After string of dark roles, Kim Young-kwang revels at transition to rom-com hero

After string of dark roles, Kim Young-kwang revels at transition to rom-com hero

Oct 20, 2026

Actor Kim Young-kwang has returned to romantic comedy — and this time, it is a classic rom-com that makes viewers fall helplessly for its male lead. Kim’s presence has breathed new life into a familiar genre, fueling an enthusiastic response from viewers around the world to “Take Charge of My Heart.” Netflix’s original series "Take Charge of My Heart” is a romantic comedy about a man whose artificial heart battery has run out of power and a woman with electrical powers, whose relationship unfolds under the pretext of charging it. Released on Oct. 9, the series recorded 3 million views — calculated by dividing total viewing hours by the title’s runtime — in just three days, ranking third on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list of non-English shows. It has also made the Top 10 list in 44 countries, including Korea, Brazil, Singapore, India, Turkey, Chile and the Philippines, indicating a strong reception globally. In an interview following the release, Kim said, “It hasn’t been long since the series came out, but it seems a lot of people are enjoying it. I’ve also been

Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' wins Korean film critics award

Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' wins Korean film critics award

Oct 20, 2026

Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong's Venice-winning film "Possible Love" was named the best film of the year by an association of Korean film critics on Tuesday. Jeon Do-yeon, one of the film's leads, was also named best actress, according to the list of winners for this year's Korean Association of Film Critics Awards. "Possible Love," Lee's first feature film in eight years, follows the intertwined lives of a laid-off worker and his wife, and a documentary maker and her affluent husband. The film won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival. Director Na Hong-jin's sci-fi blockbuster "Hope" clinched three awards in the categories of best director, best actor for lead Zo In-sung and best cinematography. Also among the winners were Park Ji-hoon, who won best new actor for his performance in "The King's Warden," which has become the most-watched film in Korea this year, and Seo Su-bin, who won best new actress for "The World of Love." In addition to "Possible Love" and "Hope," the films "The Assassin(s)," "The King's Warden," "The World of Love," "Sal

Taiwan content agency partners with 'The Roundup' producer at Busan film festival

Taiwan content agency partners with 'The Roundup' producer at Busan film festival

Oct 20, 2026

Taiwan’s state content agency signed a partnership with the Korean production house behind “The Roundup” crime-action franchise during the 31st Busan International Film Festival, as part of a push to expand film and TV cooperation between the two sides. The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), established in 2019 under Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture to support the production, financing and overseas expansion of Taiwanese films, series, music, comics and games, signed a memorandum of understanding with B.A. Entertainment on Oct. 12 at the Paradise Hotel Busan, the agency said. B.A. Entertainment also produced “The King’s Warden,” which drew 16.9 million moviegoers this year, and “The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil.” Under the agreement, the two will cooperate on co-planning and co-producing content, talent development, financing and international distribution. “Building international partnerships and connecting resources is essential for Taiwanese content to reach the global market,” TAICCA Chairperson Sue Wang said. The agreement will help Taiwan’s original stories

Recent New

image
Oct 20, 2026

Illit's 'Magnetic' becomes fastest debut song by K-pop group to reach 900 mil. streams

Girl group Illit's "Magnetic" has surpassed 900 million streams on Spotify, becoming the fastest K-pop group debut song to reach the milestone on the world's largest music streaming platform, its agency said Tuesday. The track reached the milestone on Sunday, about two years and seven months after its release in March 2024, according to Belift Lab. "This is the shortest time taken among the debut songs of K-pop groups that have reached the same number of streams on Spotify," the agency said in a release. Blending Pluggnb and house genres, the dance track "Magnetic" compares the feelings of being drawn to a crush to a magnet. The song achieved widespread popularity following its release, sweeping top spots on local music charts while also entering the U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart and the British Official Singles Chart Top 100.

