Korea JoongAng Daily - Daily News from Korea

Fans frustrated by long lines, crowd management issues and lack of transportation as first show was delayed by 75 minutes. BUSAN — "Happy Birthday" rang out along the walkway leading to Busan Asiad Main Stadium on Saturday, as BTS fans gathered to celebrate the world's biggest boy band on the 13th anniversary of its debut. The mood was festive, purple and unmistakably devoted. But as tens of thous...

At its debut anniversary weekend in Busan, BTS delivered a familiar but warmer 'Arirang' tour show that felt intimate, emotional and newly joyful after the group's military hiatus. BUSAN — When BTS kicked off its "Arirang" world tour in Goyang, Gyeonggi, two months ago, I was struck by the spectacle: the seven members, the 360-degree open stage, the fire, smoke, lights, confetti and carefully plac...

Fans both with and without tickets came from all around the world to meet and celebrate the group's 13th anniversary in a city-wide ARMY embrace. BUSAN — Tosin Ojulari did not have a ticket to BTS's "Arirang" concert in Busan. She came anyway. For her first trip to Korea, she flew from Canada to Incheon International Airport, then traveled another 400 kilometers (249 miles) south to Busan on a fou...

Seoul's famed food market is turning to hybrid dishes and premium ingredients as vendors compete to stand out and keep tourists coming back. At Gwangjang Market, one of Seoul's most popular stops for travelers seeking a taste of traditional Korean food, the latest trend is surprisingly modern: hybrid dishes. At a yukhoe (Korean beef tartar) joint, customers can order bindaetteok (mung bean fritter...

Psychiatric treatment ultimately depends on one's own agency. The same can be said of other forms of treatment, but mental health care tends to be more effective the more actively the patient engages with it. *The series is based on the real-life experience of Kim Nam-young, a JoongAng Ilbo reporter currently living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The following articles are written fro...

The GOT7 singer-songwriter says his first release under 528Hz reflects personal growth, deeper comfort in his craft and a stronger solo R&B identity. Singer-songwriter Jay B wants listeners to recognize his voice as the unmistakable R&B vocalist of boy band GOT7 — while also hearing how far his solo music has come. Jay B's third and latest EP, "TR.EE," comes three years and eight months after his...

The opposition leader's push for a nationwide revote and an end to early voting risks fueling fraud claims instead of restoring trust through a full inquiry. Jang Dong-hyeok, the leader of the People Power Party (PPP), said on Tuesday regarding the ballot shortage in the June 3 local elections that "the only way to fundamentally resolve this disenfranchisement crisis is ultimately to hold a nation...

Chinese President Xi Jinping returned home on Tuesday after wrapping up a two-day, one-night visit to Pyongyang. Choosing North Korea as his first overseas destination this year, Xi showcased the two countries' "special relationship" and "strategic partnership" as a blood alliance through a summit with State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un and a visit to the Friendship Tower. Beyond restor...

Xi Jinping's summit with Kim Jong-un signaled deeper North Korea-China alignment while denuclearization vanished from the agenda. Chinese President Xi Jinping returned home on Tuesday after wrapping up a two-day, one-night visit to Pyongyang. Choosing North Korea as his first overseas destination this year, Xi showcased the two countries' "special relationship" and "strategic partnership" as a blo...

The opposition leader's push for a nationwide revote and an end to early voting risks fueling fraud claims instead of restoring trust through a full inquiry. Jang Dong-hyeok, the leader of the People Power Party (PPP), said on Tuesday regarding the ballot shortage in the June 3 local elections that "the only way to fundamentally resolve this disenfranchisement crisis is ultimately to hold a nation...

On a summer morning in Seoul two years ago, Yoon Gap-yeon, an 81-year-old woman who lives by herself, collapsed just at the threshold her front door. After that, she remembers little. She lay alone on the floor of her basement home for roughly half an hour — long enough, in the heat, that the outcome could easily have been different. Fortunately, her Yakult delivery woman arrived — one of Korea's...

The Tokyo-based management company Asobisystem saw a surge in popularity for its artists, including girl group Cutie Street, following its collaboration with Weverse. A single appearance on a Korean music show helped Japanese girl group Cutie Street find listeners in places that its agency had barely reached before: North America and India. After the eight-member act appeared on Mnet's "M Countdow...

