(LEAD) Suspect in drone flights to N. Korea attends arrest warrant hearing
(ATTN: UPDATES with suspect's alleged remarks, other details; CHANGES photo)By Lee Haye-ah
· Lee Haye-ah
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Lee reaffirms commitment to improve ties with N. Korea after Pyongyang snubs dialogue offer
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday vowed to continue efforts to normalize relations with North Korea despite Pyongyang's rejection of his dialogue overture, saying the two Koreas should move beyond past confrontation and pursue peace and stability.
· Kim Eun-jung
(LEAD) Park Chan-wook named S. Korea's first Cannes jury president
(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 3-5, last para; RECASTS headline)
· Woo Jae-yeon
KRX holds online event for foreign investors to promote local stock market
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- The Korea Exchange (KRX) held a virtual event Thursday to introduce to offshore investors Seoul's ongoing efforts to promote the local stock market that include various government policies and market reform measures.
· Kang Jae-eun
NK leader leaves room for US engagement, rebuffs Seoul’s overtures
Seoul vows to stay the course on peaceful coexistence, calls for restraint in 'hostile rhetoric'
· Jung Min-kyung
BLACKPINK's Jisoo eyes queen of rom-com crown with 'Boyfriend on Demand'
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- "Boyfriend on Demand" may not be so far-fetched after all, given the breakneck pace at which artificial intelligence technology is advancing.
· Woo Jae-yeon
Park Chan-wook named 2026 Cannes jury president
The South Korean director will lead the jury at the festival in May
· Moon Ki-hoon
North Korea could 'get along' with US, says Kim Jong Un
Kim Jong Un has declared his intent to expand North Korea's nuclear arsenal and operational range - calling on the United States to respect his country's nuclear power, in a rare message to Washington.
· Gavin Butler
Date K-drama star of your choice with Blackpink's Jisoo
Netflix Korea's 'Boyfriend on Demand' doubles as escapist romance, crucial stress test for Jisoo's acting credentials
· Lee Yoon-seo
Lee's approval rating hits highest level since inauguration: poll
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating climbed to 67 percent, marking its highest level since he took office last June, a survey showed Thursday.
· Yi Wonju
'REVERXE' becomes EXO's 8th million-seller
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- K-pop boy group EXO has sold more than 1 million copies of its eighth studio album, "REVERXE," the group's agency SM Entertainment said Thursday.
· Shim Sun-ah
(2nd LD) BOK raises S. Korea's 2026 growth forecast to 2 pct amid robust exports
(ATTN: ADDS details, comments throughout, additional photo)By Oh Seok-min
· Oh Seok-min
Today in Korean history
1948 -- The South Korean government issues a statement claiming jurisdiction over Dokdo, the islets located roughly halfway between South Korea and Japan. Japan had previously stated that it did not recognize South Korea's claim to the islets in the East Sea.
· Woo Jae-yeon
(News Focus) N. Korea keeps door open for dialogue with U.S.; deepens hostility toward Seoul
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korea left the door open to resuming dialogue with the United States while deepening hostility toward Seoul, in what experts say appears to be an effort to pursue North Korea–U.S. relations independently.
· Park Boram
Director Park Chan-wook named jury president at Cannes Film Festival
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- Director Park Chan-wook has been named jury president at the Cannes Film Festival, foreign media reported Thursday, making him the first Korean director to assume the role.
· Woo Jae-yeon
Korea stops issuing visas to minors in work-residency schemes
The Ministry of Justice said Wednesday that it decided in October 2025 to stop issuing visas to international students participating in employment-residency programs before the age of 19.
· Lee Seung-ku
Rubio signals U.S. openness to dialogue with N. Korea
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday signaled Washington's openness to dialogue with Pyongyang, as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has indicated his willingness to reengage with the United States if it drops its "hostile" policy toward his regime.
