Senior Seoul diplomat says crypto heists carry 'significant' int'l security implications

The Korea Times - Nov 11, 2026

A senior South Korean diplomat has said that recent crypto thefts carry "significant" global security implications, calling for an overhaul of the cybersecurity paradigm to address growing threats of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven cyberattacks, according to the foreign ministry. Vice Foreign Minister for Strategy and Intelligence Jeong Yeon-doo made the remarks during a cybersecurity conference co-hosted by South Korea and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna on Tuesday, after North Korea was accused late last month of stealing more than $6 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance. "Mentioning the recent rise in cryptocurrency thefts, Vice Foreign Minister Jeong said such incidents carry significant international security implications beyond the incidents simply being cybercrimes," the ministry said in a press release. "In addition, Jeong called for a wholesale overhaul of the cybersecurity paradigm that befits the AI era given that AI-driven cyberattacks could take place at an unprecedented pace and scale," it added. Jeong also pointed out the int

Read full article

More News

Yoon Ga-eun's 'The World of Love' expands global release to UK, Japan, North America

Yoon Ga-eun's 'The World of Love' expands global release to UK, Japan, North America

Director Yoon Ga-eun’s “The World of Love” is preparing for another wave of international releases, with theatrical debuts in Britain, Japan and North America scheduled for the second half of 2026, extending the film’s growing presence across Asia and Europe. The film, which opened in Korea on Oct. 22, 2025, has already reached audiences in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and France, where its sustained theatrical runs have drawn attention to its international appeal. In Hong Kong, the film played for 15 weeks after opening Jan. 29, while its French release on May 6 resulted in an 11-week run, according to distributor Barunson E&A. The film follows Ju-in, an 18-year-old high school student whose refusal to join a schoolwide petition campaign triggers a series of mysterious notes, setting off a story about social pressure and the complexities of adolescence. Starring Seo Soo-bin, Jang Hye-jin, Kim Jung-sik, Kang Chae-yoon, Lee Jae-hee and Kim Ye-chang, the film attracted 210,000 moviegoers in Korea. Its festival record has helped fuel overseas interest, including an invitation to the

'Dracula' featuring Jennie climbs to No. 3 on Billboard Hot 100

'Dracula' featuring Jennie climbs to No. 3 on Billboard Hot 100

"Dracula," a collaborative single between Australian act Tame Impala and Jennie of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, has risen to a new peak of No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. According to the chart released Tuesday (U.S. time), the track climbed two spots from No. 5 the previous week, extending its run on the chart to the 58th consecutive week. With the advance, Jennie ties her bandmate Rose as the highest-charting female K-pop artist, behind only the trio who sang "Golden" from the soundtrack of the hit animation "KPop Demon Hunters," which topped the chart. Originally released as a solo track by Tame Impala in October last year, "Dracula" gained renewed traction after a remix featuring Jennie was released in February, going viral on short-form video platforms and climbing up the rankings. Attention is now focused on whether Jennie will secure a Grammy Award nomination next week for the song, propelled by its sustained run on the Billboard chart. Elsewhere on the Hot 100, U.S.-based K-pop girl group Katseye saw its single "Animal" slip five spots to No. 32, spending its 15th week on the chart

BTS to light up Singapore ahead of December concerts

BTS to light up Singapore ahead of December concerts

Singapore is gearing up to paint the city purple this December, morphing into an immersive, island-wide BTS playground. In the lead-up to the group’s four sold-out concerts, iconic landmarks will light up alongside synchronized drone spectacles, fireworks and nonstop music events across the city's top attractions. HYBE and the Singapore Tourism Board unveiled the full program for BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SINGAPORE on Tuesday, announcing events across 10 venue partners from Dec. 1–31. At Jewel Changi Airport, the Rain Vortex, recognized as the world's tallest indoor waterfall, will host BTS-themed light and music shows twice daily at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. from Dec. 1–26. Sentosa Island will offer several major attractions, including an inflatable installation inspired by the album's lead single, "SWIM," a drone party from Dec. 18–20 and the ARIRANG RUN on Dec. 12. The program will also feature BTS-themed cable cars, a decorated Sentosa Express and installations along Sensoryscape, creating opportunities for fans to encounter the group's music throughout the island. At Resorts World Sentosa

