South Korea jails US YouTuber Johnny Somali for kissing ‘comfort women’ statue
The 2024 incident caused strong public backlash and the video was later removed
· Agence France-Presse
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Newest first · UTC+11:00South Korea jails US YouTuber Johnny Somali for kissing ‘comfort women’ statue
The 2024 incident caused strong public backlash and the video was later removed
· Agence France-Presse
South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee ignores Yoon in frosty courtroom reunion
The hearing lasted all of half an hour. Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, appearing as a witness, made eye contact only once
· Park Chan-kyong
South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee ignores Yoon in frosty courtroom reunion
The hearing lasted all of half an hour. Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, appearing as a witness, made eye contact only once
· Park Chan-kyong
South Korea jails American YouTuber for public nuisance
American livestreamer Johnny Somali, who caused outrage in South Korea by kissing a statue representing World War Two sex slaves, has been sentenced to six months in jail.
· Kelly Ng
'Bloodhounds' 2 tops Netflix’s most-watched non-English shows
Korean revenge drama's viewership more than doubles that of the series in 2nd place
· Lee Yoon-seo
Korea-ASEAN Music Festival resumes in Manila after six years
Cross-border lineup of 17 acts from 11 countries set for largest edition yet
· Lee Yoon-seo
Asian shares mostly rise after Wall Street rallies on lower oil prices
Currency traders watch monitors near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top center, and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, top center left, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 15, 2026…
· Yuri Kageyama
Korean won weak, but dollar liquidity ample to buffer shocks: BOK chief nominee
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- The Korean won has remained relatively weak in recent months, but the country has sufficient dollar liquidity to respond to external shocks, Shin Hyun-song, nominee for the head of South Korea's central bank, said Wednesday.
· Oh Seok-min
Ryu Ji-hyun to lead baseball national team for 2026 Aich-Nagoya Asian Games
This year's World Baseball Classic South Korea national team manager, Ryu Ji-hyun, has been selected to lead the national team for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
· Korea Herald
Money supply rises for 4th month in Feb. on rising savings deposits: BOK
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's money supply rose for the fourth consecutive month in February, as increases in savings deposits offset a decline in certificates of deposit (CDs), central bank data showed Wednesday.
· Oh Seok-min
Seoul bans stockpiling of medical and petrochemical supplies
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has called for a “strict crackdown on hoarding” after the government introduced new bans on stockpiling key medical supplies and petrochemical materials.
· Middleeasteye
Stocks sharply up late Wed. morning amid hopes for U.S.-Iran peace talks
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares traded sharply higher late Wednesday morning amid renewed optimism over a second round of possible U.S.-Iran peace talks, with the benchmark index moving above the 6,000-point threshold.
· Choi Kyong-ae
US YouTuber Johnny Somali gets jail time in Korea over deepfake, public stunts
Viral online personality built notoriety through disruptive content filmed globally
· Yoon Min-sik
Luzerner Sinfonieorchester returns to Korea with Sanderling, cellist Han Jae-min
The Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, a Swiss ensemble with more than two centuries of history and a core presence in the Lucerne Festival’s official programming, returns to Korea after three years.
· Park Ga-young
[Photo News] NATO envoys at HD Hyundai
A delegation of ambassadors to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization visited the Global R&D Center of HD Hyundai in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. The envoys, representing 30 NATO member states, are in South Korea to seek closer coordination with the South Korean government. They toured the company’s advanced …
· Ahn Sung-mi
Samsung Electronics says Sony-TCL TV venture will not be a threat
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. on Wednesday voiced confidence in competing with a planned joint venture between global TV manufacturers TCL and Sony, insisting the market impact of the envisioned entity will likely be limited.
· Kim Boram
Antitrust chief says gas station price-fixing probe nearing completion
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- The head of South Korea's antitrust watchdog said Wednesday that an investigation into allegations of price-fixing and collusion among some gas stations will soon be completed amid rising oil prices following the Middle East conflict.
· Kim Han-joo
American YouTuber gets prison term for offensive behavior
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- American YouTuber Johnny Somali, who sparked outrage in South Korea two years ago after kissing a statue symbolizing Korean victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, was sentenced by a court Wednesday to six months in prison and remanded in custody.
· Yoo Cheong-mo
T-shirt weather: Korea reaches 26 degrees
South Korea is set for unseasonably warm weather Wednesday, with daytime temperatures climbing as high as 26 degrees Celsius, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.
· Park Han-na
On this day in Korea - April 16, 2014: Sewol ferry sinks
The 6,835-ton Sewol ferry sank in waters off the southwestern island of Jindo, leaving 304 people dead in one of the worst maritime disasters in South Korea. The tragedy remains with Koreans, not only for the loss of life, but for the systematic corruption and negligence that led to it. Investigators later revealed …
· Yu doo-ho
Lee calls for deregulation in new businesses
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday called for removing unnecessary and outdated regulations to promote new businesses while urging efforts to ensure global competitiveness.
· Kim Eun-jung
Auto exports up in March on strong demand for hybrid cars: data
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's auto exports rose from a year earlier in March, driven by robust demand for hybrid vehicles, government data showed Wednesday.
· Kang Jae-eun
Trade ministry vows swift execution of extra budget to support export firms
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- The trade ministry will swiftly execute its extra budget secured for supporting export companies facing difficulties due to the prolonging crisis in the Middle East, Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said Wednesday.
· Kim Na-young
Canadian series ‘Heated Rivalry’ hits Korea on April 24
“Heated Rivalry” will premiere in Korea on April 24 at 5 p.m. on streaming platform Watcha.
