BUSAN — BTS wrapped up a two-day concert in Busan on Saturday that felt less like another stop on its ongoing “Arirang” world tour and more like a homecoming years in the making. The second and final night, held at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on the group’s 13th debut anniversary, June 13, drew approximately 110,000 fans. The sold-out two-day run attracted a combined audience of about 220,000. The concerts marked BTS’ first return to Busan since 2022’s “Yet To Come in Busan,” a performance remember

Thousands of ​people gathered in central Seoul on Saturday for an annual LGBTQ ‌pride parade, while a conservative Christian group held a nearby counter-rally, organisers and police said. The Seoul Queer ‌Culture Festival has long drawn both supporters of LGBTQ rights and vocal opposition from conservative religious groups in ⁠South Korea, where same-sex marriage is not legally recognised and efforts to pass a comprehensive anti-discrimination law have repeatedly ⁠stalled. The festival's organis

When violinist Kim Seo-hyun, one of Korea’s most promising young musicians, won the rookie prize at the 14th Daewon Music Awards on June 8, the 17-year-old took a moment to thank her teacher. “I am deeply grateful to my teacher Lee Sunny, who guided me to express my inner self through music and taught me with passion, never setting any limits on me,” she said at the prestigious ceremony, where composer Chin Un-suk received the grand prize and pianist Sunwoo Ye-kwon won the performance prize. The

Investigators sought arrest warrants for three former senior officials of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, over suspicions they forced church members to join the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ahead of elections in 2021 and 2024. A joint investigation team of the prosecution and police sought the warrants to arrest a former No. 2 leader of Shincheonji, identified only by surname Goh, and two others on charges of violating the Political Parties Act that b

sssSouth Korea and dozens of UN member states on Friday launched an informal group aimed at addressing technology-facilitated trafficking in persons on Friday, as Seoul has stepped up diplomatic efforts to address the issue following online scams that affected South Koreans in Cambodia last year. South Korea's mission to the UN and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime held an event to launch the "Group of Friends for Combating Technology-facilitated Trafficking in Persons." Seoul's Ambassador to the

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that South Korea and Italy are optimal partners for business cooperation and that the countries could build a "new industrial order" by working together. Lee made the remarks in his opening remarks at a business roundtable in Rome, held to explore ways to enhance economic cooperation between South Korea and Italy. During his summit with Italian President Sergio Mattarella a day earlier, the two leaders agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a special strategic pa

President Lee Jae Myung on Friday congratulated South Korea’s national football team after its comeback win over the Czech Republic in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Lee wrote on X that the team had earned “a valuable win” in its first Group A match at Estadio Guadalajara in Mexico, where the altitude is more than 1,500 meters above sea level. “The players stayed focused until the end and turned the match around,” Lee said, adding that the winning goal gave fans across the count

South Korea and Britain signed a revised nuclear cooperation protocol Friday and discussed ways to deepen their global strategic partnership, Seoul's foreign ministry said. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo met with British Indo-Pacific Minister Seema Malhotra in Seoul, where they exchanged views on bilateral ties and regional issues. The two sides signed the revised protocol amending a bilateral agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy that entered into force in 1991. The ministr

The Seoul court's decision Friday to sentence former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison for ordering drone infiltrations into Pyongyang has cast new light on the operation's broader afterlife, beyond questions of criminal liability. The key questions are what impact, if any, the operation had on inter-Korean relations, and how North Korea used the incident to shape its narrative toward the South. The Seoul Central District Court found that Yoon ordered the October 2024 operation with

A Seoul court ordered election authorities to provide details on the disposal of a ballot storage container from a polling station in Songpa-gu, after finding that the container had been discarded despite an earlier request to preserve it as evidence. The Seoul Eastern District Court on Friday partially granted an additional evidence preservation request filed by Kim Jeong-cheol, a senior member of the minor Reform Party who ran in the Seoul mayoral election. Kim had previously asked the court t

