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N. Korea's Kim reappointed as president of state affairs

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was reappointed as president of the state affairs commission at the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) following last month's ruling party congress, state media reported Monday. "The SPA reelected Comrade Kim Jong-un as president the state affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the first session, the first state affairs activity of its 15th term" the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, referring to the country by its official name. Kim's reappointment to the highest post of the state affairs commission marks his third consecutive term since the commission was created in 2016 as the country's top policy guidance body. "The greatness of Comrade Kim is per se the strongest national power" of North Korea, the KCNA quoted party secretary Ri Il-hwan as saying ahead of the appointment. "We respect, follow and admire him so much." During the meeting, Jo Yong-won, known as one of Kim's closest aides, was also elected chairman of the SPA standing committee, the top parliamentary post, replacing Choe Ryong-hae,

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InterviewKorea, Belgium mark 125 years of ties built on trust, trade and shared values

Belgium and Korea mark the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations on Monday, celebrating a partnership that has evolved from tentative contact in the late 19th century into broad cooperation spanning politics, trade, technology, security, culture and education. Belgian Ambassador to Korea Bruno Jans described the relationship as one built on trust above all, pointing to shared values, economic complementarity and a long record of support during difficult moments. “If I had to choose one word, it would be trust. Trust has shaped our relationship from the start.” Jans said in an interview with The Korea Times ahead of the diplomatic milestone. Belgium’s interest in Korea dates back to the late 1800s, when Belgian diplomats and newspapers began paying attention to the country, then known in Europe as the Hermit Kingdom. One of the first exchanges took place in Yokohama, Japan, in 1882, where Belgium’s envoy, Charles de Groote, explored the possibility of establishing formal ties. That interest culminated in the 1901 Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation, signed in Seoul by Bel

4 MIN READ

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'King's Warden' becomes 3rd most-viewed film ever

"The King's Warden" has become the third most-watched film in Korean cinema history, data showed Monday, as the historical film continued its reign at the box office. The film attracted about 803,000 moviegoers over the weekend, bringing its cumulative total to 14.75 million, according to the Korean Film Council. It is now only behind two films in terms of admissions — the 2014 war epic "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" with 17.6 million and the 2019 action comedy "Extreme Job" with 16.2 million. In box office revenue, it has already overtaken both films in part to higher ticket prices, earning 142.5 billion won ($94.6 million). "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" earned 135.7 billion won, while "Extreme Job" brought in 139.6 billion won. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, "The King's Warden" reimagines historical events through a fictional lens, following the unlikely friendship between village chief Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hai-jin) and the deposed King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon) of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) during the latter's exile in the village. The film has drawn praise for its ensemble performance,

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InterviewAlmonty Industries CEO touts tungsten’s pivotal role in AI era

YEONGWOL, Gangwon Province — With Almonty Korea Tungsten Corp. (AKTC) beginning tungsten production in Korea, the country is entering a new phase of industrial opportunity centered on the strategic mineral. That potential extends to artificial intelligence (AI), a transformative force driving a new industrial revolution marked by technological breakthroughs on an unprecedented scale. Lewis Black, president and CEO of global tungsten developer Almonty Industries, which runs the Korean subsidiary AKTC, believes that without the mineral, the ongoing AI revolution would not have been possible. He emphasized tungsten’s critical role in the production of chips and other hardware components that enable AI semiconductors to translate their designed software capabilities into real-world performance during a recent interview with The Korea Times at AKTC’s newly built tungsten ore processing plant in Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, March 17. Tungsten gas technology uses tungsten hexafluoride, also known as WF6 — a key specialty gas used in semiconductor manufacturing for chemical vapor

4 MIN READ

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Close aide to Samsung founder dedicates life to education, culture

Chun Shin-il, the late chairman of Sejoong Group, was best known during his lifetime for his unwavering commitment to philanthropy, education and cultural heritage. He passed away Wednesday at the age of 83. Chun had deep ties in Korea’s political and business circles, including a close relationship with Lee Byung-chul, the late founder of Samsung Group, and his successor Lee Kun-hee. Their longstanding relationship helped Sejoong secure travel outsourcing contracts with major Samsung affiliates for many years and cemented the group’s position in the local travel industry. Chun founded the firm in 1982 and developed it into a mid-sized conglomerate combining travel and IT businesses. He was deeply committed to promoting education during his lifetime. Chun donated 208,000 square meters of land for the establishment of Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), one of Korea’s leading universities. Chun is also famous for having donated more than 14 billion won ($9.32 million) to Korea University, Yonsei University and the National Museum of Korea as part of his strong comm

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AMCHAM, Qualcomm host inaugural ball, attract 800 leaders

