BTS Live D-4 : BTS comeback turns Seoul into citywide festival SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) - Seoul is transforming into a festive atmosphere for the BTS comeback. Various commemorative events including a drone show at Ttukseom Hangang Park, media facades, and music light shows will take place. BTS announced detailed programs for 'BTS THE CITY: ARIRANG SEOUL' (hereafter THE CITY SEOUL) through Weverse on March 16. THE CITY SEOUL is a citywide project that will unfold across the city from March 20 to April 19. On March 17, 2026

BTS Live D-4: Gwanghwamun transforming into a mega open-air stage SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) -Seoul is turning its historic heart into a carefully controlled arena as nearly 260,000 fans are expected to gather for BTS’s return concert at Gwanghwamun on March 21. At the center of the plan is a transformation of open city streets into a “stadium-style” venue. Thirty-one official entry gates—stretching from the west (W1–W15) to the east (E1–E16)—will funnel crowds into designated zones, preventing dangerous over March 17, 2026

Activists rally in Seoul to oppose warship dispatch to Middle East SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) - Civic activists held a rally at Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on Tuesday to oppose the possible dispatch of warships to the Strait of Hormuz as well as the deployment of South Korean troops to the Middle East. They chanted with banners and stickers reading "no war" and "no deployment," urging an end to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which began with U.S.-led airstrikes on Iran late last month. March 17, 2026

Over 200 South Koreans return home on military aircraft from Middle East SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - Some 204 South Korean nationals residing in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries returned home on a military transport aircraft on Sunday. Amid the prolonged Middle East conflict, which began with U.S.-led airstrikes on Iran late last month, the South Korean government launched an evacuation mission, dubbed "Operation Desert Shine," to ensure the safe return of its nationals. A multipurpose transport aircraft flew to Saudi Arabia to ev March 16, 2026

Rice, beans, eggs among items under price control watch SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) -Rice, beans and eggs are among 13 fresh food and grocery items authorities will keep a close eye on amid signs of price increases linked to a prolonged cold spell. In total, 23 items were selected during a government meeting on consumer prices. Of these, 13 items — including rice, beans, garlic, imported fruits, eggs, pork, frozen meat, flour, starch sugar, cooking oil, mackerel, dried seaweed and processed foods — were classified as essential co March 16, 2026

South Korea finishes Winter Paralympics with best-ever medal haul SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - This year's Winter Paralympics concluded their 10-day competitions in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with a closing ceremony held last Sunday. With two gold, four silver, and one bronze medals, South Korea ranked 13th overall in the gold-medal count, the country's best-ever performance in Winter Paralympics history, surpassing its previous record set at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018 when the country secured one gold and two bronze medals. March 16, 2026

BTS Live D-5: Gwanghwamun begins dressing up as a giant open-air stage SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) -Seoul is redecorating Gwanghwamun Square to transform the historic plaza into a vast open-air stage for global K-pop group BTS, whose comeback performance will be livestreamed worldwide on Saturday. Stage installations are taking shape across the square, while large banners announcing BTS’s return line nearby streets and buildings. Foreign tourists stopped to take photos in front of the displays, adding to the growing buzz ahead of the concert. Phas March 16, 2026

Gwanghwamun redresses to play the host for BTS show SEOUL, March 13 (AJP) -An electronic billboard near Gwanghwamun Square flashes the announcement: BTS is coming back. The towering digital screen lights up the intersection in central Seoul with promotions for “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG,” the group’s highly anticipated concert scheduled for March 21 — just eight days away. Around the historic square, the city is already wearing the band’s colors. Towering buildings along the Gwanghwamun boulevar March 13, 2026

Director Jang Hang-jun treats fans to coffee to celebrate his box-office success SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - Director Jang Hang-jun shared the joy of his latest film’s huge box-office success with an up-close, personal event for Seoulites in central Seoul on Thursday. Jang served around 200 cups of coffee in front of the Korea Press Center, expressing his gratitude to his fans. The event was arranged as a gesture of appreciation after period film "The King's Warden" attracted over 10 million moviegoers, about a month after its release on Feb March 12, 2026

Activists rally in Seoul to mark 15th anniversary of Fukushima disaster SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - Activists held a rally in central Seoul on Wednesday to mark the 15th anniversary of Japan's Fukushima disaster in 2011. The protesters, wearing boards shaped like nuclear reactors, were members of an anti-nuclear civic group. They gathered in front of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun, reading a declaration to urge remembrance of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, oppose the construction of additional nuclear power plants, and advocate March 11, 2026