South Korea's securities firms posted a record quarterly net profit of 4.33 trillion won ($2.63 billion) in the first quarter this year, driven by a surge in stock trading activity, Financial Supervisory Service data showed Friday. According to the FSS's provisional operating results, the combined net profit of 61 brokerages rose 77.1 percent on-year to 4.33 trillion won in the January-March period from 2.44 trillion won a year earlier. The figure more than doubled from 1.86 trillion won in the

Seoul stocks rose by more than 4 percent Friday, as investors snapped up tech heavyweights amid hopes the war between the United States and Iran could end soon. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed up 359.67 points, or 4.63 percent, at 8,123.62 after rising as high as 8,434.40. After opening sharply higher on renewed hopes that the war between the US and Iran is near its end, the index trimmed earlier gains on profit taking ahead of the closing bell. Trade volume was heavy at 4

Korean telecom giant KT drew thousands of soccer fans to Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on Friday for a public cheering event, as Team Korea kicked off its World Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic. The national team secured its first win in Group A at Estadio Guadalajara in Mexico, giving supporters gathered in central Seoul plenty to celebrate. The cheering events, held in collaboration with the Korea Football Association and supporters' group Red Devils, took place across

South Korea and Peru held their first joint committee on climate change cooperation this week, discussing ways to strengthen collaboration on international greenhouse gas reduction projects and implementation of the Paris Agreement, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Friday. According to the ministry, the First Korea-Peru Joint Committee on Climate Change Cooperation was held on Thursday in Bonn, Germany, on the sidelines of the 64th sessions of the subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework C

Big Bang is expected to return with a physical single featuring around two to three new songs as part of its 20th-anniversary comeback in August, industry sources said Wednesday. While the group has already hinted at new music and a world tour this year, sources told The Korea Herald that a single release currently appears more likely than a full-length album. "Big Bang will likely release new songs in a single format with around three tracks," one source said on condition of anonymity. The sour

“Who are we so proud of? South Korea!” The chant rolled through Gwanghwamun Square on Friday morning, carried by drumbeats from the Red Devils and answered by fans in red shirts as South Korea opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against the Czech Republic. The match kicked off at 11 a.m. in Korea, a rare weekday morning start that turned the square in central Seoul into a lunchtime stadium. Office workers, students, families and international fans gathered around the large screens near the K

LG Electronics is converting its R&D campus in southern Seoul's Yangjae district into the country's first "data factory" for humanoid robots, industry sources said Friday. At the facility, hundreds of its CLOiD machines will repeat everyday tasks to generate the real-world data that has become the hardest thing to get in the race to build capable robots. The reason this matters is that data, not hardware, is increasingly the stall point for humanoid development. Generative AI like GPT learns fro

South Korea opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-1 comeback win over Czechia in a Group A match at Estadio Guadalajara in Mexico on Friday (Korean time). After a scoreless first half, Czechia struck first through Ladislav Krejci in the 59th minute to take a 1-0 lead. South Korea responded in the 67th minute when Hwang In-beom found the equalizer, before Oh Hyeon-gyu completed the turnaround with the winning goal in the 80th minute. With the result, South Korea secured its first victo

Ejae, the Korean American singer-songwriter behind "Golden" from Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters," performed the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem "DNA" alongside Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on Thursday at the tournament's opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The performance marked the live debut of the song, which FIFA released Wednesday. French DJ David Guetta and American rapper Megan Thee Stallion also feature on the recording, but were not in attendance. Ejae wrote the anthem

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday over a covert drone operation targeting Pyongyang. Prosecutors said the operation was intended to provoke North Korea and help create conditions for Yoon to declare martial law, which he eventually did on Dec. 3, 2024. “The defendant conspired in the drone operation from the beginning and is a co-principal offender in the crime of benefiting the enemy,” the court said in its ruling. The Seoul Central District Court also fo

South Korea's military has suspended the flight of locally manufactured LAH-1 Miron helicopters after defects were found in engines, according to a lawmaker on Saturday. The defense procurement agency had discovered in April corrosion in the engines of 47 among 57 Miron choppers assembled and supplied by Hanwha Aerospace Co. and has suspended their operations, according to Rep. Kang Sun-young of the opposition People Power Party. Cracks, possibly due to corrosion, were also found in the engines