· Song Seung-hyun
‘Be kind to yourself’: Young ballet stars learn to find their voice
3 Korean ballet dancers in ABT Studio Company head to gala at Mapo Arts Center
· Hwang Dong-hee
Kospi tops 6,100 on hopes of more ceasefire talks
South Korea’s benchmark Kospi reclaimed the 6,100 mark in early trading Wednesday, backed by growing expectations that the US and Iran will resume ceasefire negotiations.
· Im Eun-byel
EV charging rates to see weekend discounts
South Korea will cut electricity tariffs for electric vehicle charging in the middle of the day on weekends and holidays starting this week, as the government moves to better match power demand with abundant renewable supply.
· Park Han-na
WBC manager nominated as skipper for Asian Games
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Ryu Ji-hyun, who managed South Korea to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) last month, has been nominated for the same skipper role for the upcoming Asian Games.
· Yoo Jee-ho
Lee calls Marine Corps 'vanguard' of military on founding anniversary
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday marked the 77th anniversary of the Marine Corps, saying the military branch stands at the "vanguard" of the armed forces, the Marine Corps said.
· Lee Minji
(2nd LD) S. Korea adds 206,000 jobs in March, topping 200,000 for 2nd straight month: data
(ATTN: ADDS more info throughout)By Kim Han-joo
· Kim Han-joo
Iran war promises green edge for Asia as plastic packaging runs short
An 'eco-friendly' range of paper tubes and pouches touted by Yonwoo, a South Korean maker of packaging for cosmetics, has reaped unexpected benefit from the Iran war, which has disrupted supplies of the plastic needed to turn out single-use wrapping.
· Minwoo Park
S. Korean currency rises further on hopes for U.S.-Iran talks
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean won strengthened against the U.S. dollar Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at the resumption of peace talks with Iran this week.
· Oh Seok-min
Finance chief highlights S. Korea's openness to investment in meeting with global IBs
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol stressed that South Korea remains widely open to investment during a briefing with major global investors in the United States, underscoring the Seoul government's market reform efforts, his office said Wednesday.
· Kim Han-joo
Container shipping costs to US, Middle East rise in March: data
Container shipping costs from South Korea to major economies, including the United States and the Middle East, rose in March from the previous month, the customs agency said Wednesday.
· Yonhap
[Treasures from National Museum of Korea] Cotton Armor
Designed to resist or absorb the impact of a bullet, this cotton armor was made by stitching as many as thirty layers of cotton fabric together. Inside the armor the name “Gong Gun-ok” is written in ink, which appears to be that of the armor’s owner. It is the only remaining article of its kind, and thus is regarded…
· Park Yuna
N. Korea, Russia's largest labor unions sign cooperation agreement
The largest umbrella labor unions of North Korea and Russia held talks in Pyongyang and signed an agreement to boost cooperation, the North's state media said Wednesday.
· Yonhap
Container shipping costs to U.S., Middle East rise in March: data
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Container shipping costs from South Korea to major economies, including the United States and the Middle East, rose in March from the previous month, the customs agency said Wednesday.
· Kang Jae-eun
PM orders crackdown on hoarding amid Middle East-related supply concerns
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Kim Min-seok instructed the government Wednesday to crack down on the hoarding of critical items, such as medical syringes and petrochemical feedstocks, amid supply concerns stemming from the Middle East conflict.
· Lee Haye-ah
N. Korea, Russia's largest labor unions sign cooperation agreement
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- The largest umbrella labor unions of North Korea and Russia held talks in Pyongyang and signed an agreement to boost cooperation, the North's state media said Wednesday.
· Park Boram
BTS receives three AMA nods, including Artist of the Year
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- K-pop sensation BTS has earned three nominations at the 2026 American Music Awards (AMAs), including the prestigious Artist of the Year.
· Shim Sun-ah
North Korea calls Japan diplomatic paper a 'grave provocation'
SEOUL — North Korea accused Japan of a "grave provocation" on Wednesday after Tokyo laid out its opposition to Pyongyang's nuclear programme in an annual diplomatic paper.
· Agence France-Presse
(LEAD) Seoul shares open sharply higher on hope for U.S.-Iran peace talks
(ATTN: UPDATES with latest figures in para 2; ADDS more info from para 6)
· Choi Kyong-ae
N. Korea calls for loyalty to leader Kim on founder's birth anniversary
North Korea called on party members and citizens for increased loyalty to leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday, the birth anniversary of state founder Kim Il-sung, highlighting the two leaders' shared people-centered policies.
· Yonhap
Members of corporate owner families paid average 2.7 bln won
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Owner family members of large business groups were paid an average 2.7 billion won (US$1.83 million) in salary last year, with Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn topping the list, industry data showed Wednesday.
· Kim Boram
S. Korea adds 206,000 jobs in March, topping 200,000 for 2nd straight month: data
South Korea added 206,000 jobs in March, topping the 200,000 mark for the second straight month, though weakness in youth employment and the manufacturing sector persisted, data showed Wednesday.
· Yonhap
N. Korea calls for loyalty to leader Kim on founder's birth anniversary
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- North Korea called on party members and citizens for increased loyalty to leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday, the birth anniversary of state founder Kim Il-sung, highlighting the two leaders' shared people-centered policies.
· Park Boram
Seoul shares open sharply higher on hope for U.S.-Iran peace talks
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- Seoul shares opened sharply higher Wednesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, as hopes run high over a second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran.
· Choi Kyong-ae
(URGENT) Seoul shares open 2.9 pct higher on hopes for U.S.-Iran peace talks
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· Choi Kyong-ae
Eagles set KBO record for most combined walks, HBPs allowed in game
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- The Hanwha Eagles now own a dubious South Korean baseball record for the most combined walks and hit-by-pitches (HBPs) allowed in a game.
· Yoo Jee-ho