Parliamentary speaker Cho calls for stronger defense, economic cooperation with Greece

The Korea Times - Oct 14, 2026

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik has met with Greek lawmakers in Athens to discuss ways to step up bilateral cooperation in defense and high-tech industries, his office said Wednesday. Cho made the remarks during a luncheon meeting Tuesday (local time), outlining the Korean government's economic strategy on artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, culture, defense, energy and manufacturing. "We firmly believe that South Korea and Greece can cooperate closely in these areas and achieve mutually beneficial development through deeper cooperation," he said. Cho expressed hope that Korean companies could help strengthen Greece's naval capabilities through closer cooperation in shipbuilding and defense. Ioannis Plakiotakis, first vice speaker of the Greek parliament, said the two countries have maintained strong economic cooperation in shipping and shipbuilding, noting that their bilateral ties have expanded into other areas, including tourism and culture. He also stressed the importance of establishing direct flights between Seoul and Athens to boost tourism. Representatives from Kor

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Korean filmmaker July Jung awarded French cultural honor

Korean filmmaker July Jung awarded French cultural honor

Korean director July Jung, whose works have been invited to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, has received a French cultural order, the French Embassy in Korea said Wednesday. Jung was awarded the Chevalier of France's Order of Arts and Letters in a French Night ceremony held in the southeastern city of Busan last week, according to the embassy. The Chevalier is one of three grades that comprise the Order of Arts and Letters, alongside the Commandeur and the Officier. Jung, who made her directorial feature debut through "A Girl at My Door" (2014), has also helmed "Next Sohee" (2022) and "Dora" (2026). All three features were screened at Cannes. Her latest feature, "Dora," is a film co-produced by Korea, France and Luxembourg. Jung said she was initially unsure whether she was eligible to receive the honor, but she then remembered the support she received from the French audiences she had met across the French cities of Paris, Cannes and Strasbourg. "Thanks to their encouragement, I once again realized the power of cinema, in which the lives portrayed in a film could become our own stor

KATSEYE drops 'Unloveu,' co-written by member Lara

KATSEYE drops 'Unloveu,' co-written by member Lara

Global girl group KATSEYE made headlines Wednesday with the digital release of its new single “Unloveu.” Co-written by group member Lara, the track was previously available exclusively as a hidden bonus track on the physical limited-edition release of their third EP, "WILD." Lyrically, “Unloveu” captures the delicate, quiet moment of finally letting go of someone after a breakup. It traces the gradual emotional shifting when a once-overwhelming connection softly fades into the distance. Musically, the track marks a captivating departure from the high-energy, dance-driven anthems that define the rest of "WILD." Instead, it leans into restrained, intimate vocals and intricately layered harmonies, anchored by a hypnotic title phrase repeated like a soulful chant throughout. Lara crafted the song alongside acclaimed hitmaker Ross Golan — who has written for Maroon 5 and Justin Bieber — and Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Allen, best known for her chart-topping work with Sabrina Carpenter. Accompanying the drop, a sleek black-and-white visualizer was unveiled on the HYBE LABELS YouT

7 years since Sulli's death: From child actor to f(x) and 'Dear Jinri'

7 years since Sulli's death: From child actor to f(x) and 'Dear Jinri'

Seven years have passed since the death of Sulli, an actor and former member of K-pop girl group f(x) whose real name was Choi Jin-ri. Having debuted as a child actor before building a career as both a singer and actor, Sulli was widely loved by the public. Years after her death, she continues to be remembered through her work and records of her life. Sulli was found dead at her home in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 14, 2019. She was 25. Her manager found her and called the police after going to her home when he was unable to reach her following a phone conversation with her the previous day. Police investigated the circumstances of her death, including conducting an autopsy, and found no evidence of foul play. Sulli had reportedly taken part in an advertisement shoot until the day before her death and was scheduled to film a television program on the day she died. The sudden news sent shock waves through the entertainment industry and prompted an outpouring of tributes from the public. Born in 1994, Sulli began her acting career in the 2005 SBS drama "Ballad of Seodong." In 2009