Living abroad made installation artist Suh Do-ho think more deeply about the meaning of home, the internationally acclaimed artist said Tuesday as he received the arts award at the third Musan Cultural Awards. "When I lived in Seoul, I didn't think much about it because it was simply there. It was only after leaving that I became much more aware of what home means," Suh said at a press conference ahead of the ceremony. Based in New York, London and Seoul, Suh has long explored themes of home, mi

Buried up to the neck in warm, fermented rice bran, a new generation of Koreans is sweating out the stress of daily life. Enzyme baths, a heat therapy long associated with middle-aged and older Koreans, are drawing customers in their 20s and 30s, who see the treatment as a way to reduce puffiness, flush out fatigue and recover from busy routines without breaking a sweat at the gym. The treatment involves lying in a bed of hinoki cypress sawdust, rice bran and medicinal herbs mixed with microorga

Protests demanding a re-run of last week's local elections marred by ballot shortages continued for the ninth day Saturday morning, though participants decreased sharply compared with the previous night. About 700 protesters chanted slogans and waved national flags around SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's southern district of Jamsil as of 9 a.m., down from some 8,000 people gathered Friday night. The protests were sparked by the unprecedented ballot shortages in the June 3 mayoral and gub

ZAPOPAN, Mexico -- On the heels of their opening victory at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, South Korea received some encouraging news on the injury front on Friday. Defender Kim Tae-hyeon, dealing with an ankle injury that some feared could keep him out of the group stage, will be available as early as next Thursday for South Korea's second Group A match against Mexico. Kim picked up the injury during a training session Tuesday at Chivas Verde Valle in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, and a national team

WASHINGTON -- A US lawmaker has submitted a House resolution honoring a late US politician's congressional legacy, including his "enduring" contribution to the South Korea-US alliance, Congress' website showed Friday. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) introduced the resolution on Thursday to commemorate the life, military service and legacy of former Rep. Charles Rangel, a decorated Korean War veteran and longtime supporter of South Korea. Rangel passed away in May last year. The text of the resolution was

Mirae Asset Securities has received 2.31 million shares in SpaceX’s initial public offering, joining the underwriting group for the record-setting market debut of Elon Musk’s aerospace company. According to a filing posted on the US Securities and Exchange Commission website Friday, SpaceX allocated 2,314,815 Class A common shares to Mirae Asset Securities out of 555,555,555 shares to be sold in the offering. The shares allocated to Mirae Asset are worth about $312.5 million based on the final o

Samsung Electronics’ foundry chief Han Jin-man said Friday the company’s contract chipmaking business is unlikely to turn profitable next year, making 2028 a more realistic target for a turnaround. Han, president and head of Samsung Electronics’ foundry business under its Device Solutions division, made the remarks during a management briefing for employees held both online and offline, according to industry sources. “Turning the foundry business profitable next year does not look easy,” Han sai

The artificial intelligence-led semiconductor boom has yet to show a strong spillover into South Korea's broader economy, even as currency and financial stability concerns make a Bank of Korea rate hike in July increasingly likely, Nomura's senior economist said Friday. Park Jeong-woo, South Korea and Taiwan senior economist at Nomura, said at the brokerage's Korea Equities & Economy Media Briefing in Seoul that the key question for the economy is not whether chips and stocks are strong, but whe

Hanwha Ocean edged out HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in the bid for South Korea's destroyer project worth about 7.8 trillion won ($5.1 billion), bringing a long-delayed naval modernization program a step closer to implementation. According to defense industry sources, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration has completed its evaluation of proposals submitted by Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for the detailed design and lead ship construction phase of the Korean Destroyer Next

