels of academic achievement. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, some 1.22 million students from 1,948 high schools across 17 metropolitan and provincial cities sat for the test on Tuesday. The nationwide test is conducted several times a year in a format similar to the annual university entrance exam later in the year, often considered a life-deciding te March 24, 2026
• 
  Three workers killed in wind turbine fire in Yeongdeok SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Three workers in their 40s and 50s died in a fire at a wind turbine in the eastern coastal county of Yeongdeok on Monday while conducting repairs and inspections. A fire broke out during the staged demolition process. According to Yeongdeok County authorities, all 24 wind turbines installed at the Changpo Wind Farm and nearby areas were installed in 2005 and have exceeded their 20-year design life. The workers who died in the fire were inspecting the bendin March 24, 2026
• 
  Korea joins Puppy Day with adoption push SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - From social media feeds filled with wagging tails to corporate campaigns backing animal welfare, South Korea joined the global celebration of National Puppy Day on Sunday, highlighting a growing culture of pet companionship — and responsibility. Established in 2006 by U.S. pet lifestyle expert Colleen Paige, the day has evolved into an international campaign promoting the protection of abandoned dogs and encouraging adoption. Pet owners arou March 23, 2026
• 
  BTS flies to New York sporting "Keep Swimming" SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - BTS flew off to New York less than 12 hours after they successfully pulled off their comeback stage in open-air Gwanghwamun in downtown Seoul and livestreamed worldwide via Netflix, and their appearance at the Incheon International Airport created an instant buzz over their groupwear featuring "Keep Swimming", a clever marketing nod to their title song SWIM from their new album. RM, Jin, Jimin, J-Hope, Suga, V and Jungkook stepped out in matching March 23, 2026
• 
  BTS Live: Special forces, police, firefighters in action SEOUL, March 21 (AJP) - Large numbers of police and fire personnel have been deployed across central Seoul ahead of a performance by BTS, with security and safety measures stepped up in the Gwanghwamun area. Police have positioned riot units and traffic officers around Gwanghwamun Square, implementing vehicle restrictions and managing pedestrian flow in parts of the area. Special police units have also been deployed on site to prepare for any emergencies. Fire authorities have sta March 21, 2026
• 
  BTS Live: Seoul rehearses for comeback show with own digital and drone spectacle SEOUL, March 21 (AJP) -The city did not wait for the real show. On the eve of BTS’s comeback show Friday, Seoul became the stage itself — a vast, breathing amphitheater where sky, stone and river moved in sync to a rhythm already familiar to millions. Above Gwanghwamun, the night opened like a screen. Drones gathered in disciplined silence before bursting into motion, sketching constellations that resolved into faces, logos, fragments of memory. Nearly 2,000 points o March 21, 2026
• 
  BTS Live D-1: Gwanghwamun already bustling with crowds and excitement SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) -Gwanghwamun in downtown Seoul has gone all purple to match BTS signature color from signboards to ice cream as it receives a swarm of guests for the blowout street-stage BTS comeback show that is expected to draw nearly 300,000 crowds and livestreamed for global audience. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, an estimated 46,000 to 48,000 people had gathered around Gwanghwamun and Deoksugung as of 2 p.m., marking a 26.7 percent increase from the March 20, 2026
• 
  BTS Live D-2: Fans flock to Gwanghwamun ahead of BTS performance SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - With just two days remaining until BTS's March 21 comeback performance at Gwanghwamun in central Seoul, numerous visitors are already gathering at the venue on Thursday. While workers are busy installing the stage, seating, and lighting at the iconic Seoul square, visitors are already taking photos and observing the construction site. Gwanghwamun Plaza is currently filled with tourists, with temporary walkways installed for safety control, March 19, 2026
• 
  Flowers bloom in Seoul Buddhist temple as vernal equinox nears SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - Spring flowers bloomed at Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul’s Gangnam District on Thursday, drawing visitors a day ahead of the seasonal marker Chunbun, the vernal equinox. Plum trees with red and white blossoms, and cherry flowers colored the temple grounds, offering a gentle sign of the changing season. Visitors paused to take photos or slowed their steps, enjoying the early spring atmosphere. Chunbun marks the day when daytime and nighttime are of equal le March 19, 2026