International Dance League outlines vision ahead of Seoul competition

The International Dance League, the world’s first dance competition modeled after major sports leagues, sees South Korea as a key hub for its expansion into Asia, its co-founder and CEO Connor Lim said Friday. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul a day before IDL’s Seoul event, Lim said the city’s location, strong dance and K-pop scenes, and tourism appeal make it an ideal base for fans from across the region. He said attendees have already traveled from countries including Japan and Hong Kon

2026-07-31 19:16:05:00

Seoul steps up Cheonggyecheon enforcement with patrols, proposed fines

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will deploy dedicated patrol personnel and seek to introduce administrative fines after separate incidents of bathing and coin collecting at Cheonggyecheon drew widespread public attention. The city said Thursday that it had assigned one dedicated patrol officer to Palseokdam, where a middle-aged man and woman were filmed collecting coins tossed into the stream. It has dedicated another patrol to the Gosanjagyo Bridge area, where a woman was caught on camera was

2026-07-30 13:49:08:00

The Kknekki story: What Haaland's hair tie teaches about global branding

When Erling Haaland's colorful hair ties became the talk of town during this summer's FIFA World Cup, many South Koreans were surprised to learn that the brand wrapped around the Norwegian striker's trademark ponytail had Korean roots. But the story behind Kknekki is not simply one of a Korean product finding international success. It is also the story of two companies, nearly 8,000 kilometers apart, that each decided the other could do something they couldn't. "We felt we cracked the code on ho

2026-07-30 09:25:19:00

Why the world's newest dance league is betting on Seoul

The world's first professional dance league is coming to Seoul on Saturday, as the International Dance League brings its inaugural season to Korea, its only Asian stop. Six prominent teams from around the world — Korea's 1Million, New Zealand's Royal Family, Canada's Brotherhood, Los Angeles-based GRV, Norway's Quick Style and Singapore-based Jam Republic SEA — will face off in the league's Pro Division at Kyung Hee University's Grand Peace Palace in Seoul. Founded by the team behind dance platf

2026-07-29 12:47:11:00

How do zoo animals beat the heat?

Amid heat wave warnings and temperatures climbing over 30 degrees Celsius on Friday, the zookeepers at Jeonju Zoo prepared customized summer care, unique to each species. For 36-year-old Asian elephant Kkamdori, the relief arrived in the form of three whole watermelons. Keepers said the animals are given water-rich fruits and vegetables as special treats once a month during summer. Additional canopies have also been installed to provide shade. Indoors, the zoo introduced another summer novelty:

2026-07-24 17:33:13:00

Foreign visitors to Korea reach record high, surpass prepandemic levels

South Korea welcomed a total of 10.7 million international visitors from January through June, up 21.3 percent from 8.8 million during the same period last year, according to data released by the Korea Tourism Organization on Thursday. The figure exceeded the first-half total in 2019 by 26.9 percent, marking not only a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but continued growth beyond prepandemic levels. China remained the largest source of visitors with 3.21 million arrivals, followed by Jap

2026-07-24 15:38:00:00

Homeplus workers still waiting for wages despite W200b rescue loan

Homeplus has secured emergency financing to restart operations, but has yet to say when employees and former workers will receive unpaid wages and retirement benefits, leaving thousands in limbo even as plans to reopen stores move forward. The retailer said the debtor-in-possession, or DIP, loan of 200 billion won ($137 million) will be used to reopen 67 key stores currently under temporary closure and gradually resume online operations beginning with 16 stores in the Seoul metropolitan area. Ho

2026-07-24 13:20:33:00

Seoul's 5,000 won compensation fuels anger after bike-sharing service data breach

Seoul has come under fire for offering users of its public bike-sharing service, Ttareungyi, a 30-day pass valued at 5,000 won ($3.41) following a cyberattack that exposed the personal information of 4.62 million members. The leaked data included user IDs, phone numbers, dates of birth, gender, email addresses, postal codes, home addresses and body weight. For some users, guardians' phone numbers, dates of birth and gender were also exposed. "This makes me feel as though my personal information

2026-07-23 17:17:28:00

'Street World Fighter: Directors' War' countdown begins with first teasers, dance classes

Five years after "Street Woman Fighter" ignited a nationwide dance craze and turned choreographers into household names, Mnet is once again reinventing its hit franchise — this time by putting performance directors at center stage. Premiering Aug. 18, "Street World Fighter: Directors' War" marks the latest evolution of the "Street Fighter" franchise, which began with "Street Woman Fighter" in 2021 and has since expanded to feature male dancers, teenage dancers, professional contemporary dancers

2026-07-22 22:37:49:00

Pet hotel claimed dog escaped. Owner later learned it had died there

A pet hotel operator is facing charges after allegedly concealing the death of a customer's dog and falsely claiming it had escaped from the facility, according to local media on Wednesday. The owner of a border collie boarded the dog at a pet hotel in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on July 13. The following day, the hotel informed the owner that the dog had jumped over a fence and gone missing. Believing the dog was still alive, the owner spent two days searching the area. "I think I searched all

2026-07-22 14:53:48:00