Busan was awash in BTS fever on Friday, on the eve of the group’s 13th debut anniversary, as fans from all over the world gathered, and themed displays — including a blimp and buses wrapped with members' pictures — marked the opening of the group's two-day concert. Ahead of BTS' two-concert "Arirang" world tour stop at Busan Asiad Main Stadium, the group said it was "very happy" to reunite with its fans, known collectively as Army, in Korea. "We are so happy to be able to enjoy this special day

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung received Italy’s highest honor for foreign heads of state from Italian President Sergio Mattarella during a state banquet at the Quirinal Palace in Rome on Thursday. The Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit is Italy’s highest-ranking decoration, awarded to Italians or foreign heads of state for outstanding contributions in fields including science, arts, economics and public service. Seoul’s presidential office said the honor recognized Lee’s contribution

Jay B is continuing to follow the musical path he believes suits him best. The singer's third solo EP "Tr.ee," released Wednesday, is a six-track project that pairs the R&B sound he has long favored with an introspective exploration of growth, relationships and emotional uncertainty. While his boy group GOT7 built its catalog around pop, dance and genre-blending tracks suited to a seven-member group, Jay B said his solo work has given him greater room to explore the sounds that first inspired hi

LG Energy Solution has effectively ended a two-year legal dispute with Chinese battery-maker Sunwoda through a patent licensing agreement covering the South Korean battery-maker’s lithium-ion technologies. Tulip Innovation, which manages and licenses lithium-ion battery patents on behalf of LG Energy Solution and Japan’s Panasonic Energy, announced Thursday that it had reached a licensing deal with Sunwoda. Under the agreement, the parties will withdraw all ongoing legal actions in Germany, Chin

One hiker died and two others were rescued in separate incidents on Seoraksan in Gangwon Province, authorities said Friday, as emergency crews responded to a series of mountain accidents within about 24 hours. According to fire authorities, an Australian hiker in his 40s became lost while hiking in the Seorak-dong area of Seoraksan in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, Thursday. Mountain rescue personnel conducting a nighttime search located him and accompanied him down the mountain. The hiker showed sig

Korea's fashion industry is showing signs of recovery after a prolonged downturn, and the rebound is taking a different shape from past cycles: Rather than a single dominant trend lifting the market, growth is flowing to designer brands and platforms that cater to increasingly segmented consumer tastes. Samsung C&T's fashion division, FnC Kolon Corp., Shinsegae International, LF and Handsome all reported higher sales and operating profit in the first quarter, according to industry sources. Samsu

Daewoo Engineering & Construction said Friday it has recently completed the Indorama Fertilizer III Project in Nigeria on schedule, further strengthening its track record in one of the largest economies in Africa, as the Korean builder looks to bolster its regional presence. The new site can roll out some 2,300 metric tons of ammonia and 4,000 metric tons of urea as well as production facilities for urea fertilizer. The project was requested by the Indorama Fertilizer Free Zone Enterprise, the N

A musical spinoff of hit Netflix competition series "Culinary Class Wars" is reportedly in the works, with a premiere targeted for 2027. Originally launched in 2024, "Culinary Class Wars" became a global sensation by pitting some 100 chefs against one another in a competition divided into two teams. Contestants were separated based on factors such as career achievements, industry recognition and professional experience. Veteran chefs were placed on the white team, while rising talents and underd

BoyNextDoor entered Oricon’s Daily Album Ranking at No. 1 with first studio album “Home,” KOZ Entertainment has announced, citing the chart dated June 10. The LP is closing in on the 1 million sales mark, surpassing 970,000 as of Thursday. Three preceding sets from the group of six — its third to fifth EPs — were all million-sellers. The music video for main track “Viral” has surpassed 10 million views on YouTube, and the lead single has maintained a spot on the Melon chart since its release. Th

Boy group Epex will hold concerts in Seoul, Tokyo and Taipei, Taiwan from mid-July, C9 Entertainment announced Friday. The group will perform in Seoul on July 18 and 19, before shows in Tokyo and Taipei in the following months, for the tour named after the seventh EP, "Youth: Epilogue." The 5-year-old group brought out the mini album on June 9, an epilogue concluding its "Youth" trilogy. Rappers Jeff, Baekseung and Ayden participated in writing the four songs, in a first since their debut, inclu

