Seoul sends English alerts for BTS crowd
Seoul sent its first bilingual emergency alerts as the city prepares for the crowds of up to 260,000 expected to gather for BTS’s comeback performance this week.
· Park Han-na
Follow the story
South Korea
A focused view of neutral reporting on South Korea, brought together across publishers.
Explore all topics →
Neutral reports only
Newest first · UTC+11:00Day6’s Wonpil to hold solo concert in May
Wonpil of Day6 will hold a solo concert in Seoul on May 1-3, label JYP Entertainment announced Thursday.
· Hwang You-mee
Ex-envoy to Brazil appointed ambassador to Canada
A former South Korean ambassador to Brazil has been appointed as the country's new ambassador to Canada, the foreign ministry said Friday.
· Yonhap
GI Innovation Announces First Clinical Supply Agreement to Explore Combination Therapy for Prostate Cancer
SEOUL, South Korea, March 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GI Innovation announced on 19th that it has entered into a clinical supply agreement with Johnson & Johnson to evaluate a combination therapy in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in a phase 1b clinical trial.
· PRNEWSWIRE
Hyo Joo Kim with a 63 leads LPGA's Founders Cup
Hyo Joo Kim, of South Korea, hits toward the 10th fairway during the first round of the LPGA Fortinet Founders Cup golf tournament, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Menlo Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Gov't may impose export restrictions amid crude oil supply emergency: vice minister
South Korea remains in an "emergency situation" in terms of the country's crude oil supply, a senior official assessed Friday, noting the government may adjust oil supplies by refineries or impose export restrictions on related products.
· Yonhap
Retailers, hotels in Seoul ramp up purple-themed marketing on eve of BTS concert
Retailers and hotels in central Seoul were seen Friday ramping up purple-themed marketing campaigns, leveraging the signature color of the global fandom of K-pop titan BTS, with an anticipated comeback concert by the group just a day away.
· Yonhap
Naver to offer special map service tailored to BTS comeback concert
South Korea's top search engine operator Naver Corp. said Friday it will offer a special map service tailored to this week's comeback concert by K-pop sensation BTS, helping fans locate information desks and other facilities at the venue.
· Yonhap
Foreign visitors increase sharply ahead of BTS concert
The number of foreigners visiting South Korea this month increased by more than 30 percent from a year ago, data showed Friday, indicating a possible influx of global BTS fans ahead of the K-pop band's comeback concert in Seoul this weekend.
· Yonhap
BTS redefines 'Koreanness' in long-awaited full-group album 'Arirang'
Global K-pop sensation BTS said it wanted to keep Korean sentiment alive in its own way as it prepared to release the new studio album "Arirang," its first full-group project in nearly four years.
· Yonhap
BTS to drop new album ahead of comeback mega-gig
SEOUL, South Korea — K-pop megastars BTS release a new album Friday a day ahead of a huge comeback concert in Seoul, a record billed as reflecting the maturing boy band's "beginnings and identity".
· Agence France-Presse
North Korean leader and his daughter rides a tank together
In this photo provided Monday, March 9, 2026, by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un, right and his daughter attend a concert which marks the International Women’s Day in Pyongyang, North Korea Sunday, March 8, 2026. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified.(Korea…
· Hyung Jin Kim
BTS’ new album title, 'Arirang,' is pure Korean — are you saying it right?
It's ‘ah-ree-rang,' not 'a-rhee-raeng': BTS spurs content on proper Korean pronunciation
· Park Jun-hee
Follow BTS’ favorite food spots in Seoul: From trainee meals to fine dining
As BTS prepares to take over Gwanghwamun Square this Saturday, thousands of fans from around the world are expected to descend on the capital. For many in Army, the group's global fandom, the trip is about more than just the music — it’s about stepping into the everyday lives of the seven members.
· Hong Yoo
[Robert J. Fouser] The 386 Generation’s final act
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting a Korean friend for dinner in Boston. As the conversation turned to future plans, my friend told me he would have to retire in two years, at age 60. He mentioned that he was worried about finding work to fill the gap between retirement and the beginning of his pensio…
· Korea Herald
US sanctions target Russian tankers bound for Cuba, N. Korea
WASHINGTON — The United States on Thursday amended its sanctions relief offered to Russian oil tankers already at sea, saying shipments bound for Cuba and North Korea were still subject to US restrictions.