image
Oct 20, 2026

Inside EJAE's Seoul wedding: 'KPop Demon Hunters' singer unveils bridal photos

New wedding photos of EJAE, the singer-songwriter behind the global "KPop Demon Hunters" phenomenon, are drawing attention after offering a closer look at her tying the knot in Seoul — from a custom bridal gown to a traditional Korean wedding ceremony. Vogue unveiled photos from EJAE's wedding to producer Sam Kim on its website and social media accounts Tuesday, giving fans a glimpse inside the celebration held Saturday at Stage28 in Seoul's Gangdong District. In the newly released photos, EJAE wears a strapless custom Danielle Frankel wedding gown featuring voluminous layers of tulle and a dramatic silhouette. Kim appears alongside her in a custom tuxedo. Other images capture the couple taking part in "pyebaek," a traditional Korean wedding ceremony in which newlyweds pay respects to their families. The couple later celebrated with guests at a reception held in a glass greenhouse-style space. The wedding venue also carried a personal connection for EJAE. She is the granddaughter of veteran Korean actor Shin Young-kyun, and Stage28 is a place where she spent time with her maternal gran

image
Oct 20, 2026

'KPop Demon Hunters' singer-songwriter EJAE ties knot with producer Sam Kim

Korean American singer-songwriter EJAE, who gained attention for "Golden" from the original soundtrack of the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," has married music producer and composer Sam Kim. The couple held an outdoor wedding ceremony on Saturday at a multipurpose cultural space that sits on the former residence site of EJAE's maternal grandfather and veteran actor Shin Young-kyun, the U.S. fashion magazine Vogue reported Monday (U.S. time). The pair had originally planned to hold the ceremony in California next month, but moved the location to Korea and advanced the date by about a month. The couple tied the knot after four months of preparation, having temporarily postponed their wedding plans due to promotional schedules and award show appearances following the success of "KPop Demon Hunters." "It was hectic and a little stressful, but it was real teamwork, and everything has fallen into place perfectly," EJAE told the magazine regarding the preparation process. EJAE and Kim first met during a music session in 2017, and continued their relationship as musical colleagues and

image
Oct 20, 2026

Son Ye-jin's Japan vacation look sparks unexpected fashion debate

Actor Son Ye-jin's laid-back vacation photos from Japan have sparked an unexpected online debate, with some criticizing her casual fashion choices while others questioned why a celebrity's private wardrobe should matter at all. Son shared a series of photos from a trip to Yokohama on her social media account Sunday, writing, "Hope you have a lovely Sunday!" The photos show the actor enjoying a relaxed outing in the Japanese port city. In one shot, she raises both arms while sitting on an amusement park ride, while another shows her posing by the waterfront in sunglasses. Son paired a shirtdress with jeans in one look and wore an oversized sweatshirt with loose-fitting white pants in another. The seemingly ordinary vacation outfits unexpectedly became a talking point online. Some commenters criticized her styling, writing, "Another fashion fail today," "This is pretty bad" and "Why does she dress like this?" Others quickly came to her defense, questioning the scrutiny surrounding what the actor chooses to wear in her private life. "Who cares what she wears off duty?" one commenter wrote. Oth

image
Oct 20, 2026

N. Korea, Russia discuss ways to expand exchanges in education

The education ministers of North Korea and Russia have met in Pyongyang and discussed ways to expand exchanges in the education field, the North's state media reported Tuesday, amid deepening cooperation between the two nations. North Korean Education Minister Ri Yong-chol and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Kravtsov, held talks the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). A Russian delegation, led by Kravtsov, arrived in Pyongyang on Monday. "At the talks, the successes and experience gained by the two countries in the field of education were shared, and the issues of further boosting bilateral exchange and cooperation were discussed," the KCNA reported, without disclosing other details. In a separate dispatch, the KCNA said the Russian delegation toured the Pyongyang University of Education No. 2, a major educational institution for training teachers in the North, the previous day. The two nations signed a "supplementary agreement" to establish and operate a Russian education center in North Korea under a partnership between the Pyongyang university and Russia'

image
Oct 20, 2026

Lee welcomes 'dramatic rebound' in potential growth outlook

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday welcomed a rise in the country's potential growth rates as "a dramatic rebound" in the national economy's "basic physical strength." Lee wrote the message on his X account, referring to a recent upward revision of the country's potential growth rate projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to 2.14 percent this year and 2.2 percent in 2027. The figures mark the first consecutive annual increases in about 40 years. The president "welcomed" the projections, describing them as marking the first back-to-back increases since the late 1980s, when the country benefited from low oil prices, low interest rates and a strong won against the U.S. dollar. "It marks a dramatic rebound in the Korean economy's basic physical strength," he said, describing the trend as "a very positive sign." Based on the improvements, Korea will have to focus on sustaining growth and ensuring that its benefits are shared fairly by all, he noted.

