South Korean President Lee has arrived in China for a high-level visit, aiming to strengthen diplomatic ties while carefully navigating Taiwan-related tensions. The trip underscores Seoul’s efforts to maintain regional stability, enhance trade, and engage in dialogue with Beijing.

South Korea-China Talks: President Lee Begins China Visit Amid Taiwan Tensions

<p><span class="region">Seoul, South Korea</span>
<p>Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached president of South Korea, failed to show up before the corruption watchdog of the country on Wednesday (Dec 18) after they summoned him for questioning over his failed attempt to impose martial law.</p></p>
<p>The parliament had stripped Yoon of his duties at the weekend after he imposed the short-lived martial law on December 3 which pushed the country into its worst political turmoil. </p>
<p>The corruption investigation office's (CIO) investigators had summoned Yoon to their facility located in Seoul at 10 am (0100 GMT). The officials had to question him over the charges of abuse of power and insurrection which he was facing. </p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-president-to-face-second-martial-law-impeachment-vote-783845">South Korean president to face second martial law impeachment vote</a></p>
<p>“President Yoon did not appear for his summons today,” said a CIO official, while speaking to AFP.</p>
<h2><strong>Yoon’s legal team says 'will comply with investigation' </strong></h2>
<p>The legal team of Yoon on Tuesday (Dec 17) said that he had not committed to insurrection and had taken the vow to fight the charges against him in the court, reported Yonhap news agency.</p>
<p>“While we do not consider the insurrection charges to be legally valid, we will comply with the investigation,” said Seok Dong-hyeon, who is in Yoon’s team.</p>
<p>This week, the CIO said that they had sent a summon to Yoon which was returned “undelivered” after an official at the presidential office did not accept it.</p>
<p>The no-show of Yoon on Wednesday (Dec 18) “will be considered as a failure to comply with the first summons”, said a CIO statement.</p>
<p>As per the investigators, they are planning to send a second summon, however, CIO chief Oh Dong-woon informed parliament on Tuesday (Dec 17) that they are reconsidering if they should issue an arrest warrant.</p>
<p><strong>Watch: South Korea's Acting Leader Reassures Stability After Yoon's Impeachment</strong></p>
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<p>South Korean prosecutors as well as a joint team of anti-corruption investigators, the defence ministry and the police have been investigating Yoon. </p>
<p>The impeached president and some of their allies are facing chances of life imprisonment and death penalty, if the court finds him guilty. Yoon has been placed under an international travel ban.</p>
<p>The constitutional court is separately reconsidering if Yoon's impeachment should be upheld.</p>
<p>On Wednesday (Dec 18), the court asked Yoon to submit the martial law decree along with records of cabinet meetings which he had held before and after the imposition of martial law.</p>
<p>The judges have nearly six months to give their verdict on Yoon's case and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for December 27.</p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The country's corruption watchdog had summoned South Korea’s impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to impose martial law 

 



Seoul, South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached president of South Korea, failed to show up before the corruption watchdog of the country on Wednesday (Dec 18) after they summoned him for questioning over his failed attempt to impose martial law. The parliament had stripped Yoon of his duties at the weekend after he imposed the short-lived martial law on December 3 which pushed the country into its worst political turmoil. The corruption investigation office's (CIO) investigators had summoned Yoon to their facility located in Seoul at 10 am (0100 GMT). The officials had to question him over the charges of abuse of power and insurrection which he was facing. Also Read: South Korean president to face second martial law impeachment vote “President Yoon did not appear for his summons today,” said a CIO official, while speaking to AFP. Yoon’s legal team says 'will comply with investigation' The legal team of Yoon on Tuesday (Dec 17) said that he had not committed to insurrection and had taken the vow to fight the charges against him in the court, reported Yonhap news agency. “While we do not consider the insurrection charges to be legally valid, we will comply with the investigation,” said Seok Dong-hyeon, who is in Yoon’s team. This week, the CIO said that they had sent a summon to Yoon which was returned “undelivered” after an official at the presidential office did not accept it. The no-show of Yoon on Wednesday (Dec 18) “will be considered as a failure to comply with the first summons”, said a CIO statement. As per the investigators, they are planning to send a second summon, however, CIO chief Oh Dong-woon informed parliament on Tuesday (Dec 17) that they are reconsidering if they should issue an arrest warrant. Watch: South Korea's Acting Leader Reassures Stability After Yoon's Impeachment South Korean prosecutors as well as a joint team of anti-corruption investigators, the defence ministry and the police have been investigating Yoon. The impeached president and some of their allies are facing chances of life imprisonment and death penalty, if the court finds him guilty. Yoon has been placed under an international travel ban. The constitutional court is separately reconsidering if Yoon's impeachment should be upheld. On Wednesday (Dec 18), the court asked Yoon to submit the martial law decree along with records of cabinet meetings which he had held before and after the imposition of martial law. The judges have nearly six months to give their verdict on Yoon's case and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for December 27. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korean president fails to show up before corruption watchdog over martial law fiasco

<p>Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached president of South Korea, failed to show up before the corruption watchdog of the country on Wednesday (Dec 18) after they summoned him for questioning over his failed attempt to impose martial law.</p>

<p>The parliament had stripped Yoon of his duties at the weekend after he imposed the short-lived martial law on December 3 which pushed the country into its worst political turmoil.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The corruption investigation office's (CIO) investigators had summoned Yoon to their facility located in Seoul at 10 am (0100 GMT). The officials had to question him over the charges of abuse of power and insurrection which he was facing.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-president-to-face-second-martial-law-impeachment-vote-783845">South Korean president to face second martial law impeachment vote</a></p>

<p>“President Yoon did not appear for his summons today,” said a CIO official, while speaking to AFP.</p>

<h2><strong>Yoon’s legal team says 'will comply with investigation'&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The legal team of Yoon on Tuesday (Dec 17) said that he had not committed to insurrection and had taken the vow to fight the charges against him in the court, reported Yonhap news agency.</p>

<p>“While we do not consider the insurrection charges to be legally valid, we will comply with the investigation,” said Seok Dong-hyeon, who is in Yoon’s team.</p>

<p>This week, the CIO said that they had sent a summon&nbsp;to Yoon which was returned “undelivered” after an official at the presidential office did not accept it.</p>

<p>The no-show of Yoon on Wednesday (Dec 18) “will be considered as a failure to comply with the first summons”, said a CIO statement.</p>

<p>As per the investigators, they are planning to send a second summon, however, CIO chief Oh Dong-woon informed parliament on Tuesday (Dec 17) that they are reconsidering if they should issue an arrest warrant.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;South Korea's Acting Leader Reassures Stability After Yoon's Impeachment</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-koreas-acting-leader-reassures-stability-after-yoons-impeachment-784767/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>South Korean prosecutors as well as a joint team of anti-corruption investigators, the defence ministry and the police have been investigating Yoon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The impeached president and some of their allies are facing chances of life imprisonment and&nbsp;death penalty, if the court finds him guilty. Yoon has been placed under an international travel ban.</p>

<p>The constitutional court is separately reconsidering if Yoon's impeachment should be upheld.</p>

<p>On Wednesday (Dec 18), the court asked Yoon to submit the martial law decree along with records of cabinet meetings which he had held before and after the imposition of martial law.</p>

<p>The judges have nearly six months to give their verdict on Yoon's case and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for December 27.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached president of South Korea, failed to show up before the corruption watchdog of the country on Wednesday (Dec 18) after they summoned him for questioning over his failed attempt to impose martial law.

Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached president of South Korea, failed to show up before the corruption watchdog of the country on Wednesday (Dec 18) after they summoned him for questioning over his failed attempt to impose martial law. The parliament had stripped Yoon of his duties at the weekend after he imposed the short-lived martial law on December 3 which pushed the country into its worst political turmoil. The corruption investigation office's (CIO) investigators had summoned Yoon to their facility located in Seoul at 10 am (0100 GMT). The officials had to question him over the charges of abuse of power and insurrection which he was facing. Also Read: South Korean president to face second martial law impeachment vote “President Yoon did not appear for his summons today,” said a CIO official, while speaking to AFP. Yoon’s legal team says 'will comply with investigation' The legal team of Yoon on Tuesday (Dec 17) said that he had not committed to insurrection and had taken the vow to fight the charges against him in the court, reported Yonhap news agency. “While we do not consider the insurrection charges to be legally valid, we will comply with the investigation,” said Seok Dong-hyeon, who is in Yoon’s team. This week, the CIO said that they had sent a summon to Yoon which was returned “undelivered” after an official at the presidential office did not accept it. The no-show of Yoon on Wednesday (Dec 18) “will be considered as a failure to comply with the first summons”, said a CIO statement. As per the investigators, they are planning to send a second summon, however, CIO chief Oh Dong-woon informed parliament on Tuesday (Dec 17) that they are reconsidering if they should issue an arrest warrant. Watch: South Korea's Acting Leader Reassures Stability After Yoon's Impeachment South Korean prosecutors as well as a joint team of anti-corruption investigators, the defence ministry and the police have been investigating Yoon. The impeached president and some of their allies are facing chances of life imprisonment and death penalty, if the court finds him guilty. Yoon has been placed under an international travel ban. The constitutional court is separately reconsidering if Yoon's impeachment should be upheld. On Wednesday (Dec 18), the court asked Yoon to submit the martial law decree along with records of cabinet meetings which he had held before and after the imposition of martial law. The judges have nearly six months to give their verdict on Yoon's case and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for December 27. (With inputs from agencies)

<p>South Korean lawmakers vote Saturday on whether to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid, in a second parliamentary showdown that remains too close to call.</p>

<p>Thousands are expected to rally in Seoul outside the National Assembly, which will vote at around 4:00 pm (0700 GMT) on an impeachment resolution for "insurrectionary acts" -- a week after a first attempt to remove Yoon for the&nbsp;martial law debacle failed.</p>

<p>Yoon has vowed to fight "until the very last minute" and doubled down on unsubstantiated claims the opposition is in league with the country's communist foes.</p>

<p>Two hundred votes are needed for the impeachment to pass, meaning opposition lawmakers must convince eight parliamentarians from Yoon's conservative People Power Party (PPP) to switch sides.</p>

<p>Seven ruling party lawmakers have pledged to support it.</p>

<p>Local media is reporting that many are still making up their minds.</p>

<p>The main opposition Democratic Party on Saturday said that a vote for impeachment was the "only way" to "safeguard the Constitution, the rule of law, democracy and South Korea's future".</p>

<p>"We can no longer endure Yoon's madness," spokeswoman Hwang Jung-a said.</p>

<p>Rallies supporting impeachment are scheduled to begin near the parliament around midday.</p>

<p>Organisers have promised to distribute food and banners to the protesters to lift their spirits in the freezing December temperatures.</p>

<p>And K-pop singer Yuri of the band Girl's Generation -- whose song "Into the New World" has become a protest anthem -- said she had pre-paid for food for fans attending the rally.</p>

<p>"Stay safe and take care of your health!" she said on a superfan chat platform.</p>

<p>And one protester said she had rented a bus so that parents at the rally could use it to change diapers and feed their babies.</p>

<h2>'An act of insurrection'</h2>

<p>Should his impeachment be approved, Yoon would be suspended from office while South Korea's Constitutional Court deliberates.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would step in as the interim president.</p>

<p>The court would then have 180 days to rule on Yoon's future.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If it backs his removal, Yoon would become the second president in South Korean history to be successfully impeached.</p>

<p>But there is also precedent for the court to block impeachment. In 2004, then-president Roh Moo-hyun was removed by parliament for alleged election law violations and incompetence, but the Constitutional Court later reinstated him.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjtw5CuraaKAxXNxjgGHZ7OMSQQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-martial-law-fiasco-police-raid-presidential-office-former-defence-minister-attempts-suicide-783100" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-martial-law-fiasco-police-raid-presidential-office-former-defence-minister-attempts-suicide-783100&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjtw5CuraaKAxXNxjgGHZ7OMSQQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE">South Korea martial law fiasco: Police raid presidential office, former defence minister `attempts suicide`</a></strong></p>

<p>The court currently only has six judges, meaning their decision must be unanimous.</p>

<p>And should the vote fail, Yoon can still face "legal responsibility" for the martial law bid, Kim Hyun-jung, a researcher at the Korea University Institute of Law, told AFP.</p>

<p>"This is clearly an act of insurrection," she said.</p>

<p>"Even if the impeachment motion does not pass, the president's legal responsibilities under the Criminal Code... cannot be avoided."</p>

<h2>'So angry'</h2>

<p>Yoon has remained unapologetic and defiant as the fallout from his disastrous martial law declaration has deepened and an investigation into his inner circle has widened.</p>

<p>On Friday, prosecutors said they had arrested a military commander who headed the Capital Defence Command.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;South Korea's Yoon Vows To Fight 'Until The Very Last Minute'</strong></p>

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<p>The Seoul Central District Court also issued arrest warrants for the national police chief and the head of the city's police, citing the "risk of destruction of evidence".</p>

<p>Yoon's approval rating -- never very high -- has plummeted to 11 percent, according to a Gallup Korea poll released Friday.</p>

<p>The same poll showed that 75 per cent now support his impeachment.</p>

<p>Protesters calling for his ouster run the gamut of South Korean society -- from K-pop fans waving glowsticks to retirees and workers.</p>

<p>"Impeachment is a must and we must fight relentlessly," Kim Sung-tae, a 52-year-old worker at a car parts manufacturer, told AFP.</p>

<p>"We're fighting for the restoration of democracy."</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


South Korean lawmakers vote Saturday on whether to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid, in a second parliamentary showdown that remains too close to call.

