KIM MIN-YOUNG - koreajoongangdaily

KIM MIN-YOUNG

kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr

Man pointing at a screen displaying server racks in a data center.

Box in, box out, back to the front: Weflo becomes automated pit crew for war drones

The Korean startup is turning AI-based drone inspection and maintenance into a defense growth business, with new funding, a Poland deal and a push into the U.S. market.

2026.6.8

Steel rebar and construction equipment at an outdoor worksite beneath a cloudy sky.

Paju AI data center at heart of LG U+'s $3.3 billion order push

LG U+ says its new Paju data center, already fully contracted for its first building, will anchor a 5 trillion won push into AI infrastructure by 2030.

2026.6.7

Crew members aboard the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine perform a naval salute as the submarine arrives at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, on May 23 for a Korea-Canada joint naval exercise. [REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY]

Project Beaver: Korea's $2.23B offer to build hydrogen trucks in Canada to give submarine bid more bite

Korea has reportedly added an unexpected sweetener to its bid for Canada's multibillion-dollar submarine contract: a 3.1 billion Canadian dollars ($2.23 billion) plan to build hydrogen-powered trucks on Canadian soil.

2026.6.4

Chung Yong-jin, chairman of the Shinsegae Group, apologizes over the Starbucks Korea ″Tank Day″ controversy at the Josun Palace hotel in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on May 26, 2026. [YONHAP]

Want to know a Korean's political leanings? Ask them about the Starbucks Korea case.

The Starbucks Korea controversy over a "Tank Day" tumbler promotion sparked political division, leading to public apologies and boycotts, reflecting broader tensions in Korean society surrounding historic events and political affiliations.

2026.6.2

CJ Olive Young opens first U.S. store in Pasadena, attracting lines '400 meters long'

CJ Olive Young's first U.S. brick-and-mortar store drew a large crowd on its opening day on Friday, with "the line stretching as far as 400 meters (0.25 miles) long," according to the company.

2026.6.1

Boy band BoyNextDoor [KOZ ENTERTAINMENT]

BoyNextDoor's 'Home' is just around the corner as it celebrates 3rd debut anniversary

BoyNextDoor marked the third anniversary of its debut on Saturday, a week ahead of the release of its first full-length album, "Home," on June 8.

2026.5.30

K-pop rock pioneer FT Island to launch Asian 'FaTe' tour mid-June

FT Island, a boy band that popularized the K-pop rock genre in Korea in the 2000s, will hold concerts across Asia as part of its "FaTe" tour. The group is scheduled to begin the tour in Macau on June 13.

2026.5.30

BTS performs at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in May. [BIGHIT MUSIC]

BTS finishes 840,000-fan North American leg of 'Arirang' world tour

BTS wrapped up the North American leg of its “Arirang” world tour after performing for a total audience of about 840,000 people.

2026.5.30

A Mega Coffee branch in Seoul on April 1, 2025, left, and a Starbucks Korea store in Seoul on Jan. 24, 2025 [YONHAP, NEWS1]

The 'Tank Day' debacle cost Starbucks Korea big time. Who gained?

Starbucks Korea's local competitors recorded measurable gains in the two weeks following the company's botched "Tank Day" marketing campaign as the coffee chain lost sales and app traffic.

2026.5.29

The 3,000-ton ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho enters the Canadian naval base in Esquimalt, Victoria, on May 23, marking the first trans-Pacific voyage ever undertaken by a Korean submarine. [YONHAP]

Korea’s confidence grows against Germany in Canada's $40B submarine race

At the beginning of Canada’s closely watched $40 billion submarine bidding process, Korea appeared to be somewhat behind Germany, but the tide has since shifted.

2026.5.28