MMA2026 brings 26 K-pop acts to Gocheok Sky Dome for 2-night spectacle

MMA2026 brings 26 K-pop acts to Gocheok Sky Dome for 2-night spectacle

The Melon Music Awards (MMA) is turning up the volume for its 18th edition, bringing 26 K-pop acts to Seoul for a two-night celebration of chart-topping hits, reunions and rising stars in November. MMA2026 will take place Nov. 14 and 15 at Gocheok Sky Dome, with KakaoBank serving as title sponsor, Melon announced Wednesday, completing a lineup that spans established groups and emerging performers. The final 11 additions include I.O.I, aespa, IVE, Dragon Pony, KiiiKiii, CORTIS, IDID, hrtz.wav, AEN, TUIDE and HANA, joining 15 acts announced earlier. The first night, Nov. 14, will feature 14 acts, including I.O.I, returning to the stage after a reunion that comes about nine years after the group's previous activities, alongside aespa and Japanese girl group HANA. Other performers scheduled for the opening night include NCT DREAM, ATEEZ, YENA, RIIZE, TWS, RESCENE, Hearts2Hearts, Dragon Pony, IDID, AEN and TUIDE. The second night, Nov. 15, will feature 12 acts, including IVE, KiiiKiii, CORTIS and hrtz.wav, alongside NCT 127, PLAVE, 82MAJOR, NCT WISH, ILLIT, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, LNGSHOT and AND2BLE

BABYMONSTER to return with slow-tempo single 'DESERVE'

BABYMONSTER to return with slow-tempo single 'DESERVE'

K-pop powerhouse BABYMONSTER is back to capture hearts once again. The sensational girl group is set to drop a brand-new digital single, “DESERVE,” on Oct. 23, making a swift comeback just four months after their last release, agency YG Entertainment officially said Wednesday. “DESERVE” marks the group’s fifth heavily promoted track of an exceptionally busy and successful year. BABYMONSTER has dominated the airwaves throughout 2026, starting with its third EP, "CHOOM" — the Korean word for dance — alongside popular releases like “SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA” (released June 8), “I LIKE IT” and “MOON.” To kick off the countdown, YG unveiled an intriguing teaser poster across its official social media channels. Drenched in a moody black-and-white aesthetic, the image features the title “DESERVE” rendered in soft, blurred typography against a textured background resembling torn paper. This distinctly vintage, raw visual direction offers a dramatic contrast to the dreamy, ethereal tone of their earlier teasers, instantly sparking fan speculation about the new concept. Ad

BTS' 'ARIRANG' hits 5 bil. Spotify streams, topping 2026 releases

BTS' 'ARIRANG' hits 5 bil. Spotify streams, topping 2026 releases

K-pop supergroup BTS' fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," has surpassed 5 billion streams on Spotify, the group's label, BigHit Music, said Wednesday. This marks the most streams among albums released this year, registering 2 billion more than the runner-up, Olivia Rodrigo's third studio album, "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love." The streaming figures for "ARIRANG" outpaced the latest albums from global pop stars Bruno Mars and Harry Styles, which collected about 1 billion and 2 billion streams, respectively. "Swim," the lead track off "ARIRANG," is approaching 1 billion streams, while all 14 tracks on the album have surpassed 200 million streams. Notably, "No. 29," which features only the mysterious tolling of the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok of the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), has also reached 200 million streams. "ARIRANG" has attracted major attention for being the first full-group project from the global K-pop sensation in nearly four years, released after all its members completed their mandatory military service and reunited. It surpassed 110 million st

Chungnam National University students donate merchandise sales proceeds to university fund

Chungnam National University students donate merchandise sales proceeds to university fund

Students from the Department of Smart City Architectural Engineering at Chungnam National University donated all proceeds from the sale of locally themed merchandise at a regional festival to the university’s development fund. The university said five students met with university President Kim Jeong-kyoum on Tuesday and donated 728,000 won ($544) to the fund. The students — Shim Byeol, Park Ji-bin, Oh Yun-seo, Lee Yeon and Jang Seo-hee — were accompanied by their faculty advisers Kim Gyu-young and Lim Seung-cheol. As part of the Living Lab Capstone course, the students designed and sold merchandise at a regional festival as members of a team called “Oncheon Osungi.” Their products combined the appeal of Yuseong Hot Springs with Daejeon’s identity as a science city. The students ran an interactive booth at the 2026 Midsummer Night’s Yuseong Music Festa, held Aug. 7-9. They showcased keycaps inspired by Yuseong Hot Springs and the local specialty Pongdang Bread, as well as merchandise featuring the university mascot, Chacha. The university said the students designed and produce