Before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off, South Korean fans knew one thing: if the Taeguk Warriors were going to make a deep run, they would need their two biggest stars to click. After just one match, they have given fans reason for optimism. South Korea's 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech Republic in Group A on Friday has fueled growing anticipation around the partnership between captain Son Heung-min and playmaker Lee Kang-in, with even Czech media singling them out as the decisive differe

The 2026 American Burger Week, an annual celebration of American-style craft burgers, is underway in its biggest edition yet, with 45 brands across the country participating through June 21. Organized by the US Meat Export Federation, the three-week promotion kicked off June 1 and marks the event's 10th edition since its 2017 launch. Participating restaurants offer dishes featuring patties and bacon made with US meat at a 20 percent discount. Orders placed through delivery app Yogiyo, a co-spons

ROME — First lady Kim Hea Kyung attended a creative hanbok fashion show in Rome on Friday (local time), expressing hope that South Korea and Italy will develop a deeper understanding and stronger friendship through Korea's traditional attire. Kim, who is accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on a 10-day European tour from June 9 to June 18, made the remarks during a creative hanbok fashion show and tea gathering held at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. The couple departed South Korea on

Hybe Co., the agency behind K-pop boy band BTS, issued a formal apology after the first night of the group's world tour in Busan was delayed by more than one hour, according to its fandom platform Saturday. "We deeply apologize to all audience that came to watch the 'Arirang' world tour, for the inconvenience caused by the delay in the start of the performance," the agency said in a notice on Weverse. The agency pledged to bolster overall on-site operations to prevent recurrences during the seco

The US Treasury Department has published a list of medical devices requiring "specific authorization" for export to North Korea, a Federal Register notice showed Friday, apparently tightening licensing requirements for the items amid North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats. On Thursday, the department's Office of Foreign Assets Control released the list of medical devices that may not be exported or reexported to North Korea under a general license that authorizes the exportation to

President Lee Jae Myung plans to attend a business roundtable in Rome on Friday to explore ways to enhance economic cooperation between South Korea and Italy, with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong also scheduled to participate. During the roundtable scheduled for the evening at a hotel in Rome, Lee is expected to deliver a keynote speech emphasizing the importance of bilateral economic cooperation amid the changing business landscape driven by the emergence of artificial intelligence (A

The justice ministry has approved a request from investigators to impose a travel ban on the former head of the National Election Commission (NEC) amid a probe into shortages of ballots during last week's local elections, sources said Friday. The ministry took the measure against Roh Tae-ak, former chairperson of the NEC, as well as other key officials upon requests made by a team of investigators probing the case, according to judiciary sources. The move came a day after investigators conducted

South Korea’s ruling and main opposition parties are both sliding into postelection turmoil, with their embattled leaders seeking to survive growing calls for resignation following the June 3 local elections. Democratic Party of Korea Chair Rep. Jung Chung-rae on Friday traveled to Gwangju, part of the party’s liberal stronghold of Honam in the country’s southwest, following his visit to North Jeolla Province on June 9. Jung's move has been widely seen as signaling his intention to seek reelecti

Club On-Air, a Hongdae live music venue known for hosting performances by acclaimed musicians and the filming location for the hit YouTube series "Psick Show," will enter an indefinite hiatus starting in July. The venue said it would suspend operations after June due to building-related circumstances as it prepares for a major overhaul. "For the past five years, we have worked tirelessly to provide the best musical experiences for artists and audiences," Club On-Air said in a statement. "After o

Police in Incheon launched a 64-member investigation team Friday after human remains were discovered at a public recycling facility. According to authorities, a report was filed at 2:28 p.m. on Thursday after a worker at the Southern Regional Resource Recovery Center in Songdo, Yeonsu-gu, discovered what appeared to be part of a human leg while sorting recyclables on a conveyor belt. The remains, initially wrapped in bandages, consisted of part of a left leg extending from below the knee to the