· Song Sang-ho
Inside Korea’s immigration dragnet
As immigration raids intensify, migrant workers describe injuries, family separation and the contradictions of Korea’s labor system
· Lee Seung-ku
BMW Mini unveils All-Electric Paul Smith Edition in Korea
BMW Mini Korea said Thursday it will launch 11 special editions this year, kicking off with the All-Electric Mini Cooper Paul Smith Edition, as it looks to reinforce its position in Korea’s premium compact segment.
· Byun Hye-jin
FTC launches nationwide probe into alleged collusion of school uniform manufacturers
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- The antitrust watchdog has launched a nationwide investigation into school uniform manufacturers over alleged collusion following controversies over high prices, its chief said Thursday.
· Kim Han-joo
North Korea could ‘get on well' with U.S., Kim says, while spurning South Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signaled that nuclear-armed Pyongyang could “get on well” with the United States but rejected South Korea’s outreach as “deceptive,” calling Seoul its “most hostile” relationship, state-run media reported Thursday.
· Jesse Johnson
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un warns South Korea, says US should end hostility
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has shuttered the door on dialogue with South Korea, claiming his forces could “completely destroy” his southern neighbour, while also signalling that the future of dialogue with the United States required Washington to discard “hostile” policies towards Pyongyang.
· Al Jazeera Staff
Army conducts live-fire drills involving AI-based combat engineering vehicles
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- The Army on Thursday staged live-fire drills involving combat engineering vehicles equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and topped with remote control systems as it seeks to strengthen the military's capabilities to respond to future warfare.
· Kim Hyun-soo
(URGENT) Director Park Chan-wook named jury president at Cannes Film Festival
(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S. to stage annual military exercise next month, still in consultation over field training
· Woo Jae-yeon
South Korea relaunches truth commission with adoption fraud focus
Peter Møller, second from right, attorney and co-founder of the Danish Korean Rights Group, submits the documents at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Seoul, South Korea, Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
· https://apnews.com/author/kim-tong-hyung
Korean National Ballet's Kang Sue-jin to depart after 12 years at helm
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- Kang Sue-jin, artistic director and CEO of the Korean National Ballet (KNB), will retire in April after completing a 12-year tenure, the KNB said Thursday.
· Woo Jae-yeon
Volkswagen Korea chief wins third term as KAIDA chair
Till Scheer, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group Korea, has been reappointed as chair of the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association for a third consecutive term, the association said Thursday.
· Byun Hye-jin
Dominant North Korea among favourites to win Women’s Asian Cup despite Covid break
Secretive state’s team emerged from 4-year pandemic lockdown to win trio of youth titles, including Women’s Under-20 World Cup in 2024
· Agence France-Presse
Hyundai Rotem CEO elected as head of space technology association
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- Lee Yong-bae, chief executive officer (CEO) of Hyundai Rotem Co., was elected Thursday as the head of the Korea Association for Space Technology Promotion, the association said.
· Chang Dong-woo
Regulator slaps 2.19 bln-won fine on Coupang for pressuring suppliers for its profit margins
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's antitrust regulator said Thursday it has imposed a fine of 2.19 billion won (US$1.54 million) on e-commerce giant Coupang Corp. for pressuring suppliers to lower prices and cover advertising costs to meet its target profit margins.
· Kim Han-joo
Household income in Q4 rises 4 pct on wage growth, bonuses: data
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's average household income rose 4 percent from a year earlier in the fourth quarter driven by a rise in wages, government data showed Thursday.
· Kang Jae-eun
(LEAD) Samsung unveils Galaxy S26 series with enhanced AI, privacy display
(ATTN: ADDS more comments in paras 21-24, new photo)By Kang Yoon-seung
· Kim Boram
Seoul shares sharply up late Thurs. morning on tech gains
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks rose nearly 2 percent late Thursday morning as investors scooped up tech shares amid eased concerns over the future of artificial intelligence (AI) following Nvidia's strong earnings report.
· Kim Boram
Cheong Wa Dae vows efforts for peaceful coexistence as Pyongyang dismisses any dialogue with Seoul
Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday that South Korea will continue efforts toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un dismissed any dialogue with Seoul while appearing to leave the door open for talks with the United States.