South Korean lawmakers vote Saturday on whether to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid, in a second parliamentary showdown that remains too close to call. Thousands are expected to rally in Seoul outside the National Assembly, which will vote at around 4:00 pm (0700 GMT) on an impeachment resolution for "insurrectionary acts" -- a week after a first attempt to remove Yoon for the martial law debacle failed. Yoon has vowed to fight "until the very last minute" and doubled down on unsubstantiated claims the opposition is in league with the country's communist foes. Two hundred votes are needed for the impeachment to pass, meaning opposition lawmakers must convince eight parliamentarians from Yoon's conservative People Power Party (PPP) to switch sides. Seven ruling party lawmakers have pledged to support it. Local media is reporting that many are still making up their minds. The main opposition Democratic Party on Saturday said that a vote for impeachment was the "only way" to "safeguard the Constitution, the rule of law, democracy and South Korea's future". "We can no longer endure Yoon's madness," spokeswoman Hwang Jung-a said. Rallies supporting impeachment are scheduled to begin near the parliament around midday. Organisers have promised to distribute food and banners to the protesters to lift their spirits in the freezing December temperatures. And K-pop singer Yuri of the band Girl's Generation -- whose song "Into the New World" has become a protest anthem -- said she had pre-paid for food for fans attending the rally. "Stay safe and take care of your health!" she said on a superfan chat platform. And one protester said she had rented a bus so that parents at the rally could use it to change diapers and feed their babies. 'An act of insurrection' Should his impeachment be approved, Yoon would be suspended from office while South Korea's Constitutional Court deliberates. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would step in as the interim president. The court would then have 180 days to rule on Yoon's future. If it backs his removal, Yoon would become the second president in South Korean history to be successfully impeached. But there is also precedent for the court to block impeachment. In 2004, then-president Roh Moo-hyun was removed by parliament for alleged election law violations and incompetence, but the Constitutional Court later reinstated him. Also read: South Korea martial law fiasco: Police raid presidential office, former defence minister `attempts suicide` The court currently only has six judges, meaning their decision must be unanimous. And should the vote fail, Yoon can still face "legal responsibility" for the martial law bid, Kim Hyun-jung, a researcher at the Korea University Institute of Law, told AFP. "This is clearly an act of insurrection," she said. "Even if the impeachment motion does not pass, the president's legal responsibilities under the Criminal Code... cannot be avoided." 'So angry' Yoon has remained unapologetic and defiant as the fallout from his disastrous martial law declaration has deepened and an investigation into his inner circle has widened. On Friday, prosecutors said they had arrested a military commander who headed the Capital Defence Command. Watch: South Korea's Yoon Vows To Fight 'Until The Very Last Minute' × The Seoul Central District Court also issued arrest warrants for the national police chief and the head of the city's police, citing the "risk of destruction of evidence". Yoon's approval rating -- never very high -- has plummeted to 11 percent, according to a Gallup Korea poll released Friday. The same poll showed that 75 per cent now support his impeachment. Protesters calling for his ouster run the gamut of South Korean society -- from K-pop fans waving glowsticks to retirees and workers. "Impeachment is a must and we must fight relentlessly," Kim Sung-tae, a 52-year-old worker at a car parts manufacturer, told AFP. "We're fighting for the restoration of democracy." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

S Korean lawmakers to soon vote on impeaching prez Yoon over martial law fiasco

<p>Deep in South Korea's hinterlands lies a perfect replica of 1900s Seoul: welcome to Sunshine Land, the latest K-drama theme park to cash in on booming K-culture tourism.</p>

<p>Fans of K-pop mega group BTS have long flocked to the South to see sites associated with the boy band, from the dorms where they slept as trainees to recent music video shoot locations.</p>

<p>But as the popularity of South Korean drama has soared overseas -- it is the most-viewed non-English content on Netflix, the platform's data shows -- more and more tourists are planning trips around their favourite shows.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lady-gaga-green-day-post-malone-to-headline-coachella-2025-777865">Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone to headline Coachella 2025</a></p>

<p>The idea that foreign tourists would pay good money and drive hundreds of miles out of the capital Seoul to see a K-drama set seemed "crazy" to tour guide Sophy Yoon -- until she saw one of her guests break down in tears at Sunshine Land.</p>

<p>"At that moment, it hit me: For me, it was just a studio, but for them, it was something much more," she said.</p>

<p>Preserved from the set of popular 2018 historical series "Mr Sunshine", the location in Nonsan, 170 kilometres (106 miles) from Seoul, is replete with painstaking replicas of everything from a turn-of-the-century tram to South Korea's most famous Buddhist bell.</p>

<p>"It's like when we go to the Spanish steps in Rome where Audrey Hepburn had ice cream," Yoon said, referring to the 1953 classic movie "Roman Holiday".</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-leonardo-dicaprio-admits-he-is-awestruck-by-pal-kate-winslets-stength-and-talent-watch-777829">Leonardo DiCaprio admits he is 'awestruck' by pal Kate Winslet's 'stength' and 'talent', watch</a></p>

<p>For South Korea's growing number of K-drama tourists, "every door, every wall has a meaning from a drama that impacted their lives".</p>

<p>"I get a lot more requests for specific 'K-drama tours' now," she said.</p>

<p>- 'Felt right' -</p>

<p>The rise of South Korea as a global cultural powerhouse "has contributed to the appeal of Korean tourism," said Kwak Jae-yeon, the Hallyu content team director at the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).</p>

<p>South Korea welcomed 1.4 million tourists in September, up 33 percent year-on-year and the highest since the pandemic, with more than a third saying they had decided to come "after being exposed to Korean Wave content", according to a 2023 KTO poll.</p>

<p>In Seoul's central Jongno district, tourists like Sookariyapa Kakij are typical. Wearing a hanbok, traditional Korean dress, the 40-year-old had travelled from Thailand specifically to see where her favourite dramas were filmed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I want to find locations where 'Itaewon Class' was shot," she told AFP, referring to the popular 2020 drama, filmed largely on location in its namesake district of Seoul.</p>

<p>Jennifer Zelinski told AFP she had never left the United States before, but after she discovered K-drama -- through the 2019 series "Crash Landing on You" -- while stuck at home during the pandemic, she decided to visit South Korea.</p>

<p>"I binged the whole show in a week. I barely slept and went through two whole boxes of tissues," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This "snowballed" into her watching more and more K-drama, Korean variety shows and listening to K-pop, she said, until finally she "felt like I really wanted to see it in person".</p>

<p>"My family and friends were shocked when I said I was travelling to Korea and on my own," said Zelinski, but for her "it just felt right."</p>

<p>- Beyond Seoul -</p>

<p>The travel industry is racing to catch up: one South Korean tour company on the travel platform Klook said interest in its BTS day tour has "skyrocketed" recently, and they were "completely booked until next February."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are planning to add additional tours for other K-pop idol groups, including Seventeen and NCT 127," they said.</p>

<p>But most of this new type of tourism is concentrated in Seoul, Jeong Ji-youn, a Kyungpook National University professor, told AFP.</p>

<p>Tourism in rural areas has tended to focus on more traditional Korean experiences, which is not interesting to younger travellers eager to explore the land of K-pop and K-drama.</p>

<p>"There is a need to develop more tourism resources related to contemporary culture that allow people to experience hallyu outside of Seoul," she said.</p>

<p>The port city of Pohang is better known for shipbuilding and steel plants than tourism, but Emma Brown, 30, from Scotland, travelled more than 8,800 kilometres (5,468 miles) to see it because of "When the Camellia Blooms".</p>

<p>The 2019 romance series "changed my life", she told AFP, adding that she felt she "had to feel the drama in person."</p>

<p>"I just couldn't miss the opportunity to visit Pohang when I was already in South Korea," she added.</p>


Deep in South Korea's hinterlands lies a perfect replica of 1900s Seoul: welcome to Sunshine Land, the latest K-drama theme park to cash in on booming K-culture tourism.

Deep in South Korea's hinterlands lies a perfect replica of 1900s Seoul: welcome to Sunshine Land, the latest K-drama theme park to cash in on booming K-culture tourism. Fans of K-pop mega group BTS have long flocked to the South to see sites associated with the boy band, from the dorms where they slept as trainees to recent music video shoot locations. But as the popularity of South Korean drama has soared overseas -- it is the most-viewed non-English content on Netflix, the platform's data shows -- more and more tourists are planning trips around their favourite shows. Also read: Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone to headline Coachella 2025 The idea that foreign tourists would pay good money and drive hundreds of miles out of the capital Seoul to see a K-drama set seemed "crazy" to tour guide Sophy Yoon -- until she saw one of her guests break down in tears at Sunshine Land. "At that moment, it hit me: For me, it was just a studio, but for them, it was something much more," she said. Preserved from the set of popular 2018 historical series "Mr Sunshine", the location in Nonsan, 170 kilometres (106 miles) from Seoul, is replete with painstaking replicas of everything from a turn-of-the-century tram to South Korea's most famous Buddhist bell. "It's like when we go to the Spanish steps in Rome where Audrey Hepburn had ice cream," Yoon said, referring to the 1953 classic movie "Roman Holiday". Also read: Leonardo DiCaprio admits he is 'awestruck' by pal Kate Winslet's 'stength' and 'talent', watch For South Korea's growing number of K-drama tourists, "every door, every wall has a meaning from a drama that impacted their lives". "I get a lot more requests for specific 'K-drama tours' now," she said. - 'Felt right' - The rise of South Korea as a global cultural powerhouse "has contributed to the appeal of Korean tourism," said Kwak Jae-yeon, the Hallyu content team director at the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). South Korea welcomed 1.4 million tourists in September, up 33 percent year-on-year and the highest since the pandemic, with more than a third saying they had decided to come "after being exposed to Korean Wave content", according to a 2023 KTO poll. In Seoul's central Jongno district, tourists like Sookariyapa Kakij are typical. Wearing a hanbok, traditional Korean dress, the 40-year-old had travelled from Thailand specifically to see where her favourite dramas were filmed. "I want to find locations where 'Itaewon Class' was shot," she told AFP, referring to the popular 2020 drama, filmed largely on location in its namesake district of Seoul. Jennifer Zelinski told AFP she had never left the United States before, but after she discovered K-drama -- through the 2019 series "Crash Landing on You" -- while stuck at home during the pandemic, she decided to visit South Korea. "I binged the whole show in a week. I barely slept and went through two whole boxes of tissues," she said. This "snowballed" into her watching more and more K-drama, Korean variety shows and listening to K-pop, she said, until finally she "felt like I really wanted to see it in person". "My family and friends were shocked when I said I was travelling to Korea and on my own," said Zelinski, but for her "it just felt right." - Beyond Seoul - The travel industry is racing to catch up: one South Korean tour company on the travel platform Klook said interest in its BTS day tour has "skyrocketed" recently, and they were "completely booked until next February." "We are planning to add additional tours for other K-pop idol groups, including Seventeen and NCT 127," they said. But most of this new type of tourism is concentrated in Seoul, Jeong Ji-youn, a Kyungpook National University professor, told AFP. Tourism in rural areas has tended to focus on more traditional Korean experiences, which is not interesting to younger travellers eager to explore the land of K-pop and K-drama. "There is a need to develop more tourism resources related to contemporary culture that allow people to experience hallyu outside of Seoul," she said. The port city of Pohang is better known for shipbuilding and steel plants than tourism, but Emma Brown, 30, from Scotland, travelled more than 8,800 kilometres (5,468 miles) to see it because of "When the Camellia Blooms". The 2019 romance series "changed my life", she told AFP, adding that she felt she "had to feel the drama in person." "I just couldn't miss the opportunity to visit Pohang when I was already in South Korea," she added.

Screen to reality: South Korea targets K-pop, K-drama tourism boom

<p>South Korean author Han Kang was awarded with Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday (Oct 10) for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.</p>

<p>The prize was awarded to Kang, 53, by the Swedish Academy and is worth 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.1 million).</p>

<p>Kang was born in Gwangju, South Korea, in 1970. She belongs to a family, who have a literary background. Her father is a reputed novelist.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nobel-prize-in-literature-2024-awarded-to-south-korean-author-han-kang-766331"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 awarded to South Korean author Han Kang</strong></a></p>

<p>Her most recent novel 'I Do Not Bid Farewell' was awarded the Medicis Prize in France in 2023, and the Emile Guimet Prize in 2024.</p>

<p>She made her literary debut in 1993, as a poet by publishing five poems, including "Winter in Seoul", in the winter issue of Munhak-gwa-sahoe (Literature and Society). Next year, she began her career as a novelist by winning the 1994 Seoul Shinmun Spring Literary Contest with "Red Anchor".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later in 1995, she published her first short story collection entitled Yeosu (Munji Publishing Company).&nbsp;</p>

<p>She won the International Booker Prize in 2016 for ‘The Vegetarian’, an unsettling novel in which a woman's decision to stop eating meat has devastating consequences.</p>

<p>Moreover, her work is characterised by this double exposure of pain, a correspondence between mental and physical torment with close connections to Eastern thinking, the committee said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


South Korean author Han Kang was awarded with Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday (Oct 10) for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.