Fire breaks out at chemical company in Ulsan, forcing 7,000 workers nearby to evacuate

Fire breaks out at chemical company in Ulsan, forcing 7,000 workers nearby to evacuate

ULSAN — A fire broke out at a chemical manufacturing company in the southeastern city of Ulsan on Wednesday, forcing around 7,000 workers near the site to evacuate, officials said. The fire began at 9:41 a.m., prompting fire authorities to mobilize some 200 personnel and three helicopters to fight the blaze, according to the Ulsan Fire Headquarters. All 16 workers at the site have evacuated, with no casualties reported so far. The fire is believed to have erupted from an outdoor storage tank containing 8,000 liters of toluene, a flammable material. The smoke from the blaze prompted refiner S-OIL to partially suspend operations of its Shaheen petrochemical project nearby, with about 7,000 workers evacuating to safe locations. Police and fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the blaze. Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung ordered authorities to mobilize all available resources to put out the fire and check for possible missing victims.

New major crimes chief nominee vows not to give in to external pressure

New major crimes chief nominee vows not to give in to external pressure

Kim Ji-yong, nominee to lead the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), emphasized political neutrality and independence at his parliamentary confirmation hearing Wednesday, vowing to pursue investigations without yielding to external pressure. "I will conduct investigations impartially, upholding political neutrality and independence," Kim said in his opening remarks at the National Assembly hearing. "I will ensure that the SCIA conducts fair investigations based solely on the law and principles, without yielding to external pressure," he said. The SCIA was launched on Oct. 2 as part of a major overhaul of the criminal justice system that removes prosecutors' independent investigative powers. A new criminal justice system set sail, under which investigative agencies, including the SCIA and police, handle investigations, while the Prosecution Service is responsible for indictments. Kim vowed to ensure that SCIA fully fulfills its role in upholding judicial justice and protecting the daily lives of the public. He then promised to accomplish four key tasks to earn publi

Criminal profilers to question suspect behind Incheon stabbing spree for motive

Criminal profilers to question suspect behind Incheon stabbing spree for motive

INCHEON — Three criminal profilers will help investigate the suspect behind this week's stabbing spree in Incheon that left eight people injured, police said Wednesday. The profilers will help uncover the motive of the attack, which took place Tuesday afternoon at a shopping complex in the city west of Seoul, according to Incheon's Namdong Police Station. The suspect, a 59-year-old man, was detained at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and taken into custody, where he reportedly told investigators some details of the attack. One victim, a woman in her 20s, went into cardiac arrest and received surgery, while the other seven were treated at hospitals. The assailant reportedly wielded knives in both hands and attacked people while moving between floors on an escalator before shoppers threw chairs at him and subdued him. He was found to be carrying a large quantity of drugs at the time, but tested negative in a preliminary drug test conducted by the police. "We plan to apply for an arrest warrant for the suspect after questioning him today," a police official said.

S. Korea, US agree to hold key defense talks after midterm elections: sources

S. Korea, US agree to hold key defense talks after midterm elections: sources

South Korea and the United States are in talks to set the date for their high-level defense dialogue after the U.S. midterms, informed sources said Wednesday, a move that would mark a delay of the annual talks typically held in early November. According to the sources, the allies have reached a mutual "understanding" to push back the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) largely due to the U.S. midterm elections slated for Nov. 3. Washington is due to host this year's SCM. The apparent delay, however, comes amid a perceived gap between Seoul and Washington over the timing of the U.S.' handover of wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea, Seoul seeks to retake wartime OPCON from Washington before the Lee Jae Myung administration's five-year term ends in 2030, or even as early as next year. Washington has expressed reservations about rushing the transition out of political considerations. "The U.S. side has raised the need for rescheduling considering the midterm elections and other factors," a source said. Another source said that both sides "are aligned on delaying the schedule," T

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