South Korea's stock market should no longer trade at valuations closer to emerging markets, as record profitability, stronger shareholder returns and AI-led semiconductor earnings strengthen the case for a broader rerating, Nomura analysts said Friday. Cindy Park, head of Korea equity research at Nomura, said at the brokerage's Korea Equities & Economy Media Briefing in Seoul that the Kospi remains deeply discounted despite its sharp rally and improving earnings outlook. "Korea is now trading at

When South Korea’s equalizer came in the 22nd minute of the second half against the Czech Republic, it did not come from captain Son Heung-min or playmaker Lee Kang-in. It was Hwang In-beom who scored the country’s first goal of the tournament in its group-stage opener. The Feyenoord midfielder may not attract the same level of international attention as stars like Son and Lee, but he has established himself as a central figure in South Korea’s midfield. His equalizer on Thursday was a timely re

Coupang has pledged to dispute the Korean privacy authorities’ decision to impose a $410 million fine on the United States-listed e-commerce firm in court. “The (Korean Personal Information Protection Commission)’s regulatory findings and penalties are subject to judicial review,” said Coupang Inc. in its 8-K filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Coupang, Inc, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, owns a 100 percent stake in Coupang Corp. “Coupang Corp. will vigorously p

President Lee Jae Myung’s first trip to Europe showed how distant wars are moving South Korea and the European Union closer to strategic alignment. Russia’s war in Ukraine, backed by North Korean support for Moscow, has underscored the growing link between European and Indo-Pacific security; conflict in the Middle East has exposed both sides to energy shocks, supply chain disruptions and widening security threats. Together, those risks are pushing Seoul and its EU partners to view security throu

Naver announced Friday it has signed a strategic partnership with game publisher Krafton to expand the esports content ecosystem surrounding PUBG: Battlegrounds through long-term collaboration. Under the agreement, Naver will leverage the stable streaming technology and community-driven viewing culture of its streaming platform Chzzk to pursue a range of collaborations based on the PUBG esports intellectual property. The companies plan to strengthen live viewing experiences through tournament br

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating fell below 60 percent for the first time in four months amid negative public sentiment over ballot shortages reported during last week's local elections, a poll showed Friday. The survey, conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday on 1,002 people aged 18 and older, showed the positive assessment of Lee's job performance declined 7 percentage points from the previous poll conducted in the third week of May to 57 percent. It marked the first t

Foreign tourist demand is spreading beyond Seoul, with accommodation bookings in Busan surging 218 percent from a year prior in early June, aided by BTS concerts that drew visitors from overseas, industry data showed Friday. Data compiled by All My Tour, a South Korean bedbank solutions provider, showed that accommodations booked outside of Seoul accounted for 34 percent of total bookings in the second week of June, more than double last year's 16.8 percent. In particular, Busan showed the large

Shin Hyun-song, governor of the Bank of Korea, reiterated the need to raise interest rates, citing persistent inflationary pressures from the Middle East war and rising housing prices. Speaking at a ceremony marking the BOK’s 76th anniversary in Seoul, Shin said growth, inflation and financial stability indicators all point to the need for further policy tightening. “Data received since the May monetary policy meeting have confirmed this assessment,” he said. “While monetary policy often involve

Samsung Electronics is reportedly in talks to make a key portion of one of Google's most advanced future artificial intelligence chips. The deal would give the South Korean company a role in a supply chain as the industry is being forced to widen, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. running out of capacity to meet demand. Google is considering using Samsung's 2-nanometer process to produce a memory input-output die for its 10th-generation tensor processing unit, the in-house chip Google

Hundreds of fans were gathered at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square on Friday to cheer for South Korea in its 2026 World Cup opening Group A match against the Czech Republic. With the game scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m., around 500 people had come to the plaza in central Seoul as of 9 a.m., according to an unofficial police estimate. Many were carrying umbrellas to beat the heat, as the day's highest temperature was forecast to reach around 30 C. Street cheering has become a trend and phenomenon freq