Pop icon Kim Wan-sun opens first New York solo show as painter

Kim Wan-sun, a South Korean pop singer of the mid-1980s and early 1990s, has opened her first solo exhibition in New York as a painter. The exhibition marks the 40th anniversary of the singer’s debut, running from Friday to March 31 at the Tenri Cultural Institute in Manhattan, New York. Its title “Icon On Demand” refers to Kim’s past as a pop star driven by public demand, while hinting at her move to take control of her own image as an artist, according to the artist's agency, KWSunflower. The

March 13, 2026

The next big K-culture export

The 2026 K-Culture Starter Pack is remarkably predictable: K-Pop, K-Drama, and the inevitable, “K-Han.” Mention Korea in any international setting and it is only a matter of time before someone drops the H-word with a knowing nod. It has become the ultimate shibboleth for those to prove they have done the requisite cultural homework. Korea, they will helpfully explain, is powered by this ancient and "untranslatable" melancholy, an endless reservoir of longing that supposedly animates everything

March 13, 2026

[Editorial] The $30,000 trap

South Korea’s per capita income marked $36,855 in 2025, according to Bank of Korea data released this week. The increase from the previous year was just 0.3 percent, a gain so small it barely registers in an economy once accustomed to rapid progress. The modest rise might have drawn little notice if neighboring economies were moving at a similar pace. They are not. Japan’s per capita income climbed to about $38,100, while Taiwan advanced to $40,585, firmly entering the $40,000 range. The more re

March 13, 2026

[Lee Byung-jong] BTS and K-pop concerts

While artificial intelligence and other digital technologies are eliminating jobs and disrupting businesses, one industry remains firmly intact and is even thriving. Pop concerts and other live performance markets are booming and are expected to grow further, as they provide audiences with real-life experiences of excitement and ecstasy through physical presence — something computer-mediated virtual realities can never fully offer. Just next week, an army of fans from around the world will desce

March 13, 2026

영한 대역 활용 영어 학습법

오늘날 영어를 배우는 방법은 무궁무진합니다. 단어장을 외우고 문법 문제를 푸는 전통적인 방법도 여전히 유효하지만, 실제 영어의 결을 느끼고 싶다면 ‘문장 단위의 감각’을 익히는 공부가 필요합니다. 바로 그때 강력한 도구가 되는 것이 영한 대역(영어 원문 + 한국어 번역) 자료입니다. 영어 소설과 그 번역본, 혹은 영한 대역 참고서와 독해 문제집은 단순한 읽기 자료가 아니라 원어민의 사고 방식과 표현 방식을 직접 비교하며 배울 수 있는 언어 실험실과 같습니다. 하지만 중요한 점이 있습니다. 단순히 영어와 한국어를 나란히 읽기만 해서는 학습 효과가 크게 올라가지 않습니다. ‘어떤 순서로 읽느냐’와 ‘어떻게 활용하느냐’에 따라 영한 대역은 평범한 독서 자료가 될 수도 있고, 강력한 학습 도구가 될 수도 있습니다. 아래에서 실제로 효과적인 세 가지 영한 대역 학습 전략을 소개합니다. 가장 정통적인 방법이자 독해 실력을 빠르게 올리는 전략입니다. 핵심은 먼저 스스로 해석해 보는 과정입니다.

March 12, 2026

The end of patronage 보호는 끝났다

For decades, the Korean Peninsula was treated in Washington less as a strategic problem than as a settled inheritance. The alliance ran on habit, memory and a quiet assumption that the US would always be there. 지난 수십년간 미국 정부는 한반도를 전략적인 문제라기보다는 이미 정리된 유산으로 다루어왔다. 동맹은 타성, 기억 그리고 필요하면 미국이 언제든 개입할 것이라는 암묵적인 가정 하에 지속되어왔다. The 2026 National Defense Strategy suggests that assumption is no longer valid. 2026년 국방전략(NDS)은 더이상 이 가정이 유효하지 않다는 것을 암시했다. Released Friday, the document is not merely an update in

March 12, 2026

Iran ‘welcome to compete’ in World Cup, says Trump

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump would "welcome" Iran's participation at the upcoming World Cup in North America, despite the ongoing Middle East war, the White House said on Wednesday. The war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, has thrown into doubt Iran's participation at this summer's men's soccer World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. The US administration was confirming an Instagram post by FIFA chief Gianni Infantino earlier in

March 12, 2026

Jill Biden opens up in memoir about Joe Biden's decision to end his 2024 reelection bid

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Jill Biden is breaking her silence about Joe Biden's decision to abruptly end his 2024 presidential reelection bid under pressure from Democrats concerned about his age, health and viability against Republican Donald Trump in a rematch of their 2020 campaign. A political spouse for nearly 50 years, Jill Biden said she has never publicly discussed her feelings about the three-week stretch when her husband ended his political career, instead saving her thoughts for the pages of

March 12, 2026

[Wang Son-taek] The hidden cost of war: Public diplomacy

Military power often produces a moment of triumph. Precision strikes dominate headlines, targets are destroyed and political leaders present the operation as evidence of resolve and strength. In the short term, such actions can create the appearance of decisive leadership. Yet the longer-term perspective often tells a very different story. History repeatedly shows that military success does not necessarily translate into strategic success. When a war is launched without plausible cause or clear

March 12, 2026

[Moon Yewon] Delays at Incheon Airport immigration

If you visited Incheon Airport after Jan. 14, you may have noticed that the airport feels noticeably more crowded than before. While the steady growth of international travel naturally fills terminals, the most visible congestion now appears at immigration checkpoints. In the past, it typically took less than 30 minutes to process about 100 arriving passengers. Recently, however, the same number of passengers can take close to an hour to clear immigration — sometimes even longer during peak peri

March 12, 2026