Opinion: War games risk stirring up troubled waters as Philippines − emboldened by US − squares up to Beijing at sea

SEOUL, May 08 (AJU PRESS) - U.S. Marines joined Filipino counterparts on May 5, 2024, for a mock battle at a telling location: a small, remote territory just 100 miles off the southern tip of the contested island of Taiwan. The combat drill is part of the weekslong Exercise Balikatan that has brought together naval, air and ground forces of the Philippines and the United States, with Australia and France also joining some maneuvers. With a planned "maritime strike" on

May 8, 2024

Korea's workforce expected to decline by 10 million by 2044 

SEOUL, May 07 (AJU PRESS) - Korea is expected to face a dramatic decline in its workforce of nearly 10 million by 2044 due to its low fertility rate, a report released by the Korean Peninsula Population Institute for Future (KPPIF) Tuesday shows. According to the report, the population aged 15 to 64, totaling 36.57 million in 2023, is projected to decline to 27.17 million by 2044. The total population will fall to 39.69 million in 2065 from 51.71 million in 2023. KPPIF forecasts

May 7, 2024

Queer parade to take place in central Seoul on June 1

SEOUL, May 07 (AJU PRESS) – The organizers of Korea’s largest LGBTQ festival on Tuesday announced plans to stage a Pride parade in central Seoul on June 1, criticizing the city government for rejecting its application to use the event's traditional spot of Seoul Plaza for the second consecutive year. The Seoul Queer Parade, a key event of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF), will be held in the capital's Euljiro and Jongno districts, hundreds of meters from

May 7, 2024

Event promoting Korea underway in Paris ahead of Olympics

SEOUL, May 07 (AJU PRESS) - A Korea-themed festival featuring various events and splendid programs are currently underway across France, under the name of "2024 Korean Season." More than a dozen Korean cultural organizations including the Korea Tourism Organization and Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, are actively promoting Korea at the festival which runs for six months. The festival kicked off with a captivating performance and dance battle b

May 7, 2024

Stray Kids to drop collaborative single with Charlie Puth this week

SEOUL, May 07 (AJU PRESS) - Boy band Stray Kids are set to release their new single "Lose My Breath" later this week. The single featuring a collaboration with American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth will be available on major music-streaming sites this Friday, according to the eight-member band's agency JYP Entertainment. Excitement has been building among fans since teaser videos and posters for the single were revealed last week, as it soared to the top on YouTube

May 7, 2024

Korean oil refiners ramp up car wash business amid declining profit margins

SEOUL, May 07 (AJU PRESS) – Major Korean oil refiners are expanding their presence in the market of automatic no-brush tunnel car washes as part of efforts to improve their bottom line as higher oil prices and operating costs are squeezing their profit margins. HD Hyundai Oil Bank signed a cooperation agreement with domestic unmanned no-brush car wash service operator Come In Wash last week to accelerate the distribution of an automated no-brush tunnel car wash system to its

May 7, 2024

BTS leader RM to drop prerelease track from second solo album this week

SEOUL, May 07 (AJU PRESS) - BTS leader RM will drop "Come Back to Me," a prerelease track from his upcoming second solo album, this week, its agency said Tuesday. The indie-pop song and its music video will be unveiled at 1 p.m. Friday ahead of the release of the 11-track album titled "Right Place, Wrong Person" slated for May 24, according to Big Hit Music. The music video was written, directed, and produced by Lee Sung-jin, who directed the awar

May 7, 2024

Opinion: What a second Trump presidency might mean for the rest of the world

SEOUL, May 07 (AJU PRESS) - Just over six months ahead of the U.S. election, the world is starting to consider what a return to a Trump presidency might mean. While Americans might be weighing up the difference between the two candidates domestic policies, the rest of the globe is more interested in what foreign policy decisions he might make. Donald Trump has already hinted at some areas he is particularly likely to address: China, NATO, Ukraine and Gaza among them. Recent statem

May 7, 2024

Opinion: Global auditions are changing the 'K' in K-pop

SEOUL, May 07 (AJU PRESS) - K-pop giant JYP Entertainment recently launched VCHA, an all-female idol group composed entirely of members from Canada and the United States, who had passed auditions held in North America. The band says its members' backgrounds include Korean, white, Latino, Black, Vietnamese and Hmong ancestries. The once-novel idea of a K-pop group without Korean members, which caught the attention of the BBC and CNN, now seems on the brink of becoming the norm.

May 7, 2024

Commemorative event explores Tagore's legacy in Korea

SEOUL, May 03 (AJU PRESS) - An event celebrating the birthday of Indian philosopher and poet Rabindranath Tagore took place on Korea's picturesque Nami Island near Chuncheon, Gangwon Province on Friday. This year marks the 163rd birth anniversary of Tagore, born in 1861, who became the first non-European Nobel laureate in literature in 1913. Hosted by Nami Island Arts & Education in collaboration with Indian and Bangladesh embassies, the event started with an opening ce

May 3, 2024