South Korean author Han Kang was awarded with Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday (Oct 10) for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life. The prize was awarded to Kang, 53, by the Swedish Academy and is worth 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.1 million). Kang was born in Gwangju, South Korea, in 1970. She belongs to a family, who have a literary background. Her father is a reputed novelist. Also read: Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 awarded to South Korean author Han Kang Her most recent novel 'I Do Not Bid Farewell' was awarded the Medicis Prize in France in 2023, and the Emile Guimet Prize in 2024. She made her literary debut in 1993, as a poet by publishing five poems, including "Winter in Seoul", in the winter issue of Munhak-gwa-sahoe (Literature and Society). Next year, she began her career as a novelist by winning the 1994 Seoul Shinmun Spring Literary Contest with "Red Anchor". Later in 1995, she published her first short story collection entitled Yeosu (Munji Publishing Company). She won the International Booker Prize in 2016 for ‘The Vegetarian’, an unsettling novel in which a woman's decision to stop eating meat has devastating consequences. Moreover, her work is characterised by this double exposure of pain, a correspondence between mental and physical torment with close connections to Eastern thinking, the committee said. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is South Korean author Han Kang? 2024 Nobel prize winner in Literature

<p>FTSE Russell recently announced that it would add India's sovereign bonds to its Emerging Markets Government Bond Index, or EMGBI, from September 2025. It is the third major index provider to announce this inclusion, after JP Morgan and Bloomberg Index Services.</p>

<p>While one cannot assign a specific dollar value to this development, it will potentially pave the way for billions of dollars of inflow into Indian bonds as detailed in a report by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Brief history of the FTSE World Government Bond Index</strong></p>

<p>The FTSE World Government Bond Index (WGBI) measures the performance of fixed-rate, local currency, investment-grade sovereign bonds. The WGBI is a widely used benchmark that currently includes sovereign debt from over 20 countries, denominated in a variety of currencies, and has more than 30 years of history available. The WGBI provides a broad benchmark for the global sovereign fixed-income market. Sub-indices are available in any combination of currency, maturity, or rating.</p>

<p>The report further stated that the&nbsp;South Korean government bonds will be added to the FTSE World Government Bond Index (WGBI) two years into observation on the watch list. South Korean bonds constitute 2.22 per cent&nbsp;of the WGBI from November 2025 onwards.</p>

<p>India's bonds, which have been on FTSE's watch list for the last three years, will account for 9.35 per cent&nbsp;of the FTSE Emerging Markets Government Bond Index (EMGBI). Further, the total market value of the EMGBI is about $4.7 trillion.</p>

<p>The key highlights, said Madhavi Arora, chief economist at Emkay Global Financial Services in a note, was the positive sentiment booster in such drastic development and structurally enhancing demand for Indian bonds. Since their inclusion in the JPMorgan Emerging Market Index was announced way back in September 2023, Indian bonds have attracted nearly $18.5 billion worth of foreign inflows. These inflows have boosted market sentiments and have improved India's presence in global markets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>FTSE had earlier delayed the inclusion of Indian bonds in March due to tax, registration, and settlement issues; it later notes, however, that "there have been significant improvements in access to these securities". FTSE has an announcement in line with the inclusion of Indian government securities in JPMorgan's Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets starting from June 2024 and Bloomberg Index Services' Emerging Market Local Currency index from January 2025.</p>


FTSE Russell recently announced that it would add India's sovereign bonds to its Emerging Markets Government Bond Index, or EMGBI, from September 2025. It is the third major index provider to announce this inclusion, after JP Morgan and Bloomberg Index Services.

FTSE Russell recently announced that it would add India's sovereign bonds to its Emerging Markets Government Bond Index, or EMGBI, from September 2025. It is the third major index provider to announce this inclusion, after JP Morgan and Bloomberg Index Services. While one cannot assign a specific dollar value to this development, it will potentially pave the way for billions of dollars of inflow into Indian bonds as detailed in a report by Reuters. Brief history of the FTSE World Government Bond Index The FTSE World Government Bond Index (WGBI) measures the performance of fixed-rate, local currency, investment-grade sovereign bonds. The WGBI is a widely used benchmark that currently includes sovereign debt from over 20 countries, denominated in a variety of currencies, and has more than 30 years of history available. The WGBI provides a broad benchmark for the global sovereign fixed-income market. Sub-indices are available in any combination of currency, maturity, or rating. The report further stated that the South Korean government bonds will be added to the FTSE World Government Bond Index (WGBI) two years into observation on the watch list. South Korean bonds constitute 2.22 per cent of the WGBI from November 2025 onwards. India's bonds, which have been on FTSE's watch list for the last three years, will account for 9.35 per cent of the FTSE Emerging Markets Government Bond Index (EMGBI). Further, the total market value of the EMGBI is about $4.7 trillion. The key highlights, said Madhavi Arora, chief economist at Emkay Global Financial Services in a note, was the positive sentiment booster in such drastic development and structurally enhancing demand for Indian bonds. Since their inclusion in the JPMorgan Emerging Market Index was announced way back in September 2023, Indian bonds have attracted nearly $18.5 billion worth of foreign inflows. These inflows have boosted market sentiments and have improved India's presence in global markets. FTSE had earlier delayed the inclusion of Indian bonds in March due to tax, registration, and settlement issues; it later notes, however, that "there have been significant improvements in access to these securities". FTSE has an announcement in line with the inclusion of Indian government securities in JPMorgan's Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets starting from June 2024 and Bloomberg Index Services' Emerging Market Local Currency index from January 2025.

India and South Korea bonds to join FTSE Russell government indexes in 2025

Foreign investors are flooding the South Korean equity markets. This surge, largely driven by bets on artificial intelligence, has propelled Kospi's foreign ownership to a record high. This report tells us more...

AI drives record foreign investment in South Korean stocks

<p>Renowned K-pop producer Lee Ho-yang is dead. The Korean&nbsp;composer&nbsp;who is known by his professional name of &nbsp;“Shinsadong Tiger,” was found dead on Friday, South Korean police said. He was 41 years old.</p>

<p>Lee was found dead at his Seoul studio, as per Seoul Metropolitan Police. He was found lying on the floor by one of his acquaintances, who then called local emergency services,&nbsp;reported the local media.</p>

<p>The person who found the producer dead was trying to reach him. But, when he failed to contact him he went to his studio where he was found dead.</p>

<p>Police refused to share more details or the exact cause of his death.</p>

<p>Lee was one of the most known figures in the K-pop industry. In a career spanning two decades, he has composed chartbusters such as Tiara’s ''Roly Poly'', 4Minute’s ''Hot Issue'', &nbsp;Apink’s ''No No No'', Momoland’s ''Bboom Bboom'' and Exid’s ''Up &amp; Down''. He has launched K-pop groups like EXID and Tri. Be.</p>

<p>Born as Lee Ho-Yang, he started his career in 2012 at the age of 18. After years of working and launching his own label company,&nbsp;he faced financial troubles in 2017 and filed for bankruptcy protection and debt relief measures with a local court, according to Yonhap news agency.</p>

<p>Lee Ho-yang's death once again sheds light on the tragedies in the South Korean entertainment industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lee's shocking death comes a few months after <em>Parasite</em> actor Lee Sun Kyun was found dead. The actor was found dead inside his car on December 27, 2023. As per the reports, he died by suicide amid an ongoing drug investigation against him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(With agency inputs)</p>


Renowned K-pop producer Lee Ho-yang is dead. The Korean composer who is known by his professional name of “Shinsadong Tiger,” was found dead on Friday, South Korean police said.

Renowned K-pop producer Lee Ho-yang is dead. The Korean composer who is known by his professional name of “Shinsadong Tiger,” was found dead on Friday, South Korean police said. He was 41 years old. Lee was found dead at his Seoul studio, as per Seoul Metropolitan Police. He was found lying on the floor by one of his acquaintances, who then called local emergency services, reported the local media. The person who found the producer dead was trying to reach him. But, when he failed to contact him he went to his studio where he was found dead. Police refused to share more details or the exact cause of his death. Lee was one of the most known figures in the K-pop industry. In a career spanning two decades, he has composed chartbusters such as Tiara’s ''Roly Poly'', 4Minute’s ''Hot Issue'', Apink’s ''No No No'', Momoland’s ''Bboom Bboom'' and Exid’s ''Up & Down''. He has launched K-pop groups like EXID and Tri. Be. Born as Lee Ho-Yang, he started his career in 2012 at the age of 18. After years of working and launching his own label company, he faced financial troubles in 2017 and filed for bankruptcy protection and debt relief measures with a local court, according to Yonhap news agency. Lee Ho-yang's death once again sheds light on the tragedies in the South Korean entertainment industry. Lee's shocking death comes a few months after Parasite actor Lee Sun Kyun was found dead. The actor was found dead inside his car on December 27, 2023. As per the reports, he died by suicide amid an ongoing drug investigation against him. (With agency inputs)

South Korean producer Shinsadong Tiger found dead in his studio

<p>An Indian man from westerner Pune city was arrested after a video went viral showing him harassing a South Korean vlogger.</p>

<p>He has been identified as Bharat Unchale, hailing from Bidar in southwestern Karnataka state. The incident in the Ravet area of Pune's Pimpri Chinchwad dates back to November during the Diwali festival.</p>

<p>He was arrested on Tuesday after the video, which was widely shared on social media platforms, triggered massive outrage.</p>

<h2><strong>Man continued to harass blogger for minutes&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In the clip, he was seen putting his hand around vlogger Kelly’s neck, and seemingly making inappropriate gestures while she attempts to engage with the locals in the market.</p>

<p>Kelly was seen speaking to shopkeepers and customers at a local shop while sipping coconut water.</p>

<p>Later, a second man joins in, and the first one gestures to him to stay closer.</p>

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<p><em><strong>The exact incident in the video starts at 21.16</strong></em></p>

<p>When a visibly upset Kelly appeared to distance herself, the harasser persisted, making her even more uncomfortable.</p>

<p>In the clip, she says that she needs to leave the area, saying, "I have to run from here," and adds, "They really like to hug."</p>

<h2><strong>Arrested for assault, obscene acts&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>After the video went viral, the crime branch of Pimpri Chinchwad Police tracked down the suspect in the Ravet area and arrested him on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Bharat Unchale has been charged with Indian Penal Code section 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and section 294 (punishment for obscene acts or words in public).</p>

<p>The police added that the matter is being further investigated.</p>

<p><strong>Also read </strong>|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/russian-tourists-video-of-harassment-by-petrol-pump-worker-goes-viral-police-take-action-video-671428">Russian tourist’s video of harassment by petrol pump worker goes viral, police take action: Video</a></p>

<p>The incident reminded many of last year when another Korean woman was harassed by a man on the streets of Mumbai during her online livestream.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bjp-veterans-lk-advani-mm-joshi-to-make-every-effort-to-attend-ram-temple-consecration-ceremony-671619">India: BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi to make 'every effort' to attend Ram Temple consecration ceremony</a></p>

<p>In the December incident, the clip went viral showing the accused man grabbing the YouTuber by her hand and trying to kiss her while she was live online.</p>

<p>Two men—Mobeen Chand Mohammad Shaikh (19) and Mohammad Naqeeb Sadrealam Ansari (20)— were later held by the Mumbai police in connection with the incident.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


An Indian man from westerner Pune city was arrested after a video went viral showing him harassing a South Korean vlogger. He has been identified as Bharat Unchale, hailing from Bidar in southwestern Karnataka state.

An Indian man from westerner Pune city was arrested after a video went viral showing him harassing a South Korean vlogger. He has been identified as Bharat Unchale, hailing from Bidar in southwestern Karnataka state. The incident in the Ravet area of Pune's Pimpri Chinchwad dates back to November during the Diwali festival. He was arrested on Tuesday after the video, which was widely shared on social media platforms, triggered massive outrage. Man continued to harass blogger for minutes In the clip, he was seen putting his hand around vlogger Kelly’s neck, and seemingly making inappropriate gestures while she attempts to engage with the locals in the market. Kelly was seen speaking to shopkeepers and customers at a local shop while sipping coconut water. Later, a second man joins in, and the first one gestures to him to stay closer. × The exact incident in the video starts at 21.16 When a visibly upset Kelly appeared to distance herself, the harasser persisted, making her even more uncomfortable. In the clip, she says that she needs to leave the area, saying, "I have to run from here," and adds, "They really like to hug." Arrested for assault, obscene acts After the video went viral, the crime branch of Pimpri Chinchwad Police tracked down the suspect in the Ravet area and arrested him on Tuesday. Bharat Unchale has been charged with Indian Penal Code section 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and section 294 (punishment for obscene acts or words in public). The police added that the matter is being further investigated. Also read | Russian tourist’s video of harassment by petrol pump worker goes viral, police take action: Video The incident reminded many of last year when another Korean woman was harassed by a man on the streets of Mumbai during her online livestream. Also read | India: BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi to make 'every effort' to attend Ram Temple consecration ceremony In the December incident, the clip went viral showing the accused man grabbing the YouTuber by her hand and trying to kiss her while she was live online. Two men—Mobeen Chand Mohammad Shaikh (19) and Mohammad Naqeeb Sadrealam Ansari (20)— were later held by the Mumbai police in connection with the incident.

Indian man arrested after clip of him harassing South Korean vlogger goes viral

<p>Authorities in the United States said that five adults and a 15-year-old self-described as "Soldiers of Christ" religious group members were arrested in connection to the brutal death of a South Korean woman.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The woman was beaten, starved, burned and then wrapped in a blanket. She was found in the trunk of a car parked outside Jeju Sauna, a popular South Korean spa located in Duluth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Investigators said that someone reported the discovery Tuesday night outside the spa but the killing does not appear to be connected to the spa.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maui-wildfire-death-toll-revised-downward-to-97-after-dna-testing-31-still-missing-636668">Maui wildfire death toll revised downward to 97 after DNA testing, 31 still missing</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The deceased woman was in her 20s or 30s but weighed only 70 pounds approximately. Her identity has not been revealed by police.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Gwinnett County Police Department said in a news release that the detectives believe the victim moved to the US from South Korea sometime back in the summer of this year for the purpose of joining a religious organisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The medical examiner's office believes malnourishment could be a contributing factor to her death. The exact cause of death is still under investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ramaswamy-claims-bidens-are-exploiting-us-foreign-policy-for-personal-financial-gains-636660">Ramaswamy claims Bidens are exploiting US foreign policy for 'personal financial gains'</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Impact of looming government shutdown on US economic data&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>The suspects are facing multiple charges including felony murder, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence and concealing the death of another.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The arrest warrant records released by the police department on Friday revealed that they also now face multiple felony street gang charges.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US Census Bureau stated that Duluth's population is nearly a quarter Asian, but there's no confirmation of any hate crime.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Authorities in the United States said that five adults and a 15-year-old self-described as "Soldiers of Christ" religious group members were arrested in connection to the brutal death of a South Korean woman.

