All articles tagged with #seoul
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung proposed dialogue with North Korea to formally end the Korean War and discuss measures to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities, framing talks as involving the directly involved parties amid North Korea’s growing ties with Russia.
Aespa kicked off its SYNK: COMPLæXITY tour in Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome, delivering a 26-song opening-night set that blends new LEMONADE-era material with fan favorites, including Lemonade, Switchblade, Whiplash, Black Mamba, WDA, Count On Me, Thirsty, and Next Level amid high-end production and sharp choreography; the trek continues to Taipei and then travels across Latin America, North America and Europe through February 2027.
Matt Damon joined wife Luciana Barroso and daughters Gia (17) and Stella (15) at the Seoul premiere of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, with the sisters posing in white and pale blue as Damon wore a burgundy suit and Luciana a royal-blue gown. Charlize Theron, Nolan, and Emma Thomas were also in attendance, continuing a global press tour that has seen Damon’s family appear at prior premieres, including London, where older daughters Alexia and Isabella joined. The event highlighted the Damon family’s ongoing support and the film’s strong box-office momentum.
Seoul is under its first-ever severe heatwave warning as a record-breaking heat spell grinds on across the country, with Yangsan hitting 42.5C and Seoul forecast near 38C for several days. So far 16 heat-related deaths and more than 2,000 illnesses have been logged since May. Authorities have mobilized to counter health risks—water-spraying trucks, nurse checks for vulnerable residents, and drones delivering safety messages—while President Lee Jae Myung urges reforms to the national crisis system amid climate-change-driven extremes.
South Korea’s Kospi index fell about 7% as investors dumped AI-related stocks, with other Asian markets mixed amid a surge in oil prices, highlighting a broader risk-off mood in tech equities and energy-linked markets.
North Korea says it will deploy new artillery aimed at Seoul and will commission its first destroyer, the Choe Hyon, signaling a further expansion of its military capabilities.
North Korea said it will deploy 155-mm self-propelled guns with a range over 37 miles capable of hitting the Seoul area and will commission its first destroyer, the Choe Hyon, in coming weeks. Kim Jong Un inspected a munitions factory, oversaw testing, and rode the destroyer to review its maneuverability, with his teenage daughter aboard. The regime also rewrote its constitution to drop references to peaceful unification and signaled a harder line toward the South while planning further border artillery deployments and two additional destroyers.
North Korea said it will deploy new long-range artillery capable of striking the Seoul metropolitan area this year and will commission its first naval destroyer in coming weeks, a move Kim Jong Un showcased by visiting a munitions factory and inspecting the destroyer Choe Hyon. The weapons, including 155-mm self-propelled gun-howitzers with a range of over 60 kilometers, accompany broader border deployments and a hard‑line shift reflected in North Korea’s public stance, signaling increased tensions with South Korea as diplomacy remains stalled. Kim’s daughter was photographed aboard the destroyer during the public display.
AP News photos capture a quirky public event along Seoul's Han River where participants nap in a competitive setting, drawing spectators and photographers to a lighthearted photo gallery.
Seoul city data puts the March 21 BTS Gwanghwunam/City Hall crowd at about 76,000 (75,927 from 8–9pm), with around 19,000 foreigners in attendance. This contrasts with earlier estimates ranging from 48,000 to 260,000 and HYBE's 104,000, highlighting notable inconsistencies in crowd-size reporting for the event.
Authorities planned for about 260,000 fans to attend BTS’s first full-group show in four years at Gwanghwamun Square, livestreamed by Netflix, but turnout appeared far lower with figures ranging from around 48,000 (Seoul city) to 104,000 (Hybe), depending on counting methods and included sites; the gap has sparked debate over crowd estimates and whether public resources were justified for a private event, as businesses reported slower foot traffic and officials defended extensive security measures.
BTS thrilled tens of thousands in Seoul with their first concert in nearly four years after completing military service and solo projects, staging a high‑energy comeback at Gwanghwamun Square with a drone show, red landmarks, and purple branding tied to their Arirang album.
BTS makes a highly anticipated full-group return in Seoul, drawing up to 260,000 fans to Gwanghwamun Square with 22,000 entering a concert area, while Netflix streams the show globally and authorities deploy 7,000 police with anti-drone tech and strict access controls. The event, tied to the release of their new album Arirang, underscores Korea’s soft-power push and the tourism/economic impact around the capital, as city services and transit are rerouted in a bid to safely manage the crowd ahead of their world tour.
Apple is kicking off its 50th-anniversary celebrations with events around the world, including what appears to be a plaza performance at Chengdu’s Taikoo Li store amid a temporary closure, and a sold-out Today at Apple session featuring the K-pop group CORTIS at Seoul’s Myeongdong store, as part of March festivities ahead of its April 1, 2026 milestone, with photos promised on Apple Newsroom.
North Korea fired about 10 missiles toward the sea in a show of force, according to Seoul, amid ongoing U.S.-South Korea Freedom Shield exercises; no immediate casualties were reported and tensions on the peninsula remain high.