Le Sserafim to perform ‘Aeiou’ for first time in Osaka

Le Sserafim set fans in Japan abuzz with the news that it will perform its song “Aeiou” for the first time in Osaka, Japan, in December. Agency Source Music uploaded a video for the song, the B-side track from its second single album, “Made My Night,” on Thursday. The video is a composite of moments captured during the preparation of the two-set effort and the North American leg of its world tour. It ends with the song title and the announcement, “See You Soon at Kyocera Dome Osaka.” The quintet

Oct. 16, 2026

NCT Dream to release sixth studio album next month

NCT Dream announced Friday that it will release its sixth studio album, “Dream After Dream,” on Nov. 9, according to label SM Entertainment. This is the group's first release since it reorganized into a six-member act in April, when Mark left both the team and the label to pursue a solo career. It also is the first album after the bandmates renewed their contracts with the label. The group celebrated its 10th anniversary in August. The upcoming LP will contain 10 tracks, including lead single “B

Oct. 16, 2026

South Korea’s oldest hippo, Hasun, dies at 46

Hasun, South Korea’s oldest hippopotamus, has died at 46, Seoul Grand Park said Friday. In a notice posted on its website, the park said Hasun had been eating well and remained healthy despite her age until her strength suddenly began to decline. The park did not specify the date of her death. “Our veterinarians and keepers stayed by Hasun’s side and did everything they could," the park said. "She passed away peacefully in their care, with no signs of a particular illness.” Born in 1980, Hasun l

Oct. 16, 2026

Tigers, Twins set to renew KBO postseason rivalry

The Kia Tigers and the LG Twins, the two teams that have combined to win the past three South Korean baseball championships, will renew their postseason rivalry starting this weekend. The two clubs will have their first Korea Baseball Organization postseason showdown in 10 years when the first game in their best-of-five semi-final round opens at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Tigers' home, Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul. The Twins are the defending Korean Seri

Oct. 16, 2026

3 Samsung products named in TIME's Best Inventions of 2026 list

Samsung Electronics Co. said Friday that three of its products have been named in TIME magazine's list of the Best Inventions of 2026. The Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone, the Bespoke AI Family Hub refrigerator and the Odyssey G8 G80HS gaming monitor were among the list, the South Korean tech giant said. Each year, TIME compiles the list based on nominations from its editors and correspondents around the world. TIME said the Galaxy S26 Ultra became the world's fastest-selling Android smartphone of t

Oct. 16, 2026

Seoul stocks open higher after 7-day losing streak

Seoul stocks opened higher Friday after the previous session's over 7 percent dip amid woes over artificial intelligence trade and US inflation. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index was up 85.62 points, or 1.54 percent, to 5,639.84 at 9:15 a.m. Overnight, major stocks indexes on Wall Street closed higher, but major AI and semiconductor shares ended in negative territory. The S&P 500 added 0.33 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq inched up 0.08 percent. US producer price data posted t

Oct. 16, 2026

New China-North Korea bridge opens after more than a decade of delay

BEIJING (AP) — A new bridge linking China and North Korea opened Thursday after more than a decade of delay, signaling deeper ties between the two countries. Officials from the two countries attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the launch of the New Yalu River Bridge, with trucks adorned with the national flags of China and North Korea waiting on the bridge. Both countries said they expected that the four-lane, 3-kilometer crossing, which connects the northeastern Chinese city of Dandong to th

Oct. 16, 2026

SK hynix tops list of most sought-after firms among S. Korean job seekers: survey

South Korean chipmaker SK hynix Inc. was the most sought-after company among South Korean job seekers over the past year, a survey showed Friday. According to a poll conducted by Seoul-based recruitment platform Incruit Corp., SK hynix ranked No. 1 among companies registered as favorites by job seekers on the platform. The feature allows users to receive job postings from companies they follow via email. SK hynix has emerged as South Korea's second-largest company by market capitalization, fuele

Oct. 16, 2026

US bill seeks to reaffirm 'ironclad' nuclear deterrence

WASHINGTON — Two US senators have introduced bipartisan legislation seeking to reaffirm Washington's "ironclad" extended nuclear deterrence commitments to South Korea and other treaty allies, amid growing nuclear threats from North Korea, China and Russia. The Reaffirming Extended Nuclear Deterrence Act, introduced by Sen. Mark Kelly late last month and cosponsored by Sen. Thom Tillis, calls for maintaining a credible US nuclear deterrent supported by conventional military capabilities, joint ex

Oct. 16, 2026

Movies in theaters this week

“Street Fighter” (US) Opened Oct. 14 Action Directed by Kitao Sakurai Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken (Noah Centineo) to take on M. Bison (David Dastmalchian) at his martial arts tournament. Based on Capcom’s video game series. “Chiikawa the Movie” (Japan) Opened Sept. 30 Animation/Adventure Directed by Kei Oikawa Chiikawa and friends travel to a remote island to stop a siren terrorizing the locals. Based on Nagano’s manga. "The Assassin(s)" (South Korea) Open

Oct. 16, 2026

[Graphic News] Seoul rises to 7th in global financial hub ranking

Seoul ranked seventh among 139 cities in the latest Global Financial Centers Index, up one spot from March, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said. The capital also ranked seventh in fintech, its highest-ever position in the category, placing Seoul among the world’s top seven financial centers in both overall and digital finance competitiveness. The GFCI, released by London-based consultancy Z/Yen Group, assesses financial centers based on business environment, human capital, infrastructure, fin

Oct. 16, 2026

[Editorial] Chip vulnerability

Economic success can conceal the cost of economic dependence. South Korea offers a case in point: A semiconductor boom has raised growth forecasts and delivered record corporate earnings, yet its stock market has been gripped by panic, with repeated trading halts. The disconnect, even as Samsung Electronics reported unprecedented quarterly operating profits last week, points to a structural weakness in an economy whose fortunes rest too heavily on a single industry. The sell-off reflects several

Oct. 16, 2026

[Mihir Sharma] Why Europe just can't quit US

Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, standing in front of the Parthenon, declared that the Trump administration sought to partner with Europe in defending the “distinct character” of Western civilization. It was meant, perhaps, as an exhortation. But to Europe, it sounded like a threat. The US, said Rubio, had chosen “the unapologetic pursuit of national power.” The implication was that European nations had not and thus resigned themselves “to a future of atrophy and servitude and decli

Oct. 16, 2026

Lee rejects reelection bid speculation, vows to continue reforms

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday dismissed speculation that he would seek a constitutional revision to allow himself to serve another term, pledging to press ahead with reforms. "Though my methods and approaches have become more pragmatic and cautious, my goals have not changed," Lee wrote on X in response to a post expressing disappointment over concerns about a constitutional revision and the possibility that reforms could be weakened. Lee stressed that a constitutional revisio

Oct. 15, 2026

Majid Majidi's 'Midday Meal' wins top prize at Busan film fest

Iranian director Majid Majidi's "Midday Meal" won the top prize at the 31st Busan International Film Festival on Thursday. The film took the Busan Award for best film at the closing ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center, beating out 12 other Asian titles in competition. As the winner, it becomes eligible for submission to next year’s Oscar for best international feature under new Academy rules. Majidi, best known for "Children of Heaven" (1997), made his first visit to Korea for this year's festiv

Oct. 15, 2026