· Agence France-Presse
Gabbard says Pakistan missiles a future threat to US, but experts push back
Islamabad, Pakistan – The United States’s top intelligence official has placed Pakistan alongside Russia, China, North Korea and Iran as a country whose advancing missile capabilities could eventually put US territory within reach.
· Abid Hussain
Seoul to provide $2 million in humanitarian aid to conflict-hit Lebanon
South Korea will provide $2 million in humanitarian assistance to conflict-hit Lebanon, the foreign ministry said Thursday.
· Yonhap
South Korea Joins East Asian Countries Weighing Russian Oil Purchases
South Korea is considering buying Russian oil for the first time in more than three years as Asian refiners scramble to secure alternative crude shipments following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle East war, Reuters reported Thursday, citing an industry ministry message.
· The Moscow Times
Which areas of Seoul should be featured in 'KPop Demon Hunters' sequel? Here are Seoul mayoral hopefuls' answers.
An unusual question lightened the mood during the televised debate of the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul mayor hopefuls aired on SBS on Thursday. The question: which areas of Seoul could the sequel to Netflix's hit "KPop Demon Hunters" be set?
· Son Ji-hyoung
K-drama Climax: Ju Ji-hoon covets high-society power in slick and juicy prime-time soap
While glossy, well acted and filled with meme-ready outbursts, ENA’s new Korean drama Climax suffers from directorial indecision
· Pierce Conran
US East Asian allies in legal quandary as Trump seeks help in the Middle East
South Korea and Japan are facing uncomfortable questions about their mutual defensive obligations as the United States seeks support from its allies in the war on Iran, now nearly three weeks in and escalating by the day.
· Erin Hale
North Korean liquor stuck at customs may clear under revised rules
I’m a staff reporter for The Korea Herald, covering national security and foreign policy across the Defense, Foreign and Unification Ministries, as well as the National Assembly. Before entering journalism, I served as an Air Force lieutenant, working as an interpreter and junior planner at the ROK–US Combined Force…
· Hwang Joo-young
Korean Pavilion reimagines liberation in Venice Biennale 2026
The Korean Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale will center on the theme of “liberation,” a term deeply rooted in Korea’s modern history, particularly its experience of Japanese colonial rule.
· Park Yuna
KPop Demon Hunters draws global fans to a park in Seoul | South China Morning Post
The film’s double Oscar win draws international fans journeying to this iconic spot.
Weddings in Korea reach highest level since 2018
Share of marriages with older wives exceeds 20 percent for first time
· Yoon Min-sik
It just got easier to dine out with your pets in Korea
South Korea has eased several requirements for pet-friendly restaurants to address confusion and operational burdens that have persisted since a new system allowing pets inside dining establishments took effect earlier this month.
· Choi Jeong-yoon
Korean composer Lee Hanurij named 1 of 3 finalists for Concours de Geneve
Lee Hanurij, a 20-year-old composer from South Korea, has been named as one of the three finalists for the Concours de Geneve Composition Competition 2026.
· Park Ga-young
AMD, Seoul agree to expand AI partnership beyond Seoul into regional industries
For over a decade, I’ve navigated the complexities of North Korean affairs, security, and foreign policy from both Seoul and Washington, D.C. As the National Desk Political Team Lead, I track the pulse of geopolitics, closely following developments from the Unification Ministry and the Foreign Ministry. My mornings …
· Ji Da-gyum
Children’s headphones sold on Temu, Amazon found to exceed safety limits
Several children’s headphones sold on major overseas shopping platforms were found to contain hazardous chemical levels that far exceed South Korea’s safety limits, according to an investigation by the Korea Consumer Agency.
· Choi Jeong-yoon
Beloved Korean travel series turns 10, invites 'KPop Demon Hunters' director
'Welcome, First Time in Korea?' enters its 10th year with refreshed format, star-studded wish list including Gordon Ramsay, Cardi B
· Lee Yoon-seo
Cambodia’s first Korean language teachers ready for class
The Ministry of Education on Thursday held a graduation ceremony for the first batch of Cambodian Korean language teachers at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, with 11 graduates set to begin teaching at local schools from the 2026-27 academic year.
· Lee Seung-ku
BOK policymaker flags risks at AmCham forum
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea hosted Lee Soo-hyung, a member of the Monetary Policy Board at the Bank of Korea, for a closed-door executive roundtable on Thursday to discuss Korea’s monetary policy direction and the domestic and global economic outlook.