image
Oct 20, 2026

Battery CEO's 4-year sentence upheld over fire that killed 23, mostly foreigners

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a four-year prison sentence for Park Soon-kwan, CEO of lithium battery maker Aricell, over a factory fire that killed 23 workers, mostly foreigners, more than two years ago. The court dismissed appeals by prosecutors and the defendants, leaving intact an appellate ruling that sentenced Park's son, Park Joong-un, a senior executive at the company, to seven years in prison, along with a fine of 1 million won ($750). The court also upheld an 800 million won fine against Aricell. The fire at the company’s factory in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on June 24, 2024, killed 17 Chinese nationals, one Lao national and five Koreans, and injured nine others. The blaze began on the second floor of Building No. 3, where workers inspected and packaged finished batteries, and spread rapidly as batteries exploded. The CEO was indicted on charges of failing to fulfill his statutory safety obligations, including checking for workplace hazards and preparing a manual for responding to serious accidents. The Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s ruling that the chief e

image
Oct 20, 2026

Korea to launch military satellites aboard homegrown Nuri rocket in 2031

Korea plans to launch military reconnaissance satellites aboard its homegrown Nuri rocket in 2031 to bolster its space surveillance capabilities, the aerospace agency said Tuesday. Oh Tae-seok, administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), unveiled the plan during a Cabinet meeting following Nuri's successful fifth launch earlier this month, which placed five Earth observation microsatellites into orbit. The plan calls for at least one Nuri launch annually through 2032. Nuri's 11th launch, scheduled for 2031, will carry four electro-optical (EO) reconnaissance microsatellites. Korea has previously relied on foreign launch vehicles to deploy its military satellites. The rocket's 12th launch in 2032 will carry three companion satellites designed to operate alongside the Arirang 8 multipurpose satellite, which will be equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capable of capturing images regardless of weather conditions or daylight. As part of its broader launch schedule, KASA also plans to deploy five additional Earth observation microsatellites in the second half of 2027 a

image
Oct 20, 2026

Gov't to promote pay transparency in job ads under 'nation normalization project'

The government will seek to promote pay transparency in job ads, crack down on illegal street structures and root out the practice of disguising imported goods as locally made or laundering their country of origin as part of its "nation normalization project," officials said Tuesday. The prime minister's office announced a second batch of 30 tasks to tackle under the normalization project launched after President Lee Jae Myung ordered in March the correction of abnormal practices and systems, and deep-rooted illegal and illicit acts to improve the everyday lives of the people. Since then, the government had identified the first batch of 164 tasks, including adjusting speed limits in school zones, the standardization of beach umbrella fees, improving the opaque management system of studio apartments and banning illegal use of the Onnuri gift certificates the government issues to revitalize traditional markets. The additional 30 tasks announced Tuesday were selected from about 200 suggestions with a focus on resolving everyday public grievances, including preventing local council members

image
Oct 20, 2026

2 arrested over late-night mass brawl in Pyeongtaek

Police said Tuesday they have arrested two people for their alleged involvement in a late-night mass brawl between Central Asian nationals in Pyeongtaek earlier this month. The brawl, involving 21 suspects, took place at around 11:40 p.m. on Oct. 3 at a children's park in the city, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, raising safety concerns among residents. The Pyeongtaek Police Station said it caught five suspects allegedly involved in the brawl -- all of whom are Kazakh or Kyrgyz nationals in their 20s or 30s. It placed two of the five under arrest for alleged assault. Police officials have issued exit bans on two other suspects while investigating the whereabouts of 14 others. They believe the fight broke out over a past dispute and is unrelated to gang activity. Most of the suspects are believed to be day laborers, with three of the five apprehended suspects being undocumented migrants.

image
Oct 20, 2026

Kookmin University professor named among World's Top 2% Scientists

Lee Do-youn, a professor at Kookmin University’s College of General Education, has been named to the 2026 World’s Top 2% Scientists list jointly released by Stanford University and Elsevier. The list identifies the top 2 percent of researchers in their respective fields based on a comprehensive analysis of research impact, including citation metrics and research output, using data from Elsevier’s Scopus database. Kookmin University said Lee has broadened her research beyond physical therapy and rehabilitation science to encompass epidemiology and public health. Her research has focused on chronic diseases, major health risk factors, long-term trends in disease burden and the effectiveness of rehabilitation treatments. More recently, she has analyzed large-scale health care data from Korea and other countries to examine trends in disease incidence and prevalence, the burden of mortality and disability, and health disparities by age and gender. She also conducts evidence-based health care research by synthesizing and evaluating scientific evidence on various health issues to support d

