Author: Seoul Reporter

Filmmaker Sean Baker, fresh off a Palme d’Or win at Cannes and an Academy Award nomination, presents his latest project at the Berlinale. The self-directed film Sandiwara earns a spot in the festival’s lineup, showcasing Baker’s signature intensity.Film OverviewSandiwara, titled after the Malay word for ‘drama’ that evokes pretense and performance, delves deeply into political tensions, cultural identities, music, and societal elements. Baker captures these themes with raw emotion, drawing from real-world observations.Malaysian actress Yang Ja-kyung stars as a resilient woman from Penang. Her character navigates extreme poverty before achieving a dramatic reversal of fortune. From a slim waitress to…

The high school drama series Absolute Champion of Romance premieres this April on Coupang Play, spotlighting talented young actors in a vibrant school-life narrative centered on romance and aspiration. Series Overview Directed by Lee Tae-gon, known for hits like Age of Youth and Bora! Deobora, the series features a compelling story of ordinary students navigating daily life while pursuing passions like web novel writing. Veteran performers support the cast, but the child actors deliver the core energy of this high-teen production. Kim Hyang-gi’s Standout Role Kim Hyang-gi embodies the female lead, a typical student by day who transforms into a…

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon warns that postponing the Yellow Envelope Law—amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act—could trigger even greater turmoil in the job market.Remarks at National Assembly MeetingDuring an afternoon session with Yeouido committee members at the National Assembly, Kim stressed the top priority for the law’s rollout: building trust within the private sector. He highlighted efforts to develop a customized labor-management framework that avoids overloading businesses with unnecessary training requirements.The Yellow Envelope Law serves as a support tool for companies, tackling real-world wage discrepancies for entry-level workers at prime contractors. It also permits direct…

A special prosecutor team filed an appeal on February 11 in the embezzlement case against Kim Ye-seung. The first trial partially dismissed the indictment and issued not-guilty verdicts on other counts under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.The team emphasized that the probe does not represent a separate investigation.

Hyundai Department Store Holdings has announced a stock swap with Hyundai Home Shopping, paving the way for the latter’s delisting. This move integrates external shareholders of Hyundai Home Shopping into Holdings’ ownership structure.Swap Ratio and TimelineThe exchange ratio sets one ordinary share of Hyundai Home Shopping equivalent to 6.357104 ordinary shares of Hyundai Department Store Holdings. Shareholders of Hyundai Home Shopping will vote on the proposal during a meeting scheduled for April 20, with completion targeted for June 30.Regulatory scrutiny from the Fair Trade Commission remains possible. Recent valuations peg Hyundai Department Store Holdings at 9,383 billion won and Hyundai…

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix intensify competion over HBM4 production standards at Semicon Korea 2026, driven by surging AI demand for high-performance memory. Samsung’s HBM4 Speed Milestone Samsung Electronics Chief Technology Officer Song Jong-ho announced at the event that the company achieved the highest HBM4 data transfer speed of 11.7Gbps. This surpasses JEDEC standards by 37% and exceeds the prior HBM3E generation (9.6Gbps) by 22%. Song highlighted the prototype’s business viabily, stating, “Samsung advances memory, foundry, and packaging to meet current AI chip requirements, optimizing the supply chain for collaboration.” He added that the firm leads development for next-gen HBM4E…

KT Wiz pitcher Jeon Yeong-ju, now 26, has stunned observers with a dramatic resurgence, clocking a stable 153km/h fastball just seven years after his rookie-of-the-year triumph. From Pinpoint Control to Velocity Surge Jeon Yeong-ju debuted as the 2019 first-place rookie sensation for KT Wiz, renowned for his pinpoint accuracy around 140km/h. Early promise faded amid control issues, wild pitches, and hit batters, including stints with Ulsan Weilers and Hanwha Eagles. In one game, he posted a 1.2 ERA over 44 2/3 innings but struggled with five homers in two pairs. Even against hitters like Kim Do-gyu, his command faltered. Despite…

Fraudsters impersonate cryptocurrency firms to launch phishing attacks on customers of major domestic gas suppliers. Scammers send deceptive messages claiming ‘1.5 million won in Bitcoin holdings on the Coin Exchange site. Please deposit via this URL,’ prompting victims to click malicious links.Police Probe into Massive Bitcoin-Related FraudsAuthorities investigate phishing operations exploiting incidents involving two prominent Bitcoin entities, linked to damages exceeding 62 billion won. Victims remain largely unaware, fueling concerns among transaction platforms and private communications. Investigators collaborate with gas firms to trace these schemes.Sophisticated Tactics in Phishing CampaignsScammers embed harmful links in fake investigation notices and alerts. Clicking leads…

Park Se-hyun and Park Jin-young star in JTBC’s new Friday series Shining, delivering a captivating ‘best love story’ that transforms school-day admiration into adult emotions. The drama premieres with back-to-back episodes 1 and 2 on March 6 at 8:50 p.m., showcasing youthful growth through heartfelt revelations. Characters and Backstory Park Se-hyun portrays Im A-sol, a sharp tax accountant who appears blunt and professional yet excels in volunteering, fitness, and hobbies without a single flaw. Despite no dating history, she holds dear a memory from her first year of high school: quietly admiring senior Yeon Tae-seo, played by Park Jin-young, as…

A man in his 60s facing financial hardship smothered his wife, also in her 60s, who was enduring severe pain from pancreatic cancer, before surrendering to authorities. Police classify the incident as murder and continue their probe.Details of the IncidentThe woman passed away on September 9 at a motel in Jinan-gun. Investigators suspect her husband, identified as Mr. A, suffocated her with a towel to end her suffering. The couple, basic livelihood aid recipients living childless in a one-room apartment, had decided on a double suicide and checked into the motel that same day.Around 8 a.m. on September 10, Mr.…