Jin of BTS released his first solo album, “Happy,” on Friday. The album explores the journey of finding happiness and features themes of love, excitement, courage and positivity. Through the album, Jin describes himself as a "ray of sunshine," hoping listeners will find happiness through his music. “It’s meaningful to release a solo album. I hope that Army (the BTS fandom) enjoys it. I’d like for everyone who listens to this album to feel happy. This album

South Korean police have dismantled a massive online gambling ring worth 4 trillion won ($2.84 billion), apprehending 50 suspects accused of running the online operation since 2019 and employing deepfake technology to lure new users, according to the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency on Friday. According to police, out of 50 suspects, 13 have been arrested, including the website operator in his 40s. The remaining 37 have been forwarded to prosecutors. From October 2019 until March 2024, the 50 su

A week after a leadership change at Korea's largest doctors group, eyes are on whether the newly elected chief can break through a yearlong impasse and make progress in producing tangible results with the government, after the incoming leader pledged to respect junior doctors' and students' voices in handling the standoff. Drawing a line between himself and his controversy-ridden predecessor, who he says failed to protect the interests of the medical circle, Park Hyung-wook, who h

Hyundai Motor Group has donated eight Ioniq 5 electric vehicles to the United Nations World Food Programme to support its humanitarian missions with cleaner, more sustainable transportation, the automaker said Friday. As the world’s largest hunger-relief organization, WFP is at the forefront of efforts to end food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly in areas affected by conflict and extreme poverty. Through this partnership, Hyundai and WFP aim to make humanitarian aid efforts more e

A court on Friday sentenced opposition leader Lee Jae-myung to a suspended one-year prison term for lying during the previous presidential campaign when he was a candidate, a ruling that if upheld will strip him of his parliamentary seat and bar him from running in the next presidential election in 2027. The Seoul Central District Court delivered the ruling, saying Lee, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, is guilty of making false statements in violation of the Public Official El

Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn has taken a top position at the conglomerate’s main defense affiliate, Hanwha Aerospace, to ramp up the firm’s global expansion. According to Hanwha Aerospace’s quarterly report released on Thursday, Kim has been appointed as the defense firm's chairman. With the newly given title, the Hanwha Group head now has five chair positions, at Hanwha Corporation, Hanwha Solutions, Hanwha Systems, Hanwha Vision and Hanwha Aerospace. “Chair

On the day of South Korea's high-stakes college entrance exam, known as Suneung, police go above and beyond to ensure that no test-taker misses this once-a-year opportunity. However, not everyone is convinced that this level of police involvement is necessary, particularly when it comes to tasks that seem more like personal favors, such as escorting latecomers and delivering identification documents. According to the National Police Agency on Friday, for this year’s Suneung, held on

South Korea's Changwon District Court in South Gyeongsang Province issued arrest warrants early Friday for self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun and former lawmaker Kim Young-sun over alleged fund transfers intended to secure a parliamentary nomination for Myung in the June 2022 by-election. The high-profile scandal has gained attention amid accusations that President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee interfered in the by-election process. Myung, a broker with a background in

The sleek, mint-colored mechanical pencil distributed to students taking Korea’s college entrance exam, or Suneung, has become a sought-after item in the online secondhand market. Dubbed the “Suneung sharp,” the mechanical pencil is going for around 10,000 won ($7.10) on secondhand platforms such as Bungaejangter and Karrot Market as of Friday, the day after the country’s all-important College Scholastic Ability Test. The mechanical pencil, along with a black marker, is p

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw performance tests of newly developed “suicide attack drones of various types” at a test site on Thursday, where he underscored the urgency of establishing a serial production system “as early as possible” to commence full-scale mass production, North Korean state media reported Friday. The suicide drones, developed by an unnamed institute affiliated with the Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex and other unspecified enterprises, are d

South Korean police said Thursday they apprehended two Thai nationals who are believed to have fled here after their human trafficking operation in Thailand resulted in the deaths of multiple victims, in an undercover investigation where officers disguised themselves as farmers near the suspects' hiding place. The international criminal investigation unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police said two suspects, aged 44 and 31, have been extradited to their home country. The older suspect

A South Korean model who confessed to using drugs in the Philippines is under criminal investigation, according to police on Friday, after a rapid drug test came back positive. Kim Na-jung, 32, is currently under investigation for illegal drug use by the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency. She is to face questioning as to how she obtained the drugs and from whom, including possible accomplices, without physically detention. She tested positive in a drug test she took at Incheon Airport sh

Government data showed Friday that 33 Seoul subway conductors were caught operating the train while under the influence of alcohol, but only three of them were subject to disciplinary actions. The conductors operated the subway with blood alcohol content ranging from 0.02 percent to 0.29 percent, and 0.08 percent on average, according to Seoul Metro data submitted to the ruling People Power Party's Yoon Young-hee on the Seoul Metropolitan Council. Of the three who faced punitive actions, tw

Korean American Sen.-elect Andy Kim stressed the need Thursday to make sure that President-elect Donald Trump's "America First" policy does not mean "America only," as he expressed concerns over some of Trump's personnel choices. Kim, the first Korean American elected to the upper chamber of Congress, made the remarks, underscoring his position against an "isolationist" foreign policy and vowing to play a role to reinforce the relationship between South Ko

President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Peru on Thursday to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and meet world leaders to discuss security and economic issues. On Friday, Yoon will deliver a keynote speech as South Korea prepares to host next year's APEC summit and join the main session and CEO summit. On the same day, Yoon is scheduled to hold a trilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the margins of the summit. On Saturday, he

The South Korean economy is gradually recovering, supported by stabilizing prices, but uncertainties remain both at home and abroad, the finance ministry said Friday. The ministry made the assessment in its monthly economic report, the Green Book, highlighting plans to promote a road map for strengthening the sustainability of the country's economy. "Our economy is seeing a gradual recovery amid stabilizing prices, but uncertainties persist due to changing conditions at home and abroad

Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo attended an economic event for business executives at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru, where he exchanged views on the global supply chain with other participants, his office said Friday. In the event held Wednesday, Cheong also highlighted that his country sought to gain insights from Peru about preparing for the annual summit of 21 global leaders as Seoul is set to host the 2025 APEC summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. During his vis

The mandatory closing day for large supermarkets in a major tourist district in Seoul will be changed from weekends to weekdays, the industry ministry said Friday, adding to the convenience of its residents and foreign tourists alike. Starting later this month, large supermarkets in Seoul's central district of Jung will close their business on Wednesdays instead of Sundays. The latest decision is expected to add convenience not only for the residents but also the high number of foreign tour

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, have held talks on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Peru, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday. The top diplomats of the two nations held a meeting in Lima on Thursday to discuss bilateral ties and North Korean issues, according to the ministry. It marked the first in-person meeting between Cho and Iwaya since the top Japanese diplomat took office last month with the launch of the new

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken have discussed bilateral ties and concerns about North Korea's troop dispatch to Russia, vowing close coordination against Pyongyang and Moscow's growing alignment, Cho's office said Friday. Cho and Blinken held talks on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Peru on Thursday, where the top diplomats accompanied their leaders on the APEC summit. In the meeting, both sides expressed c