image
Oct 20, 2026

Sejong University program helps international freshmen adapt to campus life

Sejong University said Sunday that its Sejong Korean Language and Culture Education Center, part of Daeyang Global College, completed a Campus Survival program last month to help newly enrolled international students adjust to university life in Korea. Held from Sept. 11-25, the program provided 408 international freshmen with practical Korean expressions and information about university life. It also gave them opportunities to interact with senior students. The program was selected as an outstanding initiative in a competition organized by the Ministry of Justice’s immigration integration division to promote early adaptation programs. The center ran the program in five sessions alongside the Campus Life Seminar, a required course for all newly enrolled international students. The sessions focused on helping students navigate everyday university life through practical information and useful Korean expressions. Five senior international students served as mentors, meeting with freshmen in small groups. They shared information on academic options and student support programs, including dou

image
Oct 20, 2026

Inaugural SCIA chief attends Cabinet meeting amid political neutrality concerns

Kim Ji-yong, the inaugural chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), attended a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee Jae Myung for the first time Tuesday, sparking controversy over the agency's political neutrality. Kim, who received his letter of appointment from Lee on Monday, was scheduled to hold his inauguration ceremony Tuesday afternoon. The SCIA was launched Oct. 2 as part of an overhaul of the criminal justice system that removed prosecutors' independent investigative powers. Kim emphasized the agency's political neutrality and independence before his appointment, saying he would decide whether to attend the Cabinet meeting after reviewing relevant laws and consulting with concerned agencies. Concerns have been raised that the participation of investigative agency and prosecution chiefs in Cabinet meetings could undermine their political neutrality and independence. In principle, even officials at the presidential office can be subject to investigation and prosecution, and holding weekly in-person meetings with the president itself could place political p

image
Oct 20, 2026

President Lee calls for all-out efforts to boost housing supply

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday stressed the need to cut the time required for administrative procedures in building homes, calling for all-out efforts to boost housing supply. The president made the call during a Cabinet meeting as runaway housing prices persist despite the government's efforts to cool the market. "Stable housing is the foundation for practical improvements in people's lives," Lee said, citing a decline in housing construction permits and the supply of new land for real estate development over the past three years as reasons for disruptions in housing supply. "In order to resolve the current problems in the real estate market, created by various factors that have accumulated over the years, consistent market management policies and large-scale housing supply measures should be implemented promptly," he added. Lee instructed officials to make all-out efforts to boost housing supply by cutting the time needed to prepare land for development and granting administrative permits for house construction as quickly as possible, "without being constrained by customary practic

image
Oct 20, 2026

Lee to hold 2nd plenary meeting on deregulation this week

President Lee Jae Myung will attend a meeting this week aimed at easing regulations to help nurture advanced industries and ensure balanced development, his office said Tuesday. The second plenary meeting of the regulation rationalization committee will be held Friday following the first session in April, according to Cheong Wa Dae. The upcoming meeting is expected to discuss ways to ease regulations to support the Lee administration's development plan focusing on regional growth, as well as its push to secure absolute global leadership in cutting-edge industries. As part of the discussion, officials will present solutions to regulatory obstacles to advancing growth-engine industries, including robotics, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, self-driving vehicles and biotechnology, the presidential office said. They are also expected to delve into discussions on rationalizing unnecessary regulations to promote the growth of venture companies. Friday's meeting will bring together officials from Cheong Wa Dae and the finance, science, interior, industry, health, labor,

image
Oct 20, 2026

Man sent to prosecutors for allegedly murdering mother-in-law, kidnapping wife

Police on Tuesday referred a man to the prosecution for allegedly murdering his mother-in-law and kidnapping his wife, officials said. The man, identified as 26-year-old Kim Sung-woo, is accused of stabbing his mother-in-law to death at her home in southern Seoul on Oct. 11 before kidnapping his wife who had been staying there, according to the Seoul Songpa Police Station. Kim allegedly assaulted his wife in the face when she was confined in his vehicle before police rescued her and took him into custody in Yangyang County, about 150 kilometers east of Seoul, hours after the alleged murder. The police station said it recommended charges of retaliatory murder, retaliatory confinement, aggravated assault and violations of laws on stalking and domestic violence against Kim to the prosecution. Kim's wife had applied for divorce mediation in August before withdrawing it to seek an annulment of their marriage. The suspect had stalked his wife on 18 occasions between Sept. 16 to Oct. 11, waiting for her near his in-law's home, the police said. Investigators are putting weight on the possibility t

image
Oct 20, 2026

[COVER STORY] Should women serve? Korea's female conscription debate is back as troop pool shrinks