Authorities in the United States said that five adults and a 15-year-old self-described as "Soldiers of Christ" religious group members were arrested in connection to the brutal death of a South Korean woman. The woman was beaten, starved, burned and then wrapped in a blanket. She was found in the trunk of a car parked outside Jeju Sauna, a popular South Korean spa located in Duluth. Investigators said that someone reported the discovery Tuesday night outside the spa but the killing does not appear to be connected to the spa. Also read: Maui wildfire death toll revised downward to 97 after DNA testing, 31 still missing The deceased woman was in her 20s or 30s but weighed only 70 pounds approximately. Her identity has not been revealed by police. The Gwinnett County Police Department said in a news release that the detectives believe the victim moved to the US from South Korea sometime back in the summer of this year for the purpose of joining a religious organisation. The medical examiner's office believes malnourishment could be a contributing factor to her death. The exact cause of death is still under investigation. Also read: Ramaswamy claims Bidens are exploiting US foreign policy for 'personal financial gains' Watch: Impact of looming government shutdown on US economic data × The suspects are facing multiple charges including felony murder, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence and concealing the death of another. The arrest warrant records released by the police department on Friday revealed that they also now face multiple felony street gang charges. The US Census Bureau stated that Duluth's population is nearly a quarter Asian, but there's no confirmation of any hate crime. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Six 'Soldiers of Christ' members arrested after starved woman's body found in car trunk

<p>The dangerous trend of stealing cars,&nbsp;particularly of the Hyundai and Kia models, has witnessed a 19 per cent surge this year in&nbsp;New York, the city's police department informed earlier this week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We have seen double-digit increases,&nbsp;it’s simply not acceptable," said&nbsp;Police Commissioner Edward Caban, during a press conference.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Most of us know someone who has had their car stolen.&nbsp;We understand that for those who have unfortunately experienced this crime, it is an invasion of your space. Our vehicles are often extensions of ourselves and of our homes."</p>

<p>Reports state that approximately 10,600 car thefts have been reported in the five boroughs (Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island) of the city, which is a significant increase from around 9,000 thefts reported during the same period last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking on the crisis, city Mayor&nbsp;Eric Adams said:&nbsp;"We are going to take the wheel of this crisis and drive it and put it on the right path."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hyundai-kia-software-upgrade-to-83-million-vehicles-562681"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Hyundai, Kia: Software upgrade to 8.3 million vehicles</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>NY City sues South Korean carmakers&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>While car thefts are on the rise, New York City earlier this year announced it was suing South Korean carmakers for manufacturing cars that are too easy to steal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>New York argued that the carmaker did not install anti-theft devices called immobilizers on most of their cars between 2011&nbsp;and 2022, making it easy to steal them.&nbsp;Through the lawsuit, the city&nbsp;aims "to hold the two companies accountable".</p>

<p>Notably, New York City&nbsp;joined the likes of&nbsp;Baltimore, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego, and Seattle to sue the South Korean automakers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-city-to-sue-kia-and-hyundai-for-making-cars-easier-to-steal-in-the-viral-tiktok-challenge-523867"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US city to sue Kia and Hyundai for making cars easier to steal in the viral TikTok challenge</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>‘Explosion’ of car thefts</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, Hyundai is the parent company of Kia but the two companies operate separately. The uptick in thefts was reported after a TikTok challenge surfaced last year wherein&nbsp;Kia and Hyundai cars which still use mechanical keys and not electronic systems were targetted by clout-chasing influencers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The lack of anti-theft measures made the cars more vulnerable to larceny. The challenge egged the users on the app to take advantage and steal the cars using minimal tools. The thieves took videos of them stealing the cars and posted them on the ByteDance-owned platform with the hashtag&nbsp;“Kia Boys”.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The dangerous trend of stealing cars, particularly of the Hyundai and Kia models, has witnessed a 19 per cent surge this year in New York, the city's police department informed earlier this week.

The dangerous trend of stealing cars, particularly of the Hyundai and Kia models, has witnessed a 19 per cent surge this year in New York, the city's police department informed earlier this week. “We have seen double-digit increases, it’s simply not acceptable," said Police Commissioner Edward Caban, during a press conference. "Most of us know someone who has had their car stolen. We understand that for those who have unfortunately experienced this crime, it is an invasion of your space. Our vehicles are often extensions of ourselves and of our homes." Reports state that approximately 10,600 car thefts have been reported in the five boroughs (Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island) of the city, which is a significant increase from around 9,000 thefts reported during the same period last year. Speaking on the crisis, city Mayor Eric Adams said: "We are going to take the wheel of this crisis and drive it and put it on the right path." WATCH | Hyundai, Kia: Software upgrade to 8.3 million vehicles NY City sues South Korean carmakers While car thefts are on the rise, New York City earlier this year announced it was suing South Korean carmakers for manufacturing cars that are too easy to steal. New York argued that the carmaker did not install anti-theft devices called immobilizers on most of their cars between 2011 and 2022, making it easy to steal them. Through the lawsuit, the city aims "to hold the two companies accountable". Notably, New York City joined the likes of Baltimore, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego, and Seattle to sue the South Korean automakers. Also read | US city to sue Kia and Hyundai for making cars easier to steal in the viral TikTok challenge ‘Explosion’ of car thefts Notably, Hyundai is the parent company of Kia but the two companies operate separately. The uptick in thefts was reported after a TikTok challenge surfaced last year wherein Kia and Hyundai cars which still use mechanical keys and not electronic systems were targetted by clout-chasing influencers. The lack of anti-theft measures made the cars more vulnerable to larceny. The challenge egged the users on the app to take advantage and steal the cars using minimal tools. The thieves took videos of them stealing the cars and posted them on the ByteDance-owned platform with the hashtag “Kia Boys”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Car thefts soar 19% in New York City; cops blame TikTok challenge

<p>China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday (May 16) that a South Korean soccer player&nbsp;Son Jun-ho, who plays in the Chinese Super League, suspected of accepting bribes has been detained by the public security department of northeast Liaoning province.</p>

<p>According to a South Korean diplomatic source, Son, who plays for the South Korean national team and Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan, was detained on Friday (May 12), his 31st birthday.</p>

<p>“China is a country governed by the rule of law and will handle the relevant case in accordance with the law to protect the legal rights and interests of the person concerned,” ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a news briefing in Beijing.</p>

<p>Reuters was unable to reach Son for comment. South Korea's foreign ministry said its mission in China was providing necessary consular support to Son, but declined to comment further, citing privacy.</p>

<p>Son played in three of the national team's four games during the World Cup last year in Qatar, where South Korea reached the elimination round of the tournament for the first time in 12 years.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-shubman-gill-breaks-sachin-tendulkars-unique-record-with-maiden-ton-for-gujarat-titans-592794">IPL 2023: Shubman Gill breaks Sachin Tendulkar's unique record with maiden ton for Gujarat Titans</a></p>

<p>The official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case, said on Monday that the consulate had requested a meeting with Son as soon as possible and was in contact with his family. The official gave no further details.</p>

<p>Shandong Taishan have not commented publicly on the case but the club posted a message on its official Weibo account on the day he was detained, wishing him a happy birthday.</p>

<p>News of his detention was first published by Yonhap News. When asked about Son on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said he was not aware of the case.</p>

<p>Neither Shandong Taishan nor the Liaoning Public Security Department immediately responded to requests for comment on Monday.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday (May 16) that a South Korean soccer player Son Jun-ho, who plays in the Chinese Super League, suspected of accepting bribes has been detained by the public security department of northeast Liaoning province.

China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday (May 16) that a South Korean soccer player Son Jun-ho, who plays in the Chinese Super League, suspected of accepting bribes has been detained by the public security department of northeast Liaoning province. According to a South Korean diplomatic source, Son, who plays for the South Korean national team and Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan, was detained on Friday (May 12), his 31st birthday. “China is a country governed by the rule of law and will handle the relevant case in accordance with the law to protect the legal rights and interests of the person concerned,” ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a news briefing in Beijing. Reuters was unable to reach Son for comment. South Korea's foreign ministry said its mission in China was providing necessary consular support to Son, but declined to comment further, citing privacy. Son played in three of the national team's four games during the World Cup last year in Qatar, where South Korea reached the elimination round of the tournament for the first time in 12 years. ALSO READ | IPL 2023: Shubman Gill breaks Sachin Tendulkar's unique record with maiden ton for Gujarat Titans The official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case, said on Monday that the consulate had requested a meeting with Son as soon as possible and was in contact with his family. The official gave no further details. Shandong Taishan have not commented publicly on the case but the club posted a message on its official Weibo account on the day he was detained, wishing him a happy birthday. News of his detention was first published by Yonhap News. When asked about Son on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said he was not aware of the case. Neither Shandong Taishan nor the Liaoning Public Security Department immediately responded to requests for comment on Monday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China detains South Korea’s national soccer player on charges of accepting bribes

<p>In a shocking turn of events. South Korean actress Jung Chae-yul was found dead at her home on Tuesday. She was 26 years old. Jung has starred in shows like <em>Zombie Detective</em> and <em>Deep</em>, among others.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Jung's death was confirmed by her agency, Management S. In the statement released, her agency said, "Actress Chae-yul has left our side on April 11, 2023. We pray that Chae-yul, who has always been sincere about acting, is able to rest in peace in a warm place.''</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/fashion-designer-dame-mary-quant-the-mother-of-miniskirts-dies-aged-93-582209">Fashion designer Dame Mary Quant, the mother of miniskirts, dies aged 93</a></p>

<p>The exact cause of her death has not been revealed.<br />
<br />
In the statement further, her agency also requested people not to spread rumours related to the actress's death, “We earnestly request that you refrain from writing speculative articles or spreading rumours.”</p>

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<p>Jung Chae-Yul was currently filming the Korean drama series <em>Wedding Impossib</em>le. In the show, she was playing the lead role. The show was adapted from a web novel about an actress who goes through with a fake marriage to a gay man, per Variety.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Soon after the death of the actress was confirmed, the shooting of the show was immediately put on hold, as per the reports.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Scompi also quoted a source from the show's team: "We express our deep condolences. Future filming schedule is under internal discussion."&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Born on September 4, 1996, Jung began her career as a model and went on to star in the 2016 fashion show <em>Devil’s Runway</em>. Later, she started acting and went on to star in the 2018 Korean movie<em> Deep.&nbsp;</em>However, she was critically lauded for her performance as a member of the police department in the 2020&nbsp;comedy series <em>Zombie Detective</em>. The show is streaming on Netflix.</p>

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In a shocking turn of events. South Korean actress Jung Chae-yul was found dead at her home on Tuesday. She was 26 years old. Jung has starred in shows like Zombie Detective and Deep, among others.

In a shocking turn of events. South Korean actress Jung Chae-yul was found dead at her home on Tuesday. She was 26 years old. Jung has starred in shows like Zombie Detective and Deep, among others. Jung's death was confirmed by her agency, Management S. In the statement released, her agency said, "Actress Chae-yul has left our side on April 11, 2023. We pray that Chae-yul, who has always been sincere about acting, is able to rest in peace in a warm place.'' Fashion designer Dame Mary Quant, the mother of miniskirts, dies aged 93 The exact cause of her death has not been revealed. In the statement further, her agency also requested people not to spread rumours related to the actress's death, “We earnestly request that you refrain from writing speculative articles or spreading rumours.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by CHAE YULL (@chaeyull) × Jung Chae-Yul was currently filming the Korean drama series Wedding Impossible. In the show, she was playing the lead role. The show was adapted from a web novel about an actress who goes through with a fake marriage to a gay man, per Variety. Soon after the death of the actress was confirmed, the shooting of the show was immediately put on hold, as per the reports. Scompi also quoted a source from the show's team: "We express our deep condolences. Future filming schedule is under internal discussion." Born on September 4, 1996, Jung began her career as a model and went on to star in the 2016 fashion show Devil’s Runway. Later, she started acting and went on to star in the 2018 Korean movie Deep. However, she was critically lauded for her performance as a member of the police department in the 2020 comedy series Zombie Detective. The show is streaming on Netflix. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

South Korean actor Jung Chae-yul dies at 26

<p>Kwon Do-hyeong or Do Kwon, the South Korean responsible for the $40bn collapse of the cryptocurrencies terraUSD and Luna, has been arrested in Montenegro, Interpol said on Friday.</p>

<p>The 31-year-old was arrested earlier on Thursday along with another South Korean citizen after his fingerprints matched the official records.</p>

<p>&nbsp;“The person is suspected of being one of the most wanted fugitives, South Korean national Do Kwon, a co-founder and CEO of the Singapore-based Terraform Labs,” Interior Minister Filip Adzic wrote on Twitter.</p>

<p>The minister added that he was travelling under a false name with fake documents. Authorities were waiting for official confirmation of the man's identity, he said.</p>

<p>Both men were intercepted while attempting to board a flight to Dubai using “falsified travel documents from Costa Rica, which was established also by Interpol checks”, the ministry said in a statement.</p>

<p>Kwon&nbsp;was the co-founder and CEO of Terraform Labs – the firm behind the Terra ecosystem coins LUNA and LUNC.&nbsp;In May 2022, both coins lost their value within days, wiping about $40 billion of the investor's wealth and setting off panic across the crypto sector.&nbsp;His Terraform Labs is based in Singapore.</p>

<p>The South Korean fugitive was wanted in the US and in his country. However, whether he will be tried in Korea or US is yet to be determined as Montenegro does not have extradition treaties with either country.</p>

<p>An arrest warrant for Kwon was issued last September by South Korean authorities, who said that his company Terraform Labs violated capital market rules.</p>

<p>Earlier this year, the US regulators accused Kwon and his company of "orchestrating a multi-billion dollar crypto asset securities fraud". He has also been separately charged with fraud by the prosecutors.</p>

<p>Kwon has previously denied he was in hiding but never revealed his location.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

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Kwon Do-hyeong or Do Kwon, the South Korean responsible for the $40bn collapse of the cryptocurrencies terraUSD and Luna, has been arrested in Montenegro, Interpol said on Friday.