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) hosted its flagship annual event, the AMCHAM Inaugural Ball 2026, in Seoul on Friday, in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, bringing together more than 800 leaders from the business, government and diplomatic communities. As AMCHAM’s largest annual gathering and one of its most anticipated events, the black-tie gala served as a premier networking platform while also marking the inauguration of AMCHAM’s 2026 board of governors. The event introduced the chamber’s new leadership and outlined its strategic direction for the year ahead. Held under the theme “AI Closer to You,” this year’s event spotlighted the growing role of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of business and cross-border collaborations. It also underscored the continued importance of trust-based partnerships in driving sustainable growth amid rapid innovation. In his opening remarks, AMCHAM Chairman and CEO James Kim emphasized the importance of collaboration in an era of accelerating technological change. While

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Editor's Pick

InterviewWhy KOSPI volatility prolongs 'Korea discount'

HONG KONG — When U.S. and Israeli forces launched massive airstrikes against Iran, Korean markets swung to extremes. On March 3, the first trading day after the attack, the benchmark KOSPI tumbled 7.24 percent, tripping a sell-side circuit breaker. Losses deepened the following day, with the index down as much as 12 percent at one point — worse than the declines seen after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The rout quickly reversed. On March 5, KOSPI surged 9.63 percent, its biggest one-day gain on record, activating a buy-side circuit breaker. Such swings contribute to the “Korea discount,” said Peter S. Kim, a global investment strategist at KB Financial Group, referring to the chronic undervaluation of Korean-listed companies. Kim, who also serves as senior managing director and head of the global business and wholesale division at KB Securities, has over 30 years of experience in the industry. He has held leadership roles on both the buy and sell side, ranging from country CEO of HSBC Securities Korea to founding a pan-Asia hedge fund in Hong Kong. Korea’s retail investors are known

3 MIN READ

Life in Korea

Australian food takes center stage at G'day ROK event — but don't expect Toowoomba pasta

The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AustCham) is offering the finest food the antipodean nation has to offer at the G’day R.O.K event on Friday, March 27, at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. The chamber’s flagship event is hosting an evening of networking, food, drink, live music and giveaways, including the chance to win a flight to Australia. Prior to the event, AustCham will hold an invitation-only ceremony presenting the Australia-Korea Business Awards (AKBA), recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations contributing to the Australia-Korea business relationship across a range of sectors. "At a time of rising geopolitical tensions and increasing strain on global supply chains, the Australia-Korea economic partnership is taking on renewed strategic importance," said Rowan Petz, AustCham CEO. "The AKBA awards help shine a spotlight on how important it is for countries like ours with such complementary economies and democratic values to work together for common prosperity and economic security." Suspended since 2020, AKBA finally returns this year, now paired with G’day R.O

3 MIN READ

Lifestyle

Peek into Korea's plan for 2026 Venice Biennale art exhibition

In the world of art, the Venice Biennale has long held an unrivaled stature. Dubbed the “Olympics of the art world,” the festival showcases avant-garde, multidisciplinary works that engage with political and cultural issues from across the globe. Since the opening of the first Korean Pavilion in 1995, Korea has provided more than 20 contemporary artists with a platform to present their ideas to an international audience. Participants have included Lee Wan, siren eun young jung, Hwayeon Nam and Kimsooja. With the 61st International Art Exhibition scheduled to run from May 9 to Nov. 22, the Arts Council Korea last week unveiled the theme of this year’s Korean Pavilion, along with its two featured artists. According to artistic director Binna Choi, who will curate the exhibition, the pavilion will transform some of the most turbulent chapters of Korea’s recent political history into a meditation on what “liberation” means in an age of democratic crisis. Titled “Liberation Space: Fortress and Nest,” the exhibition takes the 2024 martial law crisis as its point of departure, w

3 MIN READ

K-Culture

BTS comeback brings cheers from fans worldwide

Fans from around the world, ranging from teenagers in Argentina to a housewife in Korea, gathered at Gwanghwamun Square, Saturday night, united by one sentiment: “It’s great to see BTS back together.” Tens of thousands of ARMY members screamed, chanted and waved purple light sticks throughout the 60-minute concert, “BTS COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” the group’s first live performance in three years and five months. “From the moment they said, ‘we’re back’ at the very beginning, I was already getting emotional. Seeing how well they prepared for their comeback show — it was really moving,” Bella Lai, 16, from Taiwan, told The Korea Times. Lai, who has followed the group for four years, also said: “All the ARMYs were chanting and singing together — the atmosphere was just amazing.” Ann, a fan from the Philippines, said, “The show was overwhelming. The scale, the energy, the music — everything made it unforgettable. We’re just happy to be here.” For Park Jee-yoon, a 49-year-old housewife from Korea, the struggle to secure tickets and the sacrifices she made t

2 MIN READ

Celebrities