South Korea’s decade-old debate over female conscription resurfaced during a National Assembly audit this month, amid growing concerns that a shrinking draft-eligible population could undermine military readiness. During a National Assembly defense committee audit on Oct. 12, opposition lawmakers raised the issue, arguing that the time has come for a public discussion as the eligible male population continues to fall. Defense ministry data shows the pool of 20-year-old men eligible for service dropped from 332,000 in 2019 to 257,000 in 2022, and is projected to fall further to 228,000 by 2035 and 120,000 by 2043. Rep. Yoo Yeong-ha of the main opposition People Power Party said, "Now, we must officially put female conscription on the table. This will also require broad societal consensus." Rep. Chun Ha-ram of the Reform Party used the term “gender-equal conscription” — meaning mandatory service for both men and women — to call for a broader discussion on reforming the system. “If we continue wringing a dry towel without even considering gender-equal conscription as an option,

image
Oct 20, 2026

Unification ministry urges N. Korea to halt armistice violations, respond to dialogue efforts

The unification ministry on Tuesday urged North Korea to refrain from escalating tensions along the inter-Korean border and respond to Seoul's efforts to resolve issues related to the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The appeal came a day after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, threatened to deploy more tactical weapons near the southern border and consider resuming loudspeaker broadcasts targeting South Korea in response to the South Korean military's warning shots and broadcasts over North Korean troops' repeated crossings of the MDL. "To fundamentally resolve tensions and the risk of clashes related to the MDL, the two sides need to reconcile their positions on the MDL and establish a communication system for its peaceful management as soon as possible," the ministry said. The ministry also called on Pyongyang to respond to efforts "to prevent unnecessary escalation and achieve an effective resolution of the issues," stressing that North Korean acts violating the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War must cease immediately. In a state

image
Oct 20, 2026

Key gov't-led DMZ projects remain stalled as UNC denies clearance over safety risks

Several government-led environmental and historical initiatives inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) have been stalled for over two years as the U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) continues to withhold clearance, citing safety risks, Seoul officials said Tuesday. South Korea launched a series of DMZ initiatives in 2020, ranging from ecological and forestry studies to the recovery of lost villages and exploring potential UNESCO World Heritage candidate sites, to implement a 2018 inter-Korean summit agreement to transform the tense border area into a peace zone. The projects had proceeded throughout the years, except for the winter seasons, and continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the projects were suspended in May 2024 after the UNC, which holds authority over DMZ entry control under the Armistice Agreement — a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War — refused to give clearance, citing changes to the security situation along the heavily fortified border. Tensions had flared up between the two Koreas at the time, triggered by South Korea-based civic groups' sending of anti-

image
Oct 20, 2026

N. Korea's Kim tours light industry expo, touts regional policy achievements

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a garment and footwear exhibition, highlighting achievements in light industry production under his signature regional development policy, state media reported Tuesday. Kim toured the 2026 National Garment and Footwear Exhibition the previous day and expressed satisfaction that products on display showed "rapid and substantial" development in light industry, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). According to photos published by the state media, Kim was accompanied on the tour by his daughter, Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju. On display were more than 70,700 items of clothing of over 30 types and more than 170,000 pairs of shoes of over 60 kinds, produced at light industry factories across the nation under Kim's regional development policy, according to the report. "This is a clear demonstration of the validity and vitality of the Party's policy aimed at eliminating the differences between the central and local areas and between urban and rural areas and achieving simultaneous and balanced development of the whole country," the Nort

image
Oct 20, 2026

Police apprehend arson suspect behind 2 building fires in southern Seoul

Police on Tuesday apprehended a man in connection with suspected arson at two buildings in southern Seoul that left 19 people injured, officials said. The man in his 70s is accused of starting a fire on the third floor of a building in Seoul's southern ward of Gangnam at 11:54 a.m. before starting another fire on the fourth floor of a nearby building at 12:01 p.m. The fire at the first building forced some 60 people to evacuate and left 11 injured, including one in a state of cardiac arrest. Firefighters extinguished the blaze at 2:20 p.m. The fire at the second building left eight people injured before it was extinguished at 12:35 p.m. Police took the suspect into custody near Dongmyo Station in central Seoul at 4:16 p.m. after he went on the run by taking the subway. A police official declined to provide details as an investigation is ongoing. Authorities dispatched 115 firefighters to put out the fires after receiving a report that someone had started a fire.

