AI & Technology Law

OK SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- Global K-pop sensation BTS will return as a full group Friday, ending a hiatus of three years and nine months from group projects with the release of its fifth studio album, "Arirang." It will...

OK (ATTN: UPDATES with fan's remarks; ADDS byline) By Lee Haye-ah and Kim Seong-hun SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- Shops and restaurants in downtown Seoul were adorned in purple Thursday as businesses eagerly embraced the symbolic color of K-pop group...

OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- Most members of K-pop boy band The Boyz have demanded their exclusive contracts with their agency One Hundred be terminated, but on Thursday, it said it would not accept their request. Local law firm...

OK The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday. ----------------- ■ (LEAD) Uncertainty over U.S. monetary policy deepens amid Middle East crisis: BOK SEOUL -- Uncertainty over the path of U.S. monetary...

OK March 20 1902 -- A telephone line is established between Seoul and Incheon. 1958 -- A commercial airline starts flights between Seoul and Jeju. 1999 -- President Kim Dae-jung holds a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi at...

OK SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- The savings banking industry returned to the black last year from a year earlier, aided by a decline in loan-loss reserves, data showed Friday. The combined net profit of 79 savings banks nationwide reached...

OK SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- The delinquency rate on loans extended by local banks increased in January due to a rise in newly soured debts, data showed Friday. The delinquency rate on banks' won-denominated loans came to 0.56 percent...

President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed his expectation for Japan to "step up" to support the United States, as the U.S. military strives to keep the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route, open amid the ongoing war against...

Photograph: Amazon View image in fullscreen Alexa+ is launching in the UK for a limited time for eight years of compatible devices. Photograph: Amazon ‘Alright mate?’: Amazon pins UK hopes on AI upgrade of Alexa Long-awaited Alexa+ aims to get...

Binna Choi, artistic director for Korea at the 2026 Venice Biennale, speaks during a press conference at the Arts Council Korea on March 19, 2026. (Yonhap) At a press conference at the Arts Council Korea on Thursday, Choi said the...

OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The foreign ministry on Thursday renewed a call for its nationals in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon to promptly leave the countries for their safety, as the conflict in the region is escalating amid fears...

OK (ATTN: ADDS details in headline, lead, more info in bottom 2 paras) SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares ended almost 3 percent lower Thursday as concerns over inflation brewed after attacks on the Middle East's critical energy...

OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry said Thursday it will push to reform the Drone Operations Command into a military unit tasked with overseeing drone policy and education instead of its abolishment. The move is seen as...

OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- Police plan to set up three layers of barricades near the site of K-pop group BTS' comeback concert this weekend as part of preventative measures against potential terror threats, officials said Thursday. Acting National...

OK (ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with filibuster; CHANGES photo) By Yi Wonju SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Thursday introduced a prosecution reform bill aimed at separating investigative and indictment powers at a...

Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian Night buses will run to every Greater Manchester borough as Bee Network expands Changes revealed by Andy Burnham to support night-time economy follow rapid growth in ridership Night buses will run to every borough in Greater...

President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed his expectation for Japan to "step up" to support the United States, as the U.S. military strives to keep the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route, open amid the ongoing war against...

OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will provide US$2 million in humanitarian assistance to conflict-hit Lebanon, the foreign ministry said Thursday. The assistance will be financed through an emergency overseas assistance program of the state-run Korea International Cooperation...

Photograph: Ruben Sprich/Reuters Google co-founder spends $45m in fight against California billionaire tax Sergey Brin gives $25m on top of $20m he’s already given to Super Pac trying to block state’s proposed 5% wealth tax A Google founder has more...

OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Life Insurance Co. said Thursday it will sell around 1.32 trillion won (US$881.6 million) worth of its shares in Samsung Electronics Co. In a regulatory filing, Samsung Life said it decided to offload...

OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. will shut down its TV production plant in Slovakia, industry sources said Thursday. This undated photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. shows workers at the company's TV factory in Slovakia. (PHOTO...

OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Thursday inspected safety readiness at Incheon International Airport, the country's main gateway, as many fans are expected to visit for K-pop superband BTS' upcoming comeback show. Kim instructed officials...

OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- A police committee recommended Thursday that Rep. Jang Kyung-tae (C) of the ruling Democratic Party enters the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in the capital to attend an investigation on March 19, 2026. (Yonhap) (END)...

OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The CEO of QatarEnergy warned Thursday that the state-owned company may have to declare force majeure on long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) contracts with countries, including South Korea, for up to five years, a...

OK (ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead with latest; ADDS more details, comments in 2-3, 8, 11) SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean currency fell sharply to its weakest level in 17 years against the U.S. dollar Thursday amid intensifying...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the United States has no "definitive" time frame on ending the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, stressing "we are winning on our terms," while rejecting media speculation that the U.S. is moving toward an...

Photograph: Caia Image/Alamy View image in fullscreen Banks may not be changing the limits immediately but they are free to do so from now on. Photograph: Caia Image/Alamy UK banks keep £100 limit for contactless card payments despite FCA scrapping...

How the Iran war has left Europe facing yet another energy crisis 15 minutes ago Share Save Katya Adler Europe Editor Share Save BBC The knock-on effects of the conflict now whipping through the Middle East are awakening ghosts of...

South Africans say criminal gangs are exploiting the water crisis 13 minutes ago Share Save Mayeni Jones Africa correspondent, Johannesburg & Hammanskraal Share Save BBC Residents of parts of Johannesburg have had no mains water for over a month In...

OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- Nearly half of moviegoers reduced cinema visits over the past year due to a variety of factors, including rising costs and the growing appeal of streaming services, a recent survey showed Thursday. The Korean...