Comedian tries to break Korean's wall of Confucian 'uptightness' through standup gigs

SEOUL, August 7 (AJU PRESS) - Unlike slapstick-based TV shows, which have dominated Korea's comedy scene for half a century, standup comedy is just beginning to gain traction. The slow development of standup gigs is primarily due to the genre's often taboo topics -- sex, drugs, racism, and religion -- in the conservative country often associated with Confucian values. Danny Cho, a 42-year-old Korean-American comedian, is a key figure in Korea's emerging standup comedy

August 7, 2024

PHOTOS: Korea hopes to end Olympics on high note

SEOUL, August 7 (AJU PRESS) - With the Summer Olympics in Paris winding down, Korean athletes continue to strive for more medals. Korea now sets its sights on adding medals in golf and high jump which begin this week. Earlier in the week, badminton player An Se-young won gold in the women's singles, dominating the final match against He Bingjiao of China to win her first Olympic medal. After her triumph, she claimed in a post-victory interview that her knee injury had been poorly handl

August 7, 2024

PHOTOS: Abandoned railway transforms into urban forest park

SEOUL, AUGUST 7 (AJU PRESS) - The Gyeongui Line Forest Park near Hongdae, Seoul's popular youth hotspot, offers a green sanctuary in one of Asia's most dynamic metropolises. The 6.3-km-long park was developed between 2011 and 2016 by transforming a section of railway after the line was moved underground. The project resulted in a landmark park where residents and visitors can enjoy a brief respite from the city.

August 7, 2024

PHOTOS: Seoul's pop-up store street faces growing trash problem

SEOUL, August 7 (AJU PRESS) - Seongsu-dong has emerged as Seoul's new hotspot for pop-up stores. These temporary shops, which operate briefly before closing, have become a major attraction for visitors. However, they also face significant environmental challenges. The transient nature of pop-up stores often means that recyclable construction materials are not used. The packaging waste generated by these stores also contributes to the growing trash problem. The influx of tourists exacer

August 7, 2024

HYBE reports sharp decline in profits despite record revenue

SEOUL, August 7 (AJU PRESS) — HYBE, the entertainment powerhouse behind global K-pop sensation BTS, on Wednesday reported a sharp decrease in profits despite achieving record revenue in the second quarter, due to higher costs associated with new ventures and artists. The company posted a record 640.5 billion won ($465.26 million) in sales during the April-June period, a 3.1 percent increase year-on-year. The figure surpasses the previous high of 621 billion won set in the s

August 7, 2024

Netflix unveils Korean survival show featuring influencers

SEOUL, August 7 (AJU PRESS) - Netflix's much-hyped Korean survival show "The Influencer" was unveiled on Tuesday, with the release of its first four episodes out of seven. The remaining three episodes are set for release next week, according to the U.S. video-streaming site. The show features some 77 influencers on social media who collectively boast over 120 million followers. They carry out separate missions to compete for a prize money of 300 million won, awarded to

August 7, 2024

South Korea sizzles under prolonged heatwave

SEOUL, August 07 (AJU PRESS) - A blistering heatwave continued to torment South Korea on Wednesday, with temperatures soaring across most of the country. Heatwave warnings remained in effect for all regions except for Jeju Island, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The agency blamed the extreme weather on a persistent high-pressure system trapping hot air over the peninsula. Daily highs of 31 to 36 degrees Celsius combined with high humidity have made

August 7, 2024

BTS' Suga apologizes for riding electric scooter under influence

SEOUL, August 7 (AJU PRESS) - Suga of K-pop boy band BTS apologized on Wednesday after his driver's license was revoked for riding an electric scooter under the influence. The 31-year-old, who is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service with a public-sector desk job, admitted he did not realize that riding a scooter after drinking was against the relevant laws. Suga explained that after having dinner and drinks the previous day, he rode the scooter for about 500 meter

August 7, 2024

Jeon Do-yeon shines in restrained revenge noir

SEOUL, August 7 (AJU PRESS) -Actress Jeon Do-yeon demonstrated her versatility once again with her new film "Revolver," which hit local theaters this week. The revenge film revolves around a former cop, played by Jeon, who becomes embroiled in a corruption scandal and serves two years in prison instead of villains, lured by a hefty payout. Upon her release, she discovers that she has been betrayed and her promised rewards have vanished, leading her on a desperate chase to

August 7, 2024

Trial ferry service along Han River available for commuters this fall

SEOUL, August 7 (AJU PRESS) - Seoulites will be able to use a ferry service connecting key locations along the Han River this fall. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that the service will be available on a trial basis in October with full operations slated for March next year. The new transportation service, which was delayed from the city's previous plan to improve safety, aims to ease traffic congestion during busy rush hours and also attract tourists by offeri

August 7, 2024