image
Oct 20, 2026

Ruling party introduces chip cluster bill as union opposes labor exemptions

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) introduced a bill Tuesday to support a major semiconductor cluster in Korea’s southwestern region, drawing opposition from labor rights groups over provisions that would ease working-hour limits and labor protections. The bill, tentatively called the Special Act on Super-Regional Economic Zones, would allow local governments to form a single economic zone and offer faster permitting along with financial, fiscal and tax incentives to businesses. This comes as the liberal administration under President Lee Jae Myung and businesses seek to develop an 800 trillion won semiconductor cluster in the southwestern Jeolla region. DPK floor leader Rep. Han Byung-do said the party would submit another version of the bill — one that does not contain controversial labor exemptions — and develop a final draft through parliamentary deliberations. “We are well aware of the differing views across society on the bill’s key contentious issues, including the proposed working-hour exemptions,” Han said during a meeting at the National Assembly. “We will

image
Oct 20, 2026

Seoul dismisses Pyongyang's criticism of border warning shots as 'groundless'

Seoul’s defense ministry on Tuesday rejected Pyongyang’s criticism of warning shots and broadcasts along the inter-Korean border, calling them legitimate defensive measures intended to prevent North Korean troops from crossing the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The ministry accused Pyongyang of shifting responsibility for rising military tensions to Seoul after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, threatened to reinforce weapons deployments near the border and resume loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South. “The warning broadcasts and warning shots carried out by our military near the MDL are legitimate defensive measures aimed at preventing North Korean troops from crossing the line and compelling those who have crossed to withdraw,” a military official said during a background briefing Tuesday. The official expressed serious concern that Kim had criticized operations conducted under the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement while threatening further military action. The ministry urged Pyongyang to stop making “groundless claims” and crossing the

image
Oct 20, 2026

Korea to certify 1,000 Korean restaurants abroad with expanded rating system

As global appetite for Korean food soars beyond classic barbecued beef into everyday staples like fried chicken and "gimbap," Korea’s agricultural ministry is launching an initiative to ensure diners abroad get authentic, high-quality meals wherever they step into a Korean eatery. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs unveiled a five-year plan, Tuesday, to dramatically expand and overhaul its overseas restaurant certification system, targeting a total of 1,000 official seals of approval worldwide. The strategy comes as global awareness of Korean cuisine climbed to 68.6 percent in 2025, driven by the global fame of Korean pop culture and television dramas. Yet rapid international growth has brought quality control challenges, with some overseas venues trading on the name of Korean food despite lacking culinary expertise or proper ingredients. To bridge that gap, the ministry is overhauling its Excellence in Korean Dining program. Once limited to upscale establishments, the updated system introduces a two-tier rating structure that includes casual neighborhood spots. Resta

image
Oct 20, 2026

Seoul court again orders Japanese firm to pay forced labor victims

A Seoul appeals court on Tuesday again ordered a Japanese company to compensate Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor. The appellate division of the Seoul Central District Court ruled that Mitsubishi Materials Corp. must pay a total of 99 million won ($74,500) to five Koreans who were forced to work in Japan during World War II, upholding a lower court's ruling partially in favor of the plaintiffs. Mitsubishi Materials, formerly known as Mitsubishi Mining, was ordered to pay approximately 27 million won to one plaintiff, surnamed Heo, and 18 million won each to the four others. Korean courts have issued numerous rulings ordering Japanese companies to compensate forced labor victims and their families since the Supreme Court upheld two landmark compensation rulings in 2018. The Supreme Court said the 1965 treaty signed between Korea and Japan to settle issues stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula did not extinguish individuals' right to seek damages.