Kwon Do-hyeong or Do Kwon, the South Korean responsible for the $40bn collapse of the cryptocurrencies terraUSD and Luna, has been arrested in Montenegro, Interpol said on Friday. The 31-year-old was arrested earlier on Thursday along with another South Korean citizen after his fingerprints matched the official records. “The person is suspected of being one of the most wanted fugitives, South Korean national Do Kwon, a co-founder and CEO of the Singapore-based Terraform Labs,” Interior Minister Filip Adzic wrote on Twitter. The minister added that he was travelling under a false name with fake documents. Authorities were waiting for official confirmation of the man's identity, he said. Both men were intercepted while attempting to board a flight to Dubai using “falsified travel documents from Costa Rica, which was established also by Interpol checks”, the ministry said in a statement. Kwon was the co-founder and CEO of Terraform Labs – the firm behind the Terra ecosystem coins LUNA and LUNC. In May 2022, both coins lost their value within days, wiping about $40 billion of the investor's wealth and setting off panic across the crypto sector. His Terraform Labs is based in Singapore. The South Korean fugitive was wanted in the US and in his country. However, whether he will be tried in Korea or US is yet to be determined as Montenegro does not have extradition treaties with either country. An arrest warrant for Kwon was issued last September by South Korean authorities, who said that his company Terraform Labs violated capital market rules. Earlier this year, the US regulators accused Kwon and his company of "orchestrating a multi-billion dollar crypto asset securities fraud". He has also been separately charged with fraud by the prosecutors. Kwon has previously denied he was in hiding but never revealed his location. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Do Kwon: Fugitive S Korean behind $40bn crypto collapse arrested in Montenegro

Two days after more than 150 people were killed in a Halloween stampede in Seoul, the South Korean police chief has now admitted a heavy responsibility for failing to prevent the Halloween stampede.

South Korean police admits 'heavy responsibility' for Halloween stampede disaster

<p>Lee Ji Han, the South Korean singer and actor, has lost his life in a horrific Halloween&nbsp;crowd surge in Seoul, South Korea. He&nbsp;was 24 years old.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The death of Lee Ji Han, a former 'Produce 101'&nbsp;contestant, was confirmed by his entertainment agency.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
A day after the Itaewon accident, Lee Ji Han’s agency, 935 Entertainment, said in a statement, "It’s true that Lee Ji Han passed away due to the accident in Itaewon on October 29," via Soompi.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"We also hoped that it wasn’t true, and we were very shocked to hear the news. The family is suffering immense grief right now, so we are being very cautious. May he rest in peace," the agency's&nbsp;representative added.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Lee Ji Han's fans and colleagues have paid an emotional tribute to the late star.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkV472jp0gZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by 935엔터테인먼트 (@935entertainment)</a></p>
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<p>Lee Ji Han's&nbsp;'Produce 101' co-contestants, including Park Hee Seok, Kim Do Hyun, and Cho Jin Hyung, said in a&nbsp;joint statement, ''Ji Han has left this world and gone to a comfortable place. We ask that you say goodbye to him on his final path.''&nbsp;</p>

<p>He got his breakthrough with 'Produce 101' season 2 in 2017. Later, Lee&nbsp;made his acting debut with the web series 'Today Was Another Nam Hyun Day'&nbsp;in 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Itaewon Halloween stampede -</strong></p>

<p>At least 154&nbsp;people, mostly teenagers, have lost their lives in a sudden crowd surge during a Halloween celebration in the South Korean capital. More than 100 people were injured.</p>

<p>''The death toll climbed to 154. Another 149 people were injured, 33 of them in serious condition. Citizens from at least two dozen countries were among the dead,'' as per Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In wake of the stampede, many&nbsp;South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol&nbsp;announced a period of national mourning, and&nbsp;many big events and concerts&nbsp;have been postponed.</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Lee Ji Han, the South Korean singer and actor, has lost his life in a horrific Halloween crowd surge in Seoul, South Korea. He was 24 years old. The death of Lee Ji Han, a former 'Produce 101' contestant, was confirmed by his entertainment agency.

Lee Ji Han, the South Korean singer and actor, has lost his life in a horrific Halloween crowd surge in Seoul, South Korea. He was 24 years old. The death of Lee Ji Han, a former 'Produce 101' contestant, was confirmed by his entertainment agency. A day after the Itaewon accident, Lee Ji Han’s agency, 935 Entertainment, said in a statement, "It’s true that Lee Ji Han passed away due to the accident in Itaewon on October 29," via Soompi. "We also hoped that it wasn’t true, and we were very shocked to hear the news. The family is suffering immense grief right now, so we are being very cautious. May he rest in peace," the agency's representative added. Lee Ji Han's fans and colleagues have paid an emotional tribute to the late star. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 935엔터테인먼트 (@935entertainment) × Lee Ji Han's 'Produce 101' co-contestants, including Park Hee Seok, Kim Do Hyun, and Cho Jin Hyung, said in a joint statement, ''Ji Han has left this world and gone to a comfortable place. We ask that you say goodbye to him on his final path.'' He got his breakthrough with 'Produce 101' season 2 in 2017. Later, Lee made his acting debut with the web series 'Today Was Another Nam Hyun Day' in 2019. Itaewon Halloween stampede - At least 154 people, mostly teenagers, have lost their lives in a sudden crowd surge during a Halloween celebration in the South Korean capital. More than 100 people were injured. ''The death toll climbed to 154. Another 149 people were injured, 33 of them in serious condition. Citizens from at least two dozen countries were among the dead,'' as per Reuters. In wake of the stampede, many South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced a period of national mourning, and many big events and concerts have been postponed.

South Korean actor Lee Ji-han dies in Itaewon Halloween stampede, he was 24

<p>At least seven people were killed after a fire broke out at a mall in South Korea’s Daejeon city on Monday.</p>

<p>According to reports, the blaze started around 7.45 am (local time) in the basement and then quickly spread to the whole area.</p>

<p>More than 110 people, including mall employees and customers at a nearby hotel, were quickly evacuated from the area.</p>

<p>Firefighters were continuing to search for survivors after putting out the blaze, said Go Seung-cheol, an official at the Daejeon Fire Headquarters. He said it wasn’t immediately clear if there were people still missing and that smoke remained in some parts of the building.</p>

<p>The officials believe that the fire may have caused more damage had it started during the mall’s business hours.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dozens of civil defense workers were seen tackling the remains of a fire that broke out at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HyundaiPremium?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HyundaiPremium</a> Outlet in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Daejeon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Daejeon</a><br />
<br />
Most of the fire has been under control, with little smoke coming out of the building &amp; background. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SouthKorea?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SouthKorea</a> <a href="https://t.co/ueWGLKd38U">pic.twitter.com/ueWGLKd38U</a></p>
— 🌎 Sarwar 🌐 (@ferozwala) <a href="https://twitter.com/ferozwala/status/1574376590070480903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>It took more than 8 hours and over 500 firefighters to contain the fire, which was extinguished at around 3 pm (local time).</p>

<p>Videos and photos from the scene showed a dark-grey plume of smoke billowing out of the basement of the building while firefighters try to contain the fire.</p>

<p>Photos from the scene showed a cloud of dark-grey smoke emerging from beneath the building as firefighters used water hoses and other equipment to put out the blaze.</p>

<p>At the time of reporting, firefighters were trying to search for more survivors after dousing out the blaze, Go Seung-cheol, an official at the Daejeon Fire Headquarters, told AP news agency.</p>

<p>It is unclear whether there are people still missing inside the mall, the official said.</p>

<p>Though authorities are yet to determine the cause of the fire, local media citing eyewitness reported that the blaze may have been caused by an explosion of an electric vehicle that was being charged in the basement.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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At least seven people were killed after a fire broke out at a mall in South Korea’s Daejeon city on Monday. According to reports, the blaze started around 7.45 am (local time) in the basement and then quickly spread to the whole area.

At least seven people were killed after a fire broke out at a mall in South Korea’s Daejeon city on Monday. According to reports, the blaze started around 7.45 am (local time) in the basement and then quickly spread to the whole area. More than 110 people, including mall employees and customers at a nearby hotel, were quickly evacuated from the area. Firefighters were continuing to search for survivors after putting out the blaze, said Go Seung-cheol, an official at the Daejeon Fire Headquarters. He said it wasn’t immediately clear if there were people still missing and that smoke remained in some parts of the building. The officials believe that the fire may have caused more damage had it started during the mall’s business hours. Dozens of civil defense workers were seen tackling the remains of a fire that broke out at the #HyundaiPremium Outlet in #Daejeon Most of the fire has been under control, with little smoke coming out of the building & background. #SouthKorea pic.twitter.com/ueWGLKd38U — 🌎 Sarwar 🌐 (@ferozwala) September 26, 2022 × It took more than 8 hours and over 500 firefighters to contain the fire, which was extinguished at around 3 pm (local time). Videos and photos from the scene showed a dark-grey plume of smoke billowing out of the basement of the building while firefighters try to contain the fire. Photos from the scene showed a cloud of dark-grey smoke emerging from beneath the building as firefighters used water hoses and other equipment to put out the blaze. At the time of reporting, firefighters were trying to search for more survivors after dousing out the blaze, Go Seung-cheol, an official at the Daejeon Fire Headquarters, told AP news agency. It is unclear whether there are people still missing inside the mall, the official said. Though authorities are yet to determine the cause of the fire, local media citing eyewitness reported that the blaze may have been caused by an explosion of an electric vehicle that was being charged in the basement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

At least 7 killed in South Korean mall fire

<p>BTS and their military service have been the most discussed question in&nbsp;the entire world right now and especially in the South Korean parliament. As the big question about the seven-boy band's future looms around, South Korean lawmakers have decided to take&nbsp;a public opinion on this&nbsp;matter.<br />
<br />
As per the new reports, the lawmakers might conduct a survey to get to know what&nbsp;public thinks about BTS and whether they should be exempted from military service or not.<br />
<br />
As per AP, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup has told lawmakers that he has ordered officials to conduct a quick survey to gauge&nbsp;public opinion on this matter. Lee Jong has also reportedly told the lawmakers that he and his ministry will look into all the factors - such as BTS'&nbsp;impact on South Korea's economy, as we all are aware of the fact that how much the boys contribute to the country's growth and economy. They will also look into matters like the importance of military service in the national interest.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bts-rekindle-debate-about-military-service-in-south-korea-494288">Is military service the reason behind the BTS split? Here's what we know</a></p>

<p>However, after the survey attracted controversy, the ministry quickly clarified by tweaking Lee's statement and stated that he has ordered to examine whether they should conduct a survey or not.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
In the statement later, they spilt more details about the survey process, like which agency would carry out the survey and which age group and people would&nbsp;be surveyed.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
For fairness, they also said that they would be carried out by a third organisation, instead of the army, military or any related government organisation.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The ministry also stated further that the survey would only be one of the many factors that government will look into.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Boys to serve military service altogether?</strong><br />
<br />
Lawmakers have to reach a dissection as soon as possible because the oldest member of the band, Jin, is turning 30 this year in December. And ever since the boys have taken an 'indefinite hiatus' to focus on their solo careers, they have been many reports coming out suggesting that the boys will serve their military service all together at one time<br />
<br />
Apart from him, Suga is also 28 years old, while J-Hope is 27. RM is 27 years old, whereas V and Jimin are 26 years old. Jungkook is only 24.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-military-service-the-reason-behind-the-bts-split-whats-the-raging-debate-all-about-494977/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p><strong>What exactly does the military law say?</strong><br />
<br />
According to the laws, men between the age of 18 and 28 are required to serve in the country’s military for at least 20 months.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>A special amendment -&nbsp;</strong><br />
<br />
Earlier, a special amendment to the Military Service Act was made&nbsp;for the boys that postponed their mandatory military service age to 30.</p>

<p>(With inputs from the agency)&nbsp;</p>


BTS and their military service have been the most discussed question in the entire world right now and especially in the South Korean parliament. As the big question about the seven-boy band's future looms around, South Korean lawmakers have decided to take a public opinion on this matter.

BTS and their military service have been the most discussed question in the entire world right now and especially in the South Korean parliament. As the big question about the seven-boy band's future looms around, South Korean lawmakers have decided to take a public opinion on this matter. As per the new reports, the lawmakers might conduct a survey to get to know what public thinks about BTS and whether they should be exempted from military service or not. As per AP, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup has told lawmakers that he has ordered officials to conduct a quick survey to gauge public opinion on this matter. Lee Jong has also reportedly told the lawmakers that he and his ministry will look into all the factors - such as BTS' impact on South Korea's economy, as we all are aware of the fact that how much the boys contribute to the country's growth and economy. They will also look into matters like the importance of military service in the national interest. Is military service the reason behind the BTS split? Here's what we know However, after the survey attracted controversy, the ministry quickly clarified by tweaking Lee's statement and stated that he has ordered to examine whether they should conduct a survey or not. In the statement later, they spilt more details about the survey process, like which agency would carry out the survey and which age group and people would be surveyed. For fairness, they also said that they would be carried out by a third organisation, instead of the army, military or any related government organisation. The ministry also stated further that the survey would only be one of the many factors that government will look into. Boys to serve military service altogether? Lawmakers have to reach a dissection as soon as possible because the oldest member of the band, Jin, is turning 30 this year in December. And ever since the boys have taken an 'indefinite hiatus' to focus on their solo careers, they have been many reports coming out suggesting that the boys will serve their military service all together at one time Apart from him, Suga is also 28 years old, while J-Hope is 27. RM is 27 years old, whereas V and Jimin are 26 years old. Jungkook is only 24. What exactly does the military law say? According to the laws, men between the age of 18 and 28 are required to serve in the country’s military for at least 20 months. A special amendment - Earlier, a special amendment to the Military Service Act was made for the boys that postponed their mandatory military service age to 30. (With inputs from the agency)

South Korean government may conduct a public survey on BTS military service

<p>Dedication and hard work always pay off. Shreya Lenka, 18, from India’s steel city of Rourkela, Odisha, has made history by becoming the fifth member of the popular South Korean pop band Blackswan. But achieving the dream was not easy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>WION had a chance to speak to the rising Asian star, where the young artist spoke&nbsp;about her aspirations and how she was able to crack this once in a lifetime opportunity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shreya, who is trained in the Odissi dance form, said she could not express in words her happiness on being chosen as the first Indian woman member of a K-Pop band.</p>

<p>Adding that it was her childhood dream to be an artist, Shreya said, "I wanted to represent India and now this has happened, so I feel like, Yes, I did it."</p>

<p>Shreya became a social media sensation and has been trending ever since the announcement was made.&nbsp;Her family and relatives have been expressing joy and pride about her achievement through posts on social media. The newest K-Pop star says that her family and friends' reaction is "priceless".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"My family and friends' reaction was really precious to me because I always wanted to hear those things.&nbsp;And when they say that they are proud of me, it's kind of heart-touching."</p>

<p>Praising the K-Pop group Blackswan as "unique and different," Shreya said that the unique thing about the band is that each member’s uniqueness is promoted and has no discrimination.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Blackswan is a group formed not on the basis of colour, nationality or age, but on talent."</p>

<p>Shreya also acknowledges how learning classical dance was a difficult journey for her and how her father has been very supportive of her dreams.</p>

<p>"As a kid when I used to dance, people around me appreciated and said that I could be good at dancing. It was then when my father took me to Odissi classes."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The singer recalled how tough it was for her family, saying, "My father tried his best to give me everything that he could."</p>

<p>"I and my father used to travel long distances on Saturdays and Sundays for the dance classes," added Shreya.&nbsp;<br />
The singer has been trained in Odissi for five years.</p>

<p>Lenka, who is currently training with the Blackswan group, said that since joining the band, she has become more "self-dependent, focused and determined." Being a part of the band, the singer has learnt that patience can be rewarding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/first-indian-k-pop-star-18-year-old-shreya-lenka-joins-korean-band-blackswan-482829">First Indian K-Pop Star! 18-year-old Shreya Lenka joins Korean band Blackswan</a></p>

<p>There are so many things to learn from each other, Shreya said. "They told me so many new things. We learned about cultures, different dances, lifestyles, and food. There are so many sweet moments the group members share with each other."</p>

<p>She added that learning with the band has been great and the seniors and juniors have friendly relations.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch the interview here:-</strong></p>

<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TXJHt78jHoI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Dedication and hard work always pay off. Shreya Lenka, 18, from India’s steel city of Rourkela, Odisha, has made history by becoming the fifth member of the popular South Korean pop band Blackswan.