· Yonhap
S. Korea regrets N.K.'s hostile policy declaration toward Seoul, vows to pursue reconciliation
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry said Thursday it regrets North Korea's declaration to maintain a hostile policy toward South Korea but added that Seoul will continue its reconciliatory approach toward the regime.
· Park Boram
Cheong Wa Dae vows efforts for peaceful coexistence as Pyongyang dismisses any dialogue with Seoul
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday that South Korea will continue efforts toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un dismissed any dialogue with Seoul while appearing to leave the door open for talks with the United States.
· Kim Eun-jung
(URGENT) Stock market volatility warrants caution despite KOSPI's bull run: BOK chief
(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S. to stage annual military exercise next month, still in consultation over field training
· Oh Seok-min
BOK unveils first 'dot plot'; majority expect rate freeze over next 6 months
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- The central bank on Thursday released a "dot plot" for the first time showing its monetary policy board members' projections for the key rate over the next six months.
· Oh Seok-min
(URGENT) Changes in U.S. tariff likely to have limited impact on S. Korean exports: BOK chief
(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S. to stage annual military exercise next month, still in consultation over field training
· Oh Seok-min
Ruling party, gov't reaffirm commitment to advance U.S. investment bill
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the government reaffirmed their commitment Thursday to push for the passage of a special bill on implementing South Korea's investment package for the United States amid objections from the main opposition party.
· Yi Wonju
Korea Herald Harry and Meghan meet Syrian refugees, Palestinian children in Jordan
AMMAN, Jordan (AFP) -- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived on Wednesday in Jordan, where they met with Syrian refugees at the Zaatari camp and Palestinian children evacuated from the Gaza Strip. King Charles III's younger son and his wife "met young refugees ... and joined children in football, art and music," th…
· Korea Herald
Full text of BOK statement on monetary policy decision in Feb.
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- The following is the full text of a statement by the Bank of Korea (BOK) on its monetary policy decision Thursday, where the central bank held the key rate steady at 2.5 percent for the sixth consecutive meeting at its rate-setting meeting in Seoul.
· Oh Seok-min
Yu doo-ho Feb. 26, 2010-On this day in Korea
Figure skater Kim Yu-na captured South Korea’s first Olympic figure skating gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games, setting a world record with 228.56 points. A two-time world champion, she went on to win silver at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, before retiring later that year. Her success made her a national icon, inspiring a …
· Yu doo-ho
(URGENT) Thursday's rate freeze decision was unanimous: BOK
(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S. to stage annual military exercise next month, still in consultation over field training
· Oh Seok-min
Suspect in drone flights to N. Korea attends arrest warrant hearing
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- A graduate student accused of sending drones to North Korea appeared at a court Thursday to attend his arrest warrant hearing.
· Lee Haye-ah
(3rd LD) N. Korea's Kim says willing to get along with U.S. if Washington drops hostile policy
(ATTN: UPDATES with more info throughout, photo)By Park Boram
· Park Boram
(3rd LD) N. Korea's Kim warns of 'terrible' retaliation against hostile military acts at military parade
(ATTN: UPDATES with details from 5th para; CHANGES photos)By Chae Yun-hwan
· Chae Yun-hwan
S. Korea stresses its submarine production capabilities; Canada pledges 'fair' procurement process
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (Yonhap) -- Top South Korean officials on Wednesday highlighted the Asian country's "cutting-edge" technologies and capabilities to deliver submarines "on time" and "on budget" as their Canadian counterparts pledged to have a "fair" process for its high-profile project to procure next-generation …
· Song Sang-ho
(LEAD) BOK raises S. Korea's 2026 growth forecast to 2 pct amid robust exports
(ATTN: ADDS more details from 3rd para, byline)By Oh Seok-min
· Oh Seok-min
Ex-DP lawmaker appears before police over 13 allegations of wrongdoings
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-kee appeared before police Thursday to be questioned about 13 allegations of misconduct, including suspected bribery.
· Yoo Cheong-mo