Korea warns of rare vision-loss risk linked to GLP-1 drugs

Korea warns of rare vision-loss risk linked to GLP-1 drugs

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety issued a safety alert Wednesday to medical professionals and patients over a potential risk of a rare eye condition associated with GLP-1 obesity drugs, including popular obesity treatments Wegovy and Mounjaro. The move follows safety measures by overseas regulators concerning nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve that can lead to sudden, potentially permanent vision loss. In June last year, the European Medicines Agency classified it as a very rare side effect of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, estimating it may affect up to 1 in 10,000 users. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked drugmakers Monday to add a possible increased risk of NAION to the warnings and precautions on GLP-1 drug labels. The letter advises medical professionals to stop treatment and have patients examined immediately if NAION is suspected in those taking GLP-1 drugs, which aid weight loss by mimicking a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar. Patients with related symptom

Police chief nominee's confirmation hearing set for Nov. 18

Police chief nominee's confirmation hearing set for Nov. 18

The National Assembly will hold a confirmation hearing for Kim Jong-chul, nominee for commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), next week, officials said Wednesday. The parliamentary public administration and security committee adopted a plan to hold the hearing next Wednesday during a plenary meeting earlier in the day. The KNPA commissioner general nominee can be appointed by the president even without parliamentary consent following the confirmation hearing. If appointed, Kim would fill a post that has remained vacant for nearly two years since former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law in late 2024.

Lee vows to reflect farmers' voices in decision on CPTPP membership

Lee vows to reflect farmers' voices in decision on CPTPP membership

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday vowed to accommodate farmers' opinions in deciding whether to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The president made the remarks in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on the 31st Day of Farmers, reiterating his pledge to take farmers' interests into account when deciding to join the Indo-Pacific trade bloc. "On important issues, including farmland reform ... and the CPTPP, the government will work toward faithfully reflecting voices from the (agricultural) field so as to be helpful to farmers," Lee wrote in the post. The president has previously said that Korea's entry into the CPTPP would be "unavoidable," but has pledged to focus on finding complementary measures to implement when seeking CPTPP membership. While CPTPP membership is expected to help boost Korea's overall exports, the agricultural and fisheries sectors are likely to take a hit from market opening due to imports of cheaper products. Lee has ordered the government not to apply for CPTPP membership this year, expressing the need for sufficie

Nat'l Assembly speaker vows push for constitutional revision, rules out Lee seeking 2nd term

Nat'l Assembly speaker vows push for constitutional revision, rules out Lee seeking 2nd term

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to pushing for a constitutional revision, rejecting opposition claims that the revision would be aimed at allowing President Lee Jae Myung to seek a second term. Cho's remarks came as opposition lawmakers have questioned whether he had left open the possibility of Lee seeking another term after he told a press conference in July that an incumbent president's eligibility to seek another term would be up to the people to decide. "As stipulated in Article 128 of the Constitution, the extension of a sitting president's term is not a subject of discussions for a constitutional revision," Cho said during a discussion hosted by the Kwanhun Club, a senior journalists' association. "This should no longer be used for political conflict." Cho said the National Assembly should take the lead in pursuing constitutional reform, adding that he plans to launch an advisory committee under his office soon to set the direction and key priorities for the revision. "As no nationwide elections are scheduled for next year, it would b

Rail workers threaten indefinite strike from Dec. 10

Rail workers threaten indefinite strike from Dec. 10

Unionized workers of Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) said Wednesday they will launch an indefinite general strike at 9 a.m. on Dec. 10, demanding improvements to the promotion system and the employment of more safety-related personnel. The Korean Railway Workers' Union announced the plan in a news conference at Seoul Station, warning the walkout will proceed unless its demands are met. In a statement, the union criticized the current promotion system for "unfairly" excluding field workers and said staff shortages in railway operations are directly compromising safety. The union plans to hold a large-scale rally at Seoul Station on Saturday, followed by a two-week safe-operation campaign and a series of regional nighttime rallies beginning Nov. 23. The walkout could disrupt KTX and conventional train services nationwide, as well as subway services in the capital area. Its impact could be greater than that of previous strikes following the integration of high-speed rail operator SR Co. into KORAIL in September.