Dedication and hard work always pay off. Shreya Lenka, 18, from India’s steel city of Rourkela, Odisha, has made history by becoming the fifth member of the popular South Korean pop band Blackswan. But achieving the dream was not easy. WION had a chance to speak to the rising Asian star, where the young artist spoke about her aspirations and how she was able to crack this once in a lifetime opportunity. Shreya, who is trained in the Odissi dance form, said she could not express in words her happiness on being chosen as the first Indian woman member of a K-Pop band. Adding that it was her childhood dream to be an artist, Shreya said, "I wanted to represent India and now this has happened, so I feel like, Yes, I did it." Shreya became a social media sensation and has been trending ever since the announcement was made. Her family and relatives have been expressing joy and pride about her achievement through posts on social media. The newest K-Pop star says that her family and friends' reaction is "priceless". "My family and friends' reaction was really precious to me because I always wanted to hear those things. And when they say that they are proud of me, it's kind of heart-touching." Praising the K-Pop group Blackswan as "unique and different," Shreya said that the unique thing about the band is that each member’s uniqueness is promoted and has no discrimination. "Blackswan is a group formed not on the basis of colour, nationality or age, but on talent." Shreya also acknowledges how learning classical dance was a difficult journey for her and how her father has been very supportive of her dreams. "As a kid when I used to dance, people around me appreciated and said that I could be good at dancing. It was then when my father took me to Odissi classes." The singer recalled how tough it was for her family, saying, "My father tried his best to give me everything that he could." "I and my father used to travel long distances on Saturdays and Sundays for the dance classes," added Shreya. The singer has been trained in Odissi for five years. Lenka, who is currently training with the Blackswan group, said that since joining the band, she has become more "self-dependent, focused and determined." Being a part of the band, the singer has learnt that patience can be rewarding. Also Read: First Indian K-Pop Star! 18-year-old Shreya Lenka joins Korean band Blackswan There are so many things to learn from each other, Shreya said. "They told me so many new things. We learned about cultures, different dances, lifestyles, and food. There are so many sweet moments the group members share with each other." She added that learning with the band has been great and the seniors and juniors have friendly relations. Watch the interview here:-

WION Exclusive: India’s first K-Pop star Shreya Lenka attributes her father for her success

<p>As the child-rearing costs surge, South Korean women are looking to freeze eggs for future, media reports said. This procedure also gives them an ample amount of time to prepare for starting a family without worrying about their biological clock.&nbsp;The freezing of eggs seems to have become one of the best ways to buy reproductive time. It is nowadays being explored by women around the whole world. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Around 1,200 unmarried single women had&nbsp;gone for egg freezing last year at CHA Medical Center, which is the largest fertility clinic chain in South Korea. The number of women going for this procedure has doubled over two years. &nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes as the fertility rate, which is the average number of children born to a woman in reproductive life, was only 0.81 in South Korea last year. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/biological-men-may-be-able-to-get-pregnant-soon-find-out-how-478121" hreflang="en">Biological men may be able to get pregnant soon. Find out how</a></strong></p>

<p>The rising costs of living, such as housing and education, seems to be a big reason behind the move in South Korea. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Public servant Lim Eun-young, who had some of her eggs frozen in November, told Reuters, "It's a big relief and it gives me peace of mind to know that I have healthy eggs frozen right here." &nbsp;</p>

<p>But, what is egg freezing? &nbsp;</p>

<p>Egg freezing is the process of freezing unfertilised eggs of women for future use. It is also called oocyte cryopreservation. It is a type of fertility preservation. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Antarctica: Scientists find ocean-floor like sediments under ice stream</strong></p>

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<p>In this procedure, the eggs are harvested from the ovaries. The unfertilised eggs are frozen in the laboratory and stored to be used later. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>These eggs have not combined with sperm. People can get as many eggs frozen as they want. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, it can also be combined with in vitro fertilisation. After the fertilisation, these eggs can be implanted in the uterus of the woman to help her get pregnant and have children. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


As the child-rearing costs surge, South Korean women are looking to freeze eggs for future, media reports said. This procedure also gives them an ample amount of time to prepare for starting a family without worrying about their biological clock.

As the child-rearing costs surge, South Korean women are looking to freeze eggs for future, media reports said. This procedure also gives them an ample amount of time to prepare for starting a family without worrying about their biological clock. The freezing of eggs seems to have become one of the best ways to buy reproductive time. It is nowadays being explored by women around the whole world. Around 1,200 unmarried single women had gone for egg freezing last year at CHA Medical Center, which is the largest fertility clinic chain in South Korea. The number of women going for this procedure has doubled over two years. This comes as the fertility rate, which is the average number of children born to a woman in reproductive life, was only 0.81 in South Korea last year. Also Read: Biological men may be able to get pregnant soon. Find out how The rising costs of living, such as housing and education, seems to be a big reason behind the move in South Korea. Public servant Lim Eun-young, who had some of her eggs frozen in November, told Reuters, "It's a big relief and it gives me peace of mind to know that I have healthy eggs frozen right here." But, what is egg freezing? Egg freezing is the process of freezing unfertilised eggs of women for future use. It is also called oocyte cryopreservation. It is a type of fertility preservation. Watch | Antarctica: Scientists find ocean-floor like sediments under ice stream × In this procedure, the eggs are harvested from the ovaries. The unfertilised eggs are frozen in the laboratory and stored to be used later. These eggs have not combined with sperm. People can get as many eggs frozen as they want. Later, it can also be combined with in vitro fertilisation. After the fertilisation, these eggs can be implanted in the uterus of the woman to help her get pregnant and have children. WATCH WION LIVE HERE (With inputs from agencies)

Explainer: What is egg freezing that South Korean women are opting for?   

<p>A short-range ballistic missile has been launched by North Korea on Saturday, South Korean military said. &nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes as the South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is going to take office in just three days. He has vowed to take a hard stand against the North. &nbsp;</p>

<p>This missile seems to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which was fired into the sea off its east coast around 0507 GMT on Saturday, the South Korean military said. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-suspected-ballistic-missile-off-eastern-coast-say-south-korean-and-japanese-officials-476219" hreflang="en">North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile off eastern coast, say South Korean and Japanese officials&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>The short-range missile was launched from around Sinpo, where North Korea is known to keep submarines and equipment for test-firing SLBMs, media reports said. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The projectile could be a ballistic missile, tweeted Japan's defence ministry. &nbsp;</p>

<p>It fell around 0525 GMT said Japan's Coast Guard, on the basis of information from Japan's Ministry of Defense. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Shortages in North Korea's isolated economy, global problems may exacerbate</strong></p>

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<p>The projectile seems to have landed outside exclusive economic zone of Japan, said Japanese public broadcaster NHK, citing government sources. &nbsp;</p>

<p>On Wednesday, a suspected ballistic missile was launched by North Korea, media reports said citing South Korean and Japanese officials. The missile was 14th round of weapons fired by the North. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>In a brief statement, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch was made off North's eastern coast. North Korea has fired another possible ballistic missile, Japan's Defence Ministry said without giving another detail.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


A short-range ballistic missile has been launched by North Korea on Saturday, South Korean military said. This comes as the South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is going to take office in just three days.

A short-range ballistic missile has been launched by North Korea on Saturday, South Korean military said. This comes as the South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is going to take office in just three days. He has vowed to take a hard stand against the North. This missile seems to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which was fired into the sea off its east coast around 0507 GMT on Saturday, the South Korean military said. Also Read: North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile off eastern coast, say South Korean and Japanese officials The short-range missile was launched from around Sinpo, where North Korea is known to keep submarines and equipment for test-firing SLBMs, media reports said. The projectile could be a ballistic missile, tweeted Japan's defence ministry. It fell around 0525 GMT said Japan's Coast Guard, on the basis of information from Japan's Ministry of Defense. Watch: Shortages in North Korea's isolated economy, global problems may exacerbate × The projectile seems to have landed outside exclusive economic zone of Japan, said Japanese public broadcaster NHK, citing government sources. On Wednesday, a suspected ballistic missile was launched by North Korea, media reports said citing South Korean and Japanese officials. The missile was 14th round of weapons fired by the North. In a brief statement, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch was made off North's eastern coast. North Korea has fired another possible ballistic missile, Japan's Defence Ministry said without giving another detail. WATCH WION LIVE HERE (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea launches short-range ballistic missile, says South Korean military

<p>A suspected ballistic missile has been launched by North Korea on Wednesday, media reports said citing South Korean and Japanese officials. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The missile, which was 14th round of weapons firing by North, has come six days before a new South Korean president takes office. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In a brief statement, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch was made off North's eastern coast. No further details were given. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unknown-origin-mysterious-liver-disease-causes-deaths-of-three-children-in-indonesia-476210" hreflang="en">Mysterious liver disease causes deaths of three children in Indonesia &nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>North Korea has fired another possible ballistic missile, Japan's Defence Ministry said without giving another detail. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will maintain its military buildup while asserting that his regime could "preemptively" use nuclear weapons, reports said. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Shortages in North Korea's isolated economy, global problems may exacerbate</strong></p>

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<p>The country's state-run KCNA news media reported Kim told officers that "absolute superiority" should be maintained for North Korean forces and it should "preemptively and thoroughly contain and frustrate all dangerous attempts and threatening moves." &nbsp;</p>

<p>North Korea had tested a series of missiles at the beginning of the year surprising experts. Kim once again threatened to use atomic weapons if the country's "fundamental interests" were hurt. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The North Korean leader's comment comes even as the Biden administration said it is ready for talks to end Kim's nuclear programme. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><strong><em>Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.&nbsp;</em></strong></p>


A suspected ballistic missile has been launched by North Korea on Wednesday, media reports said citing South Korean and Japanese officials. The missile, which was 14th round of weapons firing by North, has come six days before a new South Korean president takes office.

A suspected ballistic missile has been launched by North Korea on Wednesday, media reports said citing South Korean and Japanese officials. The missile, which was 14th round of weapons firing by North, has come six days before a new South Korean president takes office. In a brief statement, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch was made off North's eastern coast. No further details were given. Also Read: Mysterious liver disease causes deaths of three children in Indonesia North Korea has fired another possible ballistic missile, Japan's Defence Ministry said without giving another detail. Earlier, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will maintain its military buildup while asserting that his regime could "preemptively" use nuclear weapons, reports said. Watch | Shortages in North Korea's isolated economy, global problems may exacerbate × The country's state-run KCNA news media reported Kim told officers that "absolute superiority" should be maintained for North Korean forces and it should "preemptively and thoroughly contain and frustrate all dangerous attempts and threatening moves." North Korea had tested a series of missiles at the beginning of the year surprising experts. Kim once again threatened to use atomic weapons if the country's "fundamental interests" were hurt. The North Korean leader's comment comes even as the Biden administration said it is ready for talks to end Kim's nuclear programme. WATCH WION LIVE HERE (With inputs from agencies) Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile off eastern coast, say South Korean and Japanese officials  

<p>In what can be called a rare defection, a South Korean crossed the heavily armed border to enter Kim Jong Un-ruled North Korea, military of South Korea said on Sunday. &nbsp;</p>

<p>After detecting a person around 9:20 pm (1220 GMT) on Saturday on the eastern side of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), a search operation was carried out, said the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-new-political-cry-in-south-korea-out-with-man-haters-441674" hreflang="en">The new political cry in South Korea: 'Out with man haters'</a></strong></p>

<p>"We've confirmed that the person crossed the Military Demarcation Line border about 10:40 pm (1340 GMT) and defected to the North," the JCS added. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Although the JCS sent a notice to the North through military hotline, asking for his protection, it could not confirm if the person was alive. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The two Koreas are separated by DMZ. The crossing of border is illegal in South Korea. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-military-gaza-militants-celebrate-new-year-with-exchange-of-rocket-fire-441686" hreflang="en">Israeli military, Gaza militants 'celebrate' New Year with exchange of rocket fire</a></strong></p>

<p>This comes as North Korea has imposed strict anti-coronavirus measures since shutting its borders in early 2020. It has till now not confirmed any infections of the disease. &nbsp;</p>

<p>After North Korean troops shot dead a South Korean fisheries’ official, who had went missing at sea in September 2020, a public and political uproar had emerged in the region. Pyongyang had apologised and blamed the anti-virus rules for the incident. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


In what can be called a rare defection, a South Korean crossed the heavily armed border to enter Kim Jong Un-ruled North Korea, military of South Korea said on Sunday.

