Author: Seoul Reporter

BoA, left, and Lee Soo-man / XportsnewsOk-pop pioneer BoA has formally ended her 25-year relationship with SM Leisure, setting off intense hypothesis about whether or not she is getting ready for retirement — or a dramatic reunion with SM founder Lee Soo-man.SM confirmed Monday that BoA’s unique contract had expired and wouldn’t be renewed. Trade watchers had anticipated a renewal, making the sudden “clear break” all of the extra stunning.In its farewell assertion, SM praised BoA as “the icon of abroad growth” and “the star of Asia,” saying, “Though our unique contract has ended, we sincerely help BoA as she…

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young visits a separated member of the family in northern Seoul who was pressured to interrupt from her family in North Korea through the 1950-53 Korean Warfare, Dec. 24, 2025. Courtesy of Ministry of UnificationGreater than 100,000 South Koreans who registered as having members of the family in North Korea separated by the 1950-53 Korean Warfare have died of outdated age, authorities information confirmed Thursday, highlighting the urgency of arranging household reunions.Of the overall 134,516 individuals registered as separated households, 101,148 have died as of the top of 2025, in response to the unification ministry information.Two individuals…

Lee Seung-taek of Korea appears on throughout a apply spherical forward of the Sony Open at Waialae Nation Membership in Honolulu, Hawaii, Tuesday (native time). Yonhap Having arrived in Hawaii this week to make his PGA Tour debut, rookie Lee Seung-taek has already had some “welcome to the massive present” moments.”I’ve needed to play on the PGA Tour for a very long time. And as soon as I checked out the course earlier than the event, I noticed how tough the setup was and the way way more I needed to put together,” Lee advised Korean reporters Thursday in a…

A person walks previous an organization emblem on the headquarters of the world’s largest semiconductor maker TSMC in Hsinchu on Jan. 29, 2021. Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC introduced on Jan. 15, 2026 a forecast-busting internet revenue for the fourth quarter as demand for AI expertise skyrockets. AFP-YonhapTAIPEI — Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC introduced Thursday a forecast-busting internet revenue for the fourth quarter as demand for AI expertise skyrockets.TSMC is the world’s largest contract maker of chips utilized in all the pieces from Apple’s smartphones to Nvidia’s cutting-edge articifical intelligence {hardware}.The corporate has been a large beneficiary of the AI revolution…

Jang Dong-hyeok, chief of the principle opposition Individuals Energy Get together, and celebration lawmakers stage a rally to protest the ruling Democratic Get together of Korea’s push to go a particular counsel probe invoice to research former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial legislation, corruption allegations surrounding his spouse and the loss of life of a Marine, on the Nationwide Meeting, Thursday. Yonhap The chief of the principle opposition Individuals Energy Get together (PPP) started a starvation strike Thursday, demanding the ruling Democratic Get together of Korea (DPK) settle for particular probe payments on an alleged bribery scandal involving the Unification…

The monetary regulator’s determination to postpone preliminary approvals for over-the-counter buying and selling platforms for safety tokens, amid fierce resistance from a fintech startup, has solid uncertainty over the launch of the fast-emerging safety token providing (STO) market, trade sources mentioned Thursday.The authorized groundwork for the market’s launch was put in place later within the day, because the Nationwide Meeting handed amendments to the Capital Markets Act and the Digital Securities Act, which deal with institutionalizing tokenized securities, with none main disputes between the ruling and opposition events.Nonetheless, delays in granting preliminary approvals for safety token buying and selling platforms…

U.S. political circles have taken subject with Korea’s complete home digital regulation agenda in response to the federal government’s transfer to sanction Coupang, which precipitated an enormous private info leak. On condition that the U.S. has constantly demanded the elimination of non-tariff boundaries (NTB) within the digital sector, considerations come up that this incident might turn out to be the fuse for a commerce dispute. Adrian Smith (Republican), chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee of the U.S. Home Methods and Means Committee, acknowledged at a subcommittee listening to on Jan. 13 (native time), “Korean regulatory…

Actor Track Solar-mi, proper, from “The Day She Returns” / Courtesy of Jeonwonsa Movie “The Day She Returns,” Hong Sang-soo’s newest mission, has been invited to display on the Berlin Worldwide Movie Pageant, the movie’s distributor mentioned Thursday.The movie, Hong’s thirty fourth function, is about to display within the Panorama part, a class that showcases unbiased and artwork home movies addressing up to date social points and new cinematic developments, in response to Finecut.The film follows an actress (Track Solar-mi), who, after a break from appearing following marriage, returns to work and enrolls in appearing lessons.The pageant praised the movie…

A rendering of LS Cable & System’s Mexico manufacturing subsidiary (Photograph courtesy of LS Cable & System) LS Cable & System will make investments 230 billion gained in Mexico to preempt the North American energy infrastructure and mobility parts market, the corporate mentioned in a disclosure on Jan. 15.  LS Cable & System will make investments 230 billion gained in LSCMX, its manufacturing subsidiary positioned in Queretaro, central Mexico. This funding was made to raise the Mexico manufacturing subsidiary into an Americas built-in ahead base that mixes power and mobility companies. To this finish, the corporate…

A lady lights a cigarette with hearth from a burning image of Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Israelis rally in help of the nationwide protests taking place in Iran, in Holon, Israel, Jan. 14. Reuters-YonhapChina has “extra to lose” in contrast with Venezuela if Iran’s rulers ought to fall, based on diplomatic observers, however it’s anticipated to keep away from direct intervention.The nation is dealing with a wave of anti-government protests fuelled by financial hardship during which lots of, if not hundreds, of protesters are thought to have been killed.U.S. President Donald Trump has mentioned he was taking…