Korea climbs 8 spots to rank 10th in global digital, AI competitiveness

Korea climbs 8 spots to rank 10th in global digital, AI competitiveness

Korea jumped eight places to rank 10th out of 70 nations in the 2026 World Digital and AI Competitiveness Ranking (WDAIR), published Wednesday by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) — the prestigious Swiss business school known for its benchmark global competitiveness evaluations. Among nations with populations exceeding 20 million, Korea secured fourth place, trailing only the United States, Canada and China. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that Korea achieved comprehensive improvements across all five evaluated categories: Governance, Technological Infrastructure, Efficiency, Human Resources Development and Societal Attitudes & Values. Notably, Korea jumped 10 places to rank third globally in Efficiency and climbed four spots to third in Technological Infrastructure. Korea demonstrated unmatched leadership in government execution and technological foundation, claiming the top spot worldwide in both the Government Core Systems Index and total research and development (R&D) expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product. The nation also mainta

Bus rams into 32 vehicles in Bundang, leaving 57 injured

Bus rams into 32 vehicles in Bundang, leaving 57 injured

SEONGNAM — A bus plowed into more than 30 vehicles waiting at a traffic stop in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, during morning rush hour Wednesday, officials said, leaving 57 people injured. The city bus, driven by a man in his 60s, struck four other buses, a cargo truck and 27 passenger cars before coming to a stop after hitting a traffic barrier in Seongnam's Bundang Ward at 7:34 a.m. The bus reportedly hit the vehicles over a distance of about 100 to 150 meters The incident left nine people seriously hurt and 48 others with minor injuries. None of the injuries were reported to be life threatening. The bus driver reportedly told police that the brakes did not work, with investigators looking into the exact cause of the crash. Police said the driver was not under the influence of alcohol, but plan to check whether he had taken drugs.

Netflix to launch new 'Class Wars' series with focus on music

Netflix to launch new 'Class Wars' series with focus on music

Netflix will launch the competition show "Vocal Class Wars" next year, following the success of its megahit series "Culinary Class Wars," the streaming platform said Wednesday. Following the format of the cooking competition show, the upcoming series pits anonymous singers against musicians that have already become household names, according to Netflix. It will be directed by Kim Hak-min, the producer behind "Culinary Class Wars," and Park Sung-hwan, known for producing "Just Makeup." The duo previously collaborated on the music audition show "Sing Again." "Culinary Class Wars" is one of Netflix's hit original Korean shows, with the third season in the making. The show's first season topped Netflix's chart for most-popular non-English TV shows for three consecutive weeks.

EXO's Kai, Sehun to debut as duo EXO-KASE on Dec. 1

EXO's Kai, Sehun to debut as duo EXO-KASE on Dec. 1

Kai and Sehun of K-pop boy band EXO will debut as a new duo, EXO-KASE, on Dec. 1 with their first EP, “Waking Up The City,” their agency SM Entertainment said Wednesday. Fans have long paired the two, both born in 1994, under the nickname “94-liners,” a reference to the Korean fan practice of grouping idols by birth year. The agency billed the act as a “visual performance unit” that pairs Kai’s intense, “hot guy” charisma with Sehun’s chic, “cool guy” image. In K-pop, a unit, or subunit, is a smaller group formed by members of an existing band to release music with a concept separate from the full group. EXO debuted in 2012 and has previously released music through units such as EXO-CBX and EXO-SC, the latter of which included Sehun. The EP contains seven tracks in a range of moods, including the title track and a solo song by each member, according to the agency. “More than anything, the performance is incredible,” Sehun said of the unit at EXO’s encore concert last week. “We’re that confident in it, so please look forward to it, and we’d appreciate y

Recommended

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.