In what can be called a rare defection, a South Korean crossed the heavily armed border to enter Kim Jong Un-ruled North Korea, military of South Korea said on Sunday. After detecting a person around 9:20 pm (1220 GMT) on Saturday on the eastern side of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), a search operation was carried out, said the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Also Read: The new political cry in South Korea: 'Out with man haters' "We've confirmed that the person crossed the Military Demarcation Line border about 10:40 pm (1340 GMT) and defected to the North," the JCS added. Although the JCS sent a notice to the North through military hotline, asking for his protection, it could not confirm if the person was alive. The two Koreas are separated by DMZ. The crossing of border is illegal in South Korea. Also Read: Israeli military, Gaza militants 'celebrate' New Year with exchange of rocket fire This comes as North Korea has imposed strict anti-coronavirus measures since shutting its borders in early 2020. It has till now not confirmed any infections of the disease. After North Korean troops shot dead a South Korean fisheries’ official, who had went missing at sea in September 2020, a public and political uproar had emerged in the region. Pyongyang had apologised and blamed the anti-virus rules for the incident. (With inputs from agencies)

In rare defection, South Korean crosses fortified border to enter Kim Jong Un-ruled North

<p>Simple, sweet, and fictionally fatal: the stallholder who makes the traditional South Korean children's treat featured in the global cultural phenomenon 'Squid Game'&nbsp;-- and once associated with post-war poverty -- has hit a real-life&nbsp;jackpot.</p>

<p>The Netflix smash hit series&nbsp;features a group of South Korea's most marginalised and deeply in debt, who compete in children's games for the chance of 45.6 billion won ($38 million), with lethal consequences.</p>

<p>In one particular challenge, the contestants try to cut out shapes including a star and an umbrella from a crisp sugar candy called a dalgona, without it cracking -- and those who fail are killed.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/squid-games-anupam-tripathi-to-life-of-pis-suraj-sharma-indian-origin-actors-and-global-tv-cinema-419423" hreflang="en">Squid Game's Anupam Tripathi to Life of Pi's Suraj Sharma: Indian-origin actors and global TV &amp; cinema</a></p>

<p>The life-or-death game was inspired by director Hwang Dong-hyuk's experience growing up in Seoul in the 1970s: but then, the prize for a child who successfully removed the shape was another free dalgona.</p>

<p>Hwang was always determined to win an extra treat and remembers employing multiple tactics in his efforts, including licking the candy to loosen the shape and using a needle heated over briquettes -- techniques repeated in the show's nail-biting dalgona challenge scene.</p>

<p>"I would make the dalgona maker extremely perplexed by succeeding on the most difficult shape of umbrella," the director recently said in a YouTube video. &nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/hollywood/news-squid-games-anupam-tripathi-on-series-success-i-was-not-prepared-419548" hreflang="en">Squid Game's Anupam Tripathi on series success: I was not prepared</a></p>

<p>But the candy was a difficult prop to manage on set as it softens easily, especially during South Korea's humid rainy season, so Hwang and&nbsp;artistic director Chae Kyung-sun hired&nbsp;"dalgona experts"&nbsp;to have the candy freshly made on location.</p>

<p>Those specialists were Lim Chang-joo and his wife Jung Jung-soon, who produced between 300 and 400 dalgonas over three days of filming.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now, their humble roadside stall in Seoul's theatre district -- little more than an umbrella, an awning and their equipment -- is one of the hottest spots in the South Korean capital.</p>

<p>Orders for the 2,000-won (about $1.70) sweets start piling up as soon as it opens, and before long, customers face six-hour waits, with some giving up and leaving empty-handed.</p>

<p>In about 90 seconds, Lim melts an individual portion of sugar above a burner, before adding baking soda, flattening it into a circle, and punching it with the customer's preferred shape.</p>

<p><a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/hollywood/news-jimmy-fallon-makes-squid-game-cast-play-games-as-they-appear-on-the-tonight-show-419015" hreflang="en">Jimmy Fallon makes 'Squid Game' cast play games as they appear on The Tonight Show</a></p>

<p>He offers a wider range of choices than the four forms in the show -- and has a newly added "N" for Netflix. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"I never imagined it would become this popular," Lim told AFP of the series, adding that his life has now become "super hectic".</p>

<p>"Of course, I'm happy because my business is doing well and how dalgona has become famous in other countries.&nbsp; "I hope they make and eat their own dalgonas," he added.</p>

<p>- Financial crisis -&nbsp;</p>

<p>Historians say&nbsp;dalgona&nbsp;first emerged in the 1960s when the South was still assailed by post-war poverty while desserts -- such as ice cream or chocolates -- were not widely available and prohibitively expensive.</p>

<p>Very sweet, with hints of nuts and bitterness, the candy was hugely popular, with many vendors setting up their stalls near schools.</p>

<p>Lim and Jung started their dalgona operation with 30,000 won after closing their&nbsp;tailoring business of 20 years around the time of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.</p>

<p>The sweet endured throughout the South's rise to become the world's 12th-largest economy, following decades of rapid economic growth during the authoritarian rule of the post-war period.</p>

<p>And 'Squid Game'&nbsp;is the latest manifestation of the ever-widening influence of the country's popular culture, epitomised by K-pop sensation BTS and the Oscar-winning movie 'Parasite'.</p>

<p>"South Korea has always been at the nexus of the modern and pre-modern, Western tools and Eastern ways, and preserving the past while sacrificing everything for the future," said Michael&nbsp;Hurt, who teaches cultural theory at the&nbsp;Korea National University of Arts.</p>

<p>"Dalgona is a nexus item in a nexus culture."</p>


Simple, sweet, and fictionally fatal: the stallholder who makes the traditional South Korean children's treat featured in the global cultural phenomenon 'Squid Game' -- and once associated with post-war poverty -- has hit a real-life jackpot.

Simple, sweet, and fictionally fatal: the stallholder who makes the traditional South Korean children's treat featured in the global cultural phenomenon 'Squid Game' -- and once associated with post-war poverty -- has hit a real-life jackpot. The Netflix smash hit series features a group of South Korea's most marginalised and deeply in debt, who compete in children's games for the chance of 45.6 billion won ($38 million), with lethal consequences. In one particular challenge, the contestants try to cut out shapes including a star and an umbrella from a crisp sugar candy called a dalgona, without it cracking -- and those who fail are killed. Squid Game's Anupam Tripathi to Life of Pi's Suraj Sharma: Indian-origin actors and global TV & cinema The life-or-death game was inspired by director Hwang Dong-hyuk's experience growing up in Seoul in the 1970s: but then, the prize for a child who successfully removed the shape was another free dalgona. Hwang was always determined to win an extra treat and remembers employing multiple tactics in his efforts, including licking the candy to loosen the shape and using a needle heated over briquettes -- techniques repeated in the show's nail-biting dalgona challenge scene. "I would make the dalgona maker extremely perplexed by succeeding on the most difficult shape of umbrella," the director recently said in a YouTube video. Squid Game's Anupam Tripathi on series success: I was not prepared But the candy was a difficult prop to manage on set as it softens easily, especially during South Korea's humid rainy season, so Hwang and artistic director Chae Kyung-sun hired "dalgona experts" to have the candy freshly made on location. Those specialists were Lim Chang-joo and his wife Jung Jung-soon, who produced between 300 and 400 dalgonas over three days of filming. Now, their humble roadside stall in Seoul's theatre district -- little more than an umbrella, an awning and their equipment -- is one of the hottest spots in the South Korean capital. Orders for the 2,000-won (about $1.70) sweets start piling up as soon as it opens, and before long, customers face six-hour waits, with some giving up and leaving empty-handed. In about 90 seconds, Lim melts an individual portion of sugar above a burner, before adding baking soda, flattening it into a circle, and punching it with the customer's preferred shape. Jimmy Fallon makes 'Squid Game' cast play games as they appear on The Tonight Show He offers a wider range of choices than the four forms in the show -- and has a newly added "N" for Netflix. "I never imagined it would become this popular," Lim told AFP of the series, adding that his life has now become "super hectic". "Of course, I'm happy because my business is doing well and how dalgona has become famous in other countries. "I hope they make and eat their own dalgonas," he added. - Financial crisis - Historians say dalgona first emerged in the 1960s when the South was still assailed by post-war poverty while desserts -- such as ice cream or chocolates -- were not widely available and prohibitively expensive. Very sweet, with hints of nuts and bitterness, the candy was hugely popular, with many vendors setting up their stalls near schools. Lim and Jung started their dalgona operation with 30,000 won after closing their tailoring business of 20 years around the time of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The sweet endured throughout the South's rise to become the world's 12th-largest economy, following decades of rapid economic growth during the authoritarian rule of the post-war period. And 'Squid Game' is the latest manifestation of the ever-widening influence of the country's popular culture, epitomised by K-pop sensation BTS and the Oscar-winning movie 'Parasite'. "South Korea has always been at the nexus of the modern and pre-modern, Western tools and Eastern ways, and preserving the past while sacrificing everything for the future," said Michael Hurt, who teaches cultural theory at the Korea National University of Arts. "Dalgona is a nexus item in a nexus culture."

Sweet taste of 'Squid Game' success for South Korean candy couple

At the Tokyo Olympics, the food for the South Korean team is being tested for radiation. South Koreans fear that the organisers could be serving meals made from contaminated ingredients from Fukushima. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas | The Olympics: South Korea tests athlete meals over radiation fear

<p>Japan on Tuesday denied a media report that South Korean President Moon Jae-In is arranging a visit to Japan timed with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, as well as talks with Japanese Prime Minister Suga.<br />
<br />
The Blue House is hoping that Moon will hold his first ever talks with Japanese premier Yoshihide Suga during his stay, the Yomiuri daily reported, without citing sources.<br />
<br />
"There is no truth to that report," chief cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato told a news conference, declining to comment further.<br />
<br />
The relationship between South Korea and Japan has soured in recent years due to disputes over war-time history and trade.</p>

<p>Earlier, South Korea had asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to pressure Japan to remove a reference to South Korea-controlled islands as Japanese territory on the Tokyo Games website, according to an official with Seoul's Olympic Committee.<br />
<br />
The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) sent a letter asking the IOC to 'actively mediate' the dispute, which has sparked outrage and protests in South Korea less than two months out from the start of the Games.<br />
<br />
The small islands, called Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, have been at the centre of a decades-long territorial dispute between the two countries.<br />
<br />
"Dokdo is South Korean territory and political neutrality must be guaranteed at the Games," Kim Bo-young, public relations director of KSOC, said.<br />
<br />
"Japan's behavior can be seen as a political action, so we have sent the letter as we believe such action runs counter to the Olympic spirit."<br />
<br />
Japan rejected South Korea's protests.<br />
<br />
"Takeshima is a territory inherent to Japan in view of historical facts and international laws. We cannot accept South Korean's protest at all," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said.</p>

<p>Some South Korean officials have pointed out that Seoul removed the disputed islands from a flag featured at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea after Japan complained.<br />
<br />
South Korea said, it had summoned Japan's deputy ambassador to 'strongly protest' the map, which sparked uproar in South Korea and prompted some politicians there to call for a boycott of the Games.<br />
<br />
Three South Korean students were arrested after burning Japan's 'Rising Sun' flag in a protest outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul, while live-streaming the act on YouTube.<br />
<br />
The three were detained on charges of violating assembly and demonstration laws, according to media reports.<br />
<br />
About a dozen other members of the student group protested against the arrests outside the police station.<br />
<br />
"South Korean land is being taken away," shouted one protester with a loudspeaker, according to video posted by the group on social media.<br />
<br />
The diplomatic spat is the latest headache for organisers of the Tokyo Games, which is due to take place from July 23 to August 8 after being delayed last year due to the COVID-19&nbsp;pandemic.<br />
<br />
Opinion polls show most people in Japan want the global sporting showpiece to be cancelled or postponed again as the country battles a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Japan on Tuesday denied a media report that South Korean President Moon Jae-In is arranging a visit to Japan timed with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, as well as talks with Japanese Prime Minister Suga.

Japan on Tuesday denied a media report that South Korean President Moon Jae-In is arranging a visit to Japan timed with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, as well as talks with Japanese Prime Minister Suga. The Blue House is hoping that Moon will hold his first ever talks with Japanese premier Yoshihide Suga during his stay, the Yomiuri daily reported, without citing sources. "There is no truth to that report," chief cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato told a news conference, declining to comment further. The relationship between South Korea and Japan has soured in recent years due to disputes over war-time history and trade. Earlier, South Korea had asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to pressure Japan to remove a reference to South Korea-controlled islands as Japanese territory on the Tokyo Games website, according to an official with Seoul's Olympic Committee. The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) sent a letter asking the IOC to 'actively mediate' the dispute, which has sparked outrage and protests in South Korea less than two months out from the start of the Games. The small islands, called Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, have been at the centre of a decades-long territorial dispute between the two countries. "Dokdo is South Korean territory and political neutrality must be guaranteed at the Games," Kim Bo-young, public relations director of KSOC, said. "Japan's behavior can be seen as a political action, so we have sent the letter as we believe such action runs counter to the Olympic spirit." Japan rejected South Korea's protests. "Takeshima is a territory inherent to Japan in view of historical facts and international laws. We cannot accept South Korean's protest at all," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said. Some South Korean officials have pointed out that Seoul removed the disputed islands from a flag featured at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea after Japan complained. South Korea said, it had summoned Japan's deputy ambassador to 'strongly protest' the map, which sparked uproar in South Korea and prompted some politicians there to call for a boycott of the Games. Three South Korean students were arrested after burning Japan's 'Rising Sun' flag in a protest outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul, while live-streaming the act on YouTube. The three were detained on charges of violating assembly and demonstration laws, according to media reports. About a dozen other members of the student group protested against the arrests outside the police station. "South Korean land is being taken away," shouted one protester with a loudspeaker, according to video posted by the group on social media. The diplomatic spat is the latest headache for organisers of the Tokyo Games, which is due to take place from July 23 to August 8 after being delayed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Opinion polls show most people in Japan want the global sporting showpiece to be cancelled or postponed again as the country battles a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan denies reports of South Korean president visit, summit during Olympics

<p>A South Korean court on Wednesday upheld Japan's state immunity to dismiss a lawsuit raised by a group of women, who were forced to work in Japanese wartime brothels, contradicting a ruling in a separate earlier case that ordered Tokyo to compensate victims. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Remnants of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula remain contentious for both sides, with many surviving 'comfort women', a Japanese euphemism for the sex abuse victims, demanding Tokyo's formal apology and compensation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Diplomatic tension flared in January when another judge at the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favour of other women in a separate case, ordering Japan to pay compensation for the first time. That verdict had drawn a rebuke from Tokyo, which says the issue was settled under a 1965 treaty and a 2015 deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But on Wednesday, a judge at the same court recognised Japan's right to state immunity from overseas lawsuits, contradicting the January ruling that Japan could not assert immunity for 'a crime against humanity’. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"If an exception on state immunity is acknowledged, a diplomatic clash would be inevitable during the process of forcing the ruling’s implementation," judge Min Seong-cheol said, dismissing the latest case brought by the 20 ‘comfort women’ victims and their relatives. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said after Wednesday's ruling that the Japanese government cannot be subject to South Korean jurisdiction and the entire lawsuit should be dropped. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"As the Japanese government, we will continue to strongly ask the South Korean side for an appropriate action," Kato said, during a regular briefing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lee Yong-soo, a 'comfort women' victim and one of the plaintiffs, called the ruling 'absurd, nonsense’, saying she would seek international litigation over the case. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Justice Min also said the issue should be resolved via diplomatic consultations, and the 2015 agreement could provide the groundwork for a solution despite some flaws in negotiations. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Under that deal, Tokyo issued an official apology and provided 1 billion yen ($9.3 million) to a fund to help comfort women victims, with both sides promising to 'irreversibly' end the dispute.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But some victims, including Lee, had rejected the settlement saying the government did not sufficiently consult them during the negotiations.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


A South Korean court on Wednesday upheld Japan's state immunity to dismiss a lawsuit raised by a group of women, who were forced to work in Japanese wartime brothels, contradicting a ruling in a separate earlier case that ordered Tokyo to compensate victims.