· Lee Han-gyoul
Dish in focus: Jeonbok at Sol
Head chef GwanJu Kim blends French techniques and Korean nostalgia in a Jeju abalone and seaweed dish that reframes ‘birthday‑soup’ comfort
· Grace Brewer
Korea economy resilient but faces rising risks: FKCCI
Export strength holds, but trade tensions, geopolitical risks cloud outlook
· Im Eun-byel
US-Japan summit to test Seoul as Trump presses allies for Hormuz role
Since 2017, I have covered South Korea’s political and economic landscape as a reporter, with a focus on foreign affairs, inter-Korean relations and security.As a foreign affairs reporter, I closely follow developments from the Ministry of Unification, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry, tracking shifts i…
· Jung Min-kyung
South Korea's top cultural institutions launch K-culture programs ahead of BTS comeback concert
South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is launching a series of cultural programs across five major national institutions to coincide with BTS' comeback concert on March 21, aiming to deepen foreign visitors' engagement with Korean heritage.
· Park Ga-young
Porsche rolls out 10 new models in Korea, eyes EV growth
Porsche said Thursday it will launch more than 10 new models in South Korea this year, starting with the East Asia debut of the Cayenne Electric, as it steps up its push in the high-performance electric vehicle market.
· Byun Hye-jin
South Korean cafe’s US$1.35 ‘toilet without ordering’ menu flush with criticism
Business owners cite restroom hygiene concerns and misuse by customers, while critics call the fee excessive
· The Korea Times
[Photo News] Lotte chief honors Olympic medalists
From left: Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin poses with snowboarders Choi Ga-on, Yu Seung-eun and Kim Sang-kyum after the athletes received cash awards from Shin for winning medals at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy last month. Choi, Yu and Kim received 100 million won ($67,000), 35 million won and …
· Kan Hyeong-woo
Humanoid race may be won by the hand, not on foot
China leads in scale but Korea bets on dexterity, tactile sensing to close the gap
· Moon Joon-hyun
Scaled-back Freedom Shield drills still support OPCON transfer, allies say
I’m a staff reporter for The Korea Herald, covering national security and foreign policy across the Defense, Foreign and Unification Ministries, as well as the National Assembly. Before entering journalism, I served as an Air Force lieutenant, working as an interpreter and junior planner at the ROK–US Combined Force…
· Hwang Joo-young
Seoul braces for 260,000-strong BTS crowd with sweeping security plan
Seoul is tightening security and crowd-control measures across central landmarks, as global fans descend on the capital for BTS’ long-awaited comeback at Gwanghwamun Square this Saturday.
· Choi Jeong-yoon
'K-chicken belt': Korea's fowl play for tourism
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs unveiled plans Thursday to build a nationwide culinary tourism network centered on Korean chicken dishes, seeking to turn the country's growing global appeal into a draw for gastronomic tourism.
· No Kyung-min
[Legal Updates in Korea] Restrictions on student smartphone use in schools
● Updated Law: Elementary and Secondary Education Act
· Jung Min-kyung
Philippines beat Uzbekistan to reach 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup
Two goals in five second-half minutes send the Filipinas into global tournament in Brazil. North Korea, Chinese Taipei battle for other spot
· Agence France-Presse
Mercedes-Benz Korea names ex-Nordics chief as CEO
Mercedes-Benz Korea said Thursday it has named Shirin Emeera as its new chief executive officer, while current CEO Mathias Vaitl will take on a senior global role at the German automaker.
· Ahn Sung-mi
Korean banks’ Middle East exposure hits W4.3tr
Authorities say immediate impact is limited, but warn risks could rise if conflict drags on
· Choi Ji-won
Upstage, AMD link up on Korea AI push
South Korean AI startup Upstage said Thursday it has discussed collaboration with US chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices to develop next-generation AI models and support Korea’s domestic artificial intelligence ecosystem.
· Jie Ye-eun
Lee calls for labor flexibility, stronger safety net for workers
For over a decade, I’ve navigated the complexities of North Korean affairs, security, and foreign policy from both Seoul and Washington, D.C. As the National Desk Political Team Lead, I track the pulse of geopolitics, closely following developments from the Unification Ministry and the Foreign Ministry. My mornings …
· Ji Da-gyum