On Monday, President Lee Jae Myung presented an economic vision of making Korea a "global powerhouse in industries with overwhelming technological gaps" at a press conference. He also said he would unveil large-scale investment projects that would help discover and foster next-generation growth engines beyond semiconductors while ensuring the benefits of growth are broadly shared. This is a desira...

With two sold-out stadium concerts in Busan, BTS is raising a question that extends beyond its own tour: Can a Korean city outside the capital region become a regular destination for large-scale K-pop concerts? For most K-pop artists, touring Korea still largely means performing in Seoul and its surrounding areas. The logic is hard to ignore. The capital region, including Seoul and the surrounding...

Rising food, labor and logistics costs are pushing more Seoul lunch menus above 10,000 won, squeezing restaurant owners and driving diners to cafeterias and convenience stores. Just a few years ago, 10,000 won ($6.5) for a bowl of gukbap — a bowl of warm soup enjoyed with steamed rice — was considered highway robbery. In 2026, it's the new normal. Maybe even on the cheap side. However, this has br...

The Korean mountains are not to be underestimated, with a slew of accidents in May On the slopes of Baegundae, the highest peak in Mount Bukhan in northern Seoul, the queue of climbers grinds to a halt on a spring day in early May. A young woman grips onto the steel rail running up the steep rocky slab. Tears roll down her cheeks, her breath is hasty — she tries to compose herself. Hikers descendi...

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, chain-smoking and frowning from the dais of an expanded meeting of the ruling Workers' Party Central Committee secretariat on Jan. 27, 2025, lashed out at his own ranks. "This is a special-grade crime that our party cannot forgive even a little bit," Kim said. The target of his anger was a group of some 40 party officials in Onchon County, South Pyongan Province, w...

Rather than appearing relaxed on the assumption that burdens to livelihoods will soon pass, the government should actively manage the risks and come up with closely tailored measures. On Monday, President Lee Jae Myung presented an economic vision of making Korea a "global powerhouse in industries with overwhelming technological gaps" at a press conference. He also said he would unveil large-scale...

Can Korea call itself a cultural powerhouse when some of its largest public art institutions have gone years without running a single program accessible to disabled visitors? Can the arts sector truly be considered democratic and inclusive when certain people are routinely left out? A few years ago, Chung Young-seok — a wheelchair user who lectures and researches arts management — went to Museum S...

Nvidia partnered with Korean chipmaker SK hynix to develop next-generation memory chips that will power Nvidia's AI infrastructure. SK's telecommunication arm, SK Telecom, will begin operating its first AI factory in 2027 on Nvidia's platform. The two major deals were announced Monday following a morning meeting between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. "SK is our largest...

Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a two-day state visit to North Korea Monday, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of the Sino-North Korean friendship treaty. The summit is expected to focus on restoring bilateral ties and expanding economic and security cooperation. Ahead of the visit, North Korea has intensified its display of nuclear capabilities. After inspecting nuclear material production...

Korean arts institutions struggle with accessibility despite legal requirements. Many disabled visitors face barriers due to lack of effective programming, insufficient staff and inadequate understanding of diverse needs, raising questions about inclusivity. A few years ago, Chung Young-seok — a wheelchair user who lectures and researches arts management — went to Museum SAN in Wonju with a friend...

Boy band BoyNextDoor built its discography on being close enough to knock. Three years after debuting as K-pop's boys next door, the six-member group is ready to let listeners in with its first full-length album, "Home" — a milestone that looks back on the shelter it has built so far, but with an unmistakably candid ambition to go "Viral." "This album carries our own story of leaving our previous...

Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a two-day state visit to North Korea Monday, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of the Sino-North Korean friendship treaty. The summit is expected to focus on restoring bilateral ties and expanding economic and security cooperation. Ahead of the visit, North Korea has intensified its display of nuclear capabilities. After inspecting nuclear material production...

A teenager who discovers BTS today may grow up to book trips to Seoul, buy Korean products and carry a favorable image of Korea well into adulthood. That is the long-term bet behind a recent analyst report from NH Investment & Securities, which argued that young BTS fans could eventually translate their fandom into lasting economic gains for Korea, enough to buoy the country's GDP decades from now...