A South Korean court on Wednesday upheld Japan's state immunity to dismiss a lawsuit raised by a group of women, who were forced to work in Japanese wartime brothels, contradicting a ruling in a separate earlier case that ordered Tokyo to compensate victims. Remnants of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula remain contentious for both sides, with many surviving 'comfort women', a Japanese euphemism for the sex abuse victims, demanding Tokyo's formal apology and compensation. Diplomatic tension flared in January when another judge at the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favour of other women in a separate case, ordering Japan to pay compensation for the first time. That verdict had drawn a rebuke from Tokyo, which says the issue was settled under a 1965 treaty and a 2015 deal. But on Wednesday, a judge at the same court recognised Japan's right to state immunity from overseas lawsuits, contradicting the January ruling that Japan could not assert immunity for 'a crime against humanity’. "If an exception on state immunity is acknowledged, a diplomatic clash would be inevitable during the process of forcing the ruling’s implementation," judge Min Seong-cheol said, dismissing the latest case brought by the 20 ‘comfort women’ victims and their relatives. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said after Wednesday's ruling that the Japanese government cannot be subject to South Korean jurisdiction and the entire lawsuit should be dropped. "As the Japanese government, we will continue to strongly ask the South Korean side for an appropriate action," Kato said, during a regular briefing. Lee Yong-soo, a 'comfort women' victim and one of the plaintiffs, called the ruling 'absurd, nonsense’, saying she would seek international litigation over the case. Justice Min also said the issue should be resolved via diplomatic consultations, and the 2015 agreement could provide the groundwork for a solution despite some flaws in negotiations. Under that deal, Tokyo issued an official apology and provided 1 billion yen ($9.3 million) to a fund to help comfort women victims, with both sides promising to 'irreversibly' end the dispute. But some victims, including Lee, had rejected the settlement saying the government did not sufficiently consult them during the negotiations. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korean court dismisses lawsuit by 'comfort women', contradicts earlier ruling 

<p>&nbsp;Even though South Korean folk-rock singer Kim Kwang-Seok has been dead for nearly 25 years, his fans will be able to hear him perform a new song cover on Friday thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) technology used to recreate his voice.<br />
<br />
The voice AI system - Singing Voice Synthesis (SVS) - learned 20 songs of Kim based on training tool with over 700 Korean songs to improve accuracy, so that the system can mimic a new song in Kim`s own style, according to the AI company Supertone which recreated the dead singer`s voice.<br />
In the part of a television show to be aired on Friday by South Korean broadcaster SBS, "Competition of the Century: AI vs Human", the late singer`s voice is used to perform `I miss you`, a ballad released in 2002 by the country`s famous singer Kim Bum-soo.<br />
<br />
"What we were most scared and worried about was asking Kim`s family for their permission," said Kim Min-ji, a producer of the show.<br />
"But when we played the AI audio to his family, they were very happy with it. They were wary at first, but after listening to the outcome, they said it was like Kim Kwang-Seok came back alive," she added.<br />
<br />
To sound accurate, it was important that the voice and performance carried enough feeling, Nam Sang-moon, chief producer for the show, said.<br />
"It`s about singing a song with emotions. And each note should be connected naturally, hence emotions can be delivered, which is the key point of the technology. The developers trained the AI to exactly imitate human`s vocal organs," Nam said.<br />
<br />
Fears around AI in terms of copyright and possible ethics breaches should be addressed but should not overshadow the entire field, producers said.<br />
"We should not only see the AI in a copyright category but also think about ways to use AI technology as a tool that can help humans and makes us happy," said Nam.<br />
<br />
A Seoul resident, however, disagreed. "My biggest concern is that AI is acting like a human being. There are original skill sets and habits that only human beings can possess. If AI can imitate all that, the earth will be dominated by AI, not human beings in the future. I`m worried," said 29-year-old Im Uk-jin said.</p>


Even though South Korean folk-rock singer Kim Kwang-Seok has been dead for nearly 25 years, his fans will be able to hear him perform a new song cover on Friday thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) technology used to recreate his voice.

Even though South Korean folk-rock singer Kim Kwang-Seok has been dead for nearly 25 years, his fans will be able to hear him perform a new song cover on Friday thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) technology used to recreate his voice. The voice AI system - Singing Voice Synthesis (SVS) - learned 20 songs of Kim based on training tool with over 700 Korean songs to improve accuracy, so that the system can mimic a new song in Kim`s own style, according to the AI company Supertone which recreated the dead singer`s voice. In the part of a television show to be aired on Friday by South Korean broadcaster SBS, "Competition of the Century: AI vs Human", the late singer`s voice is used to perform `I miss you`, a ballad released in 2002 by the country`s famous singer Kim Bum-soo. "What we were most scared and worried about was asking Kim`s family for their permission," said Kim Min-ji, a producer of the show. "But when we played the AI audio to his family, they were very happy with it. They were wary at first, but after listening to the outcome, they said it was like Kim Kwang-Seok came back alive," she added. To sound accurate, it was important that the voice and performance carried enough feeling, Nam Sang-moon, chief producer for the show, said. "It`s about singing a song with emotions. And each note should be connected naturally, hence emotions can be delivered, which is the key point of the technology. The developers trained the AI to exactly imitate human`s vocal organs," Nam said. Fears around AI in terms of copyright and possible ethics breaches should be addressed but should not overshadow the entire field, producers said. "We should not only see the AI in a copyright category but also think about ways to use AI technology as a tool that can help humans and makes us happy," said Nam. A Seoul resident, however, disagreed. "My biggest concern is that AI is acting like a human being. There are original skill sets and habits that only human beings can possess. If AI can imitate all that, the earth will be dominated by AI, not human beings in the future. I`m worried," said 29-year-old Im Uk-jin said.

South Korean AI technology brings back dead folk singer Kim Kwang-Seok voice

<p>The debate on sexism and misogyny, especially in the field of politics, has been reignited with the furore over a dress of a woman MP in South Korea. She was criticised for attending a parliamentary session in a colourful dress.</p>

<p>Ryu Ho-jeong, who at 28 is the youngest member of the country’s national assembly, drew condemnation and praise in equal measures after she was photographed in what local media described as a red minidress earlier this week.</p>

<p>Her choice of clothes was a vivid contrast to the dark suits and ties worn by most male MPs.</p>

<p>Ryu said her choice of clothes was designed to challenge male dominance in the 300-seat assembly, which has a record 57 female MPs after April’s election.</p>

<p>“In every plenary session, most lawmakers, male and middle-aged, show up in a suit and a tie, so I wanted to shatter that tradition,” she told Yonhap news agency. “The authority of the national assembly is not built on those suits.”</p>

<p>Some lawmakers came to Ryu’s defence, with fellow party members joining other female MPs in condemning the attacks as sexist.</p>

<p>In a Facebook post, Ko Min-jung, a member of the ruling party, thanked Ryu for “shattering the excessive rigour and authoritarianism” of the national assembly.</p>

<p>Ryu is part of a larger movement of South Korean women who are carrying forward the “escape the corset” campaign. It is being driven by a backlash against exacting beauty standards that call for women to spend hours applying makeup and performing skincare regimes, as well as achieve a certain look by undergoing cosmetic surgery.</p>


The debate on sexism and misogyny, especially in the field of politics, has been reignited with the furore over a dress of a woman MP in South Korea. She was criticised for attending a parliamentary session in a colourful dress.

The debate on sexism and misogyny, especially in the field of politics, has been reignited with the furore over a dress of a woman MP in South Korea. She was criticised for attending a parliamentary session in a colourful dress. Ryu Ho-jeong, who at 28 is the youngest member of the country’s national assembly, drew condemnation and praise in equal measures after she was photographed in what local media described as a red minidress earlier this week. Her choice of clothes was a vivid contrast to the dark suits and ties worn by most male MPs. Ryu said her choice of clothes was designed to challenge male dominance in the 300-seat assembly, which has a record 57 female MPs after April’s election. “In every plenary session, most lawmakers, male and middle-aged, show up in a suit and a tie, so I wanted to shatter that tradition,” she told Yonhap news agency. “The authority of the national assembly is not built on those suits.” Some lawmakers came to Ryu’s defence, with fellow party members joining other female MPs in condemning the attacks as sexist. In a Facebook post, Ko Min-jung, a member of the ruling party, thanked Ryu for “shattering the excessive rigour and authoritarianism” of the national assembly. Ryu is part of a larger movement of South Korean women who are carrying forward the “escape the corset” campaign. It is being driven by a backlash against exacting beauty standards that call for women to spend hours applying makeup and performing skincare regimes, as well as achieve a certain look by undergoing cosmetic surgery.

Criticism of South Korean MP's colourful dress stirs sexism debate

<p>'<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood-news-parasite-review-bong-joon-hos-film-on-class-divide-is-a-masterclass-in-storytelling-277783">Parasite'</a>&nbsp;director Bong Joon-ho was greeted with cheers and applause as he returned to South Korea on Sunday after his historic four-Oscar win.<br />
<br />
<img alt="Parasite" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f77304c7-26b2-4408-99fe-bb71b878e954" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2863%29_6.jpg" /><br />
<br />
About 300 reporters and fans were waiting to greet Bong as he arrived at the Incheon International Airport.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;<img alt="Bong Joon ho" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a9c34e4-821a-427c-904c-11e87512cacf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2864%29_3.jpg" /><br />
<br />
"Thank you for the applause, I would like to send a round of applause back to you all for coping so well with the coronavirus," Bong said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood-news-netizens-think-oscar-winning-film-parasite-is-a-copy-of-1999-indian-film-minsara-kanna-280463">Netizens think Oscar-winning film 'Parasite' is a copy of 1999 Indian film 'Minsara Kanna'</a><br />
<br />
"I will join the effort to overcome the corona by washing my hands diligently. Happy to be home."&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://w3.cdn.anvato.net/player/prod/v3/anvload.html?key=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%3D%3D" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe></p>

<p>'Parasite'&nbsp;became the first foreign-language film to win the best picture in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards on Feb 9.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood-news-oscars-news-oscars-2020-parasite-makes-history-as-first-south-korean-film-to-get-best-picture-best-foreign-film-nods-274142">'Parasite' makes history as first South Korean film to get Best Picture, Best Foreign Film nods</a><br />
<br />
It won a total of four Oscars, including best director and original screenplay for Bong Joon-ho and best international feature film.<br />
<br />
The film is a tale of two South Korean families - the wealthy Parks and the poor Kims - that mirrors the deepening disparities in Asia`s fourth-largest economy and has struck a chord with global audiences.<br />
<br />
Koreans have been celebrating for the past week. Local cinemas and TV channels began a rerun of the film, as well as showing Bong`s other films including "Snowpiercer" and "Memories of Murder."<br />
<br />
Bong and the cast of "Parasite" are scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday.</p>


'Parasite' director Bong Joon-ho was greeted with cheers and applause as he returned to South Korea on Sunday after his historic four-Oscar win. About 300 reporters and fans were waiting to greet Bong as he arrived at the Incheon International Airport.

'Parasite' director Bong Joon-ho was greeted with cheers and applause as he returned to South Korea on Sunday after his historic four-Oscar win. About 300 reporters and fans were waiting to greet Bong as he arrived at the Incheon International Airport. "Thank you for the applause, I would like to send a round of applause back to you all for coping so well with the coronavirus," Bong said. Also read: Netizens think Oscar-winning film 'Parasite' is a copy of 1999 Indian film 'Minsara Kanna' "I will join the effort to overcome the corona by washing my hands diligently. Happy to be home." 'Parasite' became the first foreign-language film to win the best picture in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards on Feb 9. Also read: 'Parasite' makes history as first South Korean film to get Best Picture, Best Foreign Film nods It won a total of four Oscars, including best director and original screenplay for Bong Joon-ho and best international feature film. The film is a tale of two South Korean families - the wealthy Parks and the poor Kims - that mirrors the deepening disparities in Asia`s fourth-largest economy and has struck a chord with global audiences. Koreans have been celebrating for the past week. Local cinemas and TV channels began a rerun of the film, as well as showing Bong`s other films including "Snowpiercer" and "Memories of Murder." Bong and the cast of "Parasite" are scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday.

'Parasite' director Bong Joon Ho gets hero's welcome in South Korea

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