SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. unveiled its new flagship Galaxy S21 series phones on Friday, featuring trendy K-pop acts such as megastar BTS and eccentric alternative group Leenalchi, as the South Korean tech giant eyes capturing young smartphone users around the world. The South Korean smartphone maker introduced the Galaxy S21 series, which comes in three models -- the 6.2-inch S21, the 6.7-inch S21+ and the 6.8-inch S21 Ultra -- at the livestreamed online Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event that drew in a total of 57 million viewers globally, more than South Korea's 51 million population. Mega group BTS was featured throughout the online event in demonstrations of the new phones as well as Samsung's new wireless earbuds, Galaxy Buds Pro. The K-pop act has played a major role in Samsung's new product launches, with the company releasing a BTS edition of its Galaxy S20+ smartphone last year. Leenalchi, a Korean band that raked in millions of views with it

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SEOUL, Jan. 1 (Yonhap) -- Star actor Hyun Bin and his on-screen partner in the hit drama "Crash Landing On You," Son Ye-jin, have been dating for eight months, their agencies confirmed Friday. "The two have become intimate as co-stars and have developed such intimacy into a romantic one as lovers after the series concluded," said VAST Entertainment, the management of Hyun Bin, in a statement. The two had repeatedly denied the dating rumors. Rumors had particularly intensified during their costarring on "Crash Landing On You," tvN's hit rom-com TV series that launched in December 2019, even followed by reports that the two were arranging a wedding. The acknowledgement also came from Son's agency, including the fact that the relationship began in March, a month after the conclusion of the TV show. Hyun and Son, both born in 1982, achieved global fame on both the small and silver screens of various genres. Hyun rose to stardom in 2003 via the sitcom "Nonstop 4"

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(ATTN: ADDS photo, details from government meeting on the case in last 5 paras) By Woo Jae-yeon SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- The horrific death of a 16-month-old allegedly abused by her adoptive parents has triggered an outpouring of grief nationwide and anger over many missed chances to save her. The girl, named Jung-in, died at a hospital in western Seoul on Oct. 13, hours after she was taken to the hospital by her adoptive mother. The National Forensic Service concluded that she died of severe abdominal injuries and internal bleeding that were caused by "strong external force applied on her back." Signs of prolonged abuse, such as fractured bones and bruises, were also found on her once-healthy body. Last month, prosecutors charged the adoptive mother, surnamed Jang, with child abuse resulting in death, emotional abuse and neglect. She has been in pretrial detention. The adoptive father was charged with child abuse and neglect. Jung-in's case has gained renewed nation

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JEJU, South Korea, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- Police said Wednesday they have discovered a pile of unidentified cash worth 8.1 billion won (US$7.4 million) at a resort casino on Jeju Island, potentially linked to an alleged money theft by an employee. The Jeju Provincial Police Agency said investigators are trying to confirm whether the bank notes discovered randomly at a safe at the casino are part of the cash pile worth 14.56 billion won that went missing from the Landing Casino at Jeju Shinhwa World last week. Investigators have also discovered a separate pile of money worth several billion won at the residence of a female Malaysian executive, a key suspect in the case