image
Oct 20, 2026

Ha Ji-won has special way of eating kimchi to reduce sodium intake

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Actress Ha Ji-won has revealed how she managed her weight by cutting back on soup broth and seasonings. In a recently released episode of her YouTube channel, Ha took a part-time job at a wine bar alongside a former schoolmate. While chatting with her coworkers after work, she described how she managed her diet. “I didn’t drink broth. If I wanted to eat kimchi, I rinsed it in water. I avoided seasonings altogether,” Ha said. She also revealed the foods she relied on most when managing her weight were eggs, tofu and tomatoes. Cutting back on broth and salty seasonings can help reduce sodium intake. Eggs and tofu are good sources of protein, while tomatoes provide water and dietary fiber. When incorporating these foods into meals, it is also worth paying attention to the amount of oil and sauce used. Cut back on broth and seasonings When eating soups and stews, consuming the broth along with the solid ingredients also means taking in sodium from salt, soy sauce and other seasonings. The same applies to adding extra sauce to heavily seasoned

image
Oct 20, 2026

S. Korea warns of 'decisive retaliation' as N. Korea threatens to deploy strike assets to border

South Korea vowed Tuesday to take decisive action if North Korea launches any further provocations, pushing back after Pyongyang threatened military escalation over warning shots fired by the South along the fortified border. The defense ministry issued such a statement a day after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, threatened to resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts against Seoul and deploy more tactical strike assets along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, saying the border situation has become "very unstable." "The Ministry of National Defense expresses grave concern over Director Kim Yo-jong's criticism of our military's legitimate operations conducted under the Armistice Agreement, as well as her escalation of tensions through military threats," the released statement said. "We will retaliate decisively should North Korea engage in further provocations using our legitimate measures as a pretext," it added. The ministry urged Pyongyang to cease its far-fetched claims and repeated incursions south of the military demarcation l

image
Oct 20, 2026

Unverified rumors of NK leader's death spread on overseas social media

Unverified claims that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had died after suffering a brain hemorrhage have spread on overseas social media, while North Korean state media reported his visit to a public exhibition. The rumors were reported Tuesday by the British tabloid The Sun, the New York Post and India's Economic Times, which cited social media posts that had claimed Kim suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, fell into a coma and was rushed to a hospital in Beijing. The claims reportedly originated from a post on X by Wanjun Xie, a Chinese dissident based in the United States. In a post Monday, Xie claimed that Kim had suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, lost consciousness and been transferred to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing because of North Korea's poor medical facilities but died. He also claimed Kim's body had been secretly returned to North Korea and his death was being kept under wraps. No evidence was provided to substantiate the claims. Xie identifies himself as chairman of the Chinese Democratic Party, an organization banned by Chinese authorities, and has circulat

image
Oct 20, 2026

Trump's 'I don't know' clouds prospect of meeting Kim Jong-un at APEC

U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt Monday on whether he would meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China, but experts say the possibility has not been ruled out and a surprise encounter remains within reach. Asked whether he expected to secure a meeting with Kim on the sidelines of the APEC summit, scheduled for Nov. 18-19 in Shenzhen, Trump gave an equivocal answer. “Oh, I don’t know. I don’t know,” he told reporters, before stressing his personal rapport with the North Korean leader. “I’m not sure that anybody’s asking for a meeting. But my relationship with Kim Jong-un is very good.” The remarks tempered expectations Trump himself had been building for months. On Oct. 12, he hinted that he might meet Kim during APEC, saying “That’ll be exciting, won’t it? But I get along with him.” In August, Trump said that he plans to meet the North Korean leader at some point this year. Trump met Kim three times between 2018 and 2019 — first in Singapore in June 2018, then in Hanoi in February 20

image
Oct 20, 2026

Seoul to pull some embassy staff from Kyiv as NK POW dispute deepens

South Korea will pull some embassy staff out of Ukraine, citing Kyiv’s failure to take constructive steps to resolve a weekslong dispute sparked by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to the South, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The decision adds pressure on Kyiv after South Korea recalled Ambassador Park Ki-chang on Oct. 8 over its refusal to acknowledge a confidentiality agreement on the transfer and issue a public apology. Park returned to Seoul on Oct. 10. “The government decided to withdraw some embassy staff, considering Kyiv’s failure to take constructive steps even after our ambassador’s recall, along with persistent airstrike threats across Ukraine that make it difficult to ensure their safety,” foreign ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said at a regular briefing. A ministry offcial said 84 Koreans are in Ukraine, including embassy staff, but did not say how many worked at the embassy and how many of them would leave. He explained that the timing of the partial withdrawal would depend on safety

All Press

YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.

Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?

Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.

Asia Viral News

Asia Viral News features the latest and most trending news from Asia. Get ready to immerse yourself in the daily engaging topics with share-worthy news only in Asia Viral News.

ABOUT US
Newsletter

Copyright © 2015 - 2026 Asia Viral News. All Rights Reserved.