SEOUL, June 1 — An explosion at a plant run by South Korean defence firm Hanwha Aerospace killed five people on Monday, local fire authorities said.

The explosion was reported to authorities at around 11 am at Hanwha’s plant in Daejeon, about 150 kilometres south of Seoul.

A representative of the Daejeon Fire Headquarters told AFP that five people have died and two others were injured, without providing further details.

The blast is believed to have happened inside the factory according to authorities speaking with Yonhap news agency.

Hanwha Aerospace is a major South Korean defence manufacturer which produces weapons, artillery systems and aerospace components.

Its Daejeon facility focuses on research and development, including advanced weapons technologies and space-related systems.

A Hanwha representative told AFP “the exact circumstances and extent of the damage have not yet been fully determined. The fire has not yet been completely extinguished”.

President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials to mobilise all available resources to bring the fire under control, his office said. — AFP

 

SEOUL, June 2 — A reporter who published allegations about the private life of former The Boyz member Ju Haknyeon has been indicted on defamation charges, according to prosecutors.

Star Today reported that the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office charged the reporter — identified only as “A” — without detention last month under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilisation and Information Protection. Prosecutors said the indictment followed a review of statements from the reporter, officials from Ju’s former agency One Hundred, and transcripts of conversations involving the singer.

The case stems from an article published in June last year alleging that Ju, 27, had engaged in prostitution with former Japanese adult film actress Kirara Asuka and later admitted to it after initially denying the claim. The report triggered a wave of controversy, prompting One Hundred to announce Ju’s departure from The Boyz and the termination of his exclusive contract.

At the time, the agency said it viewed the matter as serious and believed trust in the artist could not be maintained. Ju rejected the allegations, saying he had been “reported as a sex offender without any basis,” and filed legal complaints against the reporter and the media outlet.

Separately, a citizen petition seeking an investigation into the prostitution allegation was submitted through the government’s e‑People portal. However, police closed the case without referral, saying the complaint relied solely on an online article and lacked specific grounds to justify an investigation.

The reporter’s case will now proceed to trial.   

 

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

handwritten on slide, "3 Drums, Seoul, Korea, Chosem Hotel, July 1957"

SEOUL, June 2 — Pickleball is gaining momentum across South Korea, with participation rising among both younger and older players and public facilities struggling to keep up with demand.

According to reporting by The Korea Herald, the sport has shifted from a niche pastime for seniors to a fast‑growing recreational activity attracting office workers, foreign residents and former tennis players. The trend has become visible enough that Seoul opened a 14‑court pickleball complex at Gwangnaru Hangang Park in April, one of the city’s largest dedicated facilities.

Coaches say pickleball’s accessibility is a major driver of its growth. Cho Min‑jung, a former Korea Tennis Association board member who converted her indoor tennis centre into a pickleball venue, told the Herald that worsening economic conditions have pushed more people toward sports that require less time, money and physical strain than tennis. She noted that beginners can rally almost immediately, making the sport easier to pick up.

Google Trends data cited by Korea Herald shows Korean search interest rising through 2024 and surging sharply toward the end of 2025, reflecting the sport’s growing visibility.

Celebrity mentions have helped fuel interest, mirroring trends seen in the US.

Variety‑show personalities such as Jun Hyun‑moo and martial artist Choo Sung‑hoon have featured the sport on television, while BTS members Jin, V and RM recently discussed playing pickleball during a livestream. Videos of the group playing overseas circulated widely online, drawing attention from younger fans.

Foreign residents familiar with pickleball from abroad have also contributed to early growth. Korean American players interviewed said expat groups created spreadsheets and community guides to help people find courts, which later drew in more local players.

The sport’s rapid rise has created pressure on public courts. Lee Chul‑hee, former president of the Seongdong‑gu Pickleball Association, told the Herald that overcrowding is now common, especially in areas like Seoul Forest where multiple clubs share limited space.

Some groups have begun renting private gymnasiums to secure playing time, raising concerns about unequal access.

Lee also noted that some outdoor hard courts are tough on seniors’ knees, even though older players remain a significant part of the community.

Despite questions about whether pickleball might be another short‑lived lifestyle trend, players and coaches interviewed by The Korea Herald believe the sport has staying power. They point to its affordability, social nature and suitability for casual exercise — factors that align with broader shifts in how younger Koreans approach leisure.

Community estimates cited in the article suggest there were roughly 5,000 players in 2023, but participation has risen steadily as more courts and clubs appear nationwide.

 

 

SEOUL, June 10 — The leaders of North Korea and China have adopted a “far-reaching blueprint” for bilateral ties during Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Pyongyang, the Korean Central News Agency said today. 

China’s president made a rare visit to North Korea on Monday after hosting a series of world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, in Beijing.

“Comrade Kim Jong Un and Comrade Xi Jinping expressed satisfaction and deep emotion over the fact that they provided a far-reaching blueprint for the development of the relations,” KCNA, the country’s official news agency reported.

During the two-day visit, which Xi made with his wife, “the countries further deepened the revolutionary friendship and close comradely relationship and affirmed their steadfast will to develop the traditional DPRK-China friendly ties into a model of the most powerful and strategic relations,” the KCNA dispatch said.

As part of the visit, Xi and Kim toured the Central Cadres Training School of the Workers’ Party, where they discussed the training of party officials and planted a commemorative tree, before visiting the Friendship Tower memorial honouring Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean War.

Kim later hosted Xi and their wives for a luncheon before accompanying the Chinese leader to the airport for his departure.

Following his trip, Xi sent Kim a letter of gratitude, in which he said the two leaders “made an in-depth exchange of views on the issues of mutual interest and achieved a series of important common understanding”, according to KCNA.

The talks, Xi wrote to Kim, “showed the firm determination of both sides to add luster to the traditional friendship, promote development and prosperity together and defend peace and stability in the region and the rest of the world”, the KCNA dispatch said.

Kim, whose country has been historically reliant on China, has drawn closer to Moscow in recent years while expanding his country’s nuclear weapons programme.

He boosted an alliance with Putin after sending troops to fight alongside Russian forces against Ukraine.

But China, Washington’s chief geopolitical rival, has been North Korea’s main trading partner by far for decades and a key source of diplomatic and economic support for a country hit by international sanctions.

Xi’s trip comes just weeks after he held talks with Trump, during which the White House said the leaders “confirmed their shared goal to denuclearise North Korea”. — AFP

 

SEOUL, June 2 — More couples will soon be able to hold weddings at Korea’s royal palaces, with the Korea Heritage Service set to expand its outdoor wedding program to Deoksugung next year.

The agency told The Korea Herald that the initiative, launched in April at Gyeongbokgung Palace, was designed to ease wedding costs for young couples while opening historic palace spaces to the public. The response was immediate: 293 couples from 15 countries applied for just 16 available slots.   

Following the strong demand, the Heritage Service increased the number of participating couples from 16 to 28 and extended the program by two weeks. The fall season will now run across six weekends from October to early November, with two ceremonies held each Saturday and Sunday near the ginkgo tree at the National Palace Museum of Korea inside Gyeongbokgung.

Each wedding can host around 100 guests, and couples may choose either a modern ceremony or a traditional Korean one. The museum provides the venue, an indoor reception hall and up to 1 million won (US$660) in event support.   

Beginning next year, the program will operate in both spring and fall. As part of the expansion, the agency is considering the lawn in front of Seokjojeon Hall at Deoksugungas an additional venue, marking the first time the program will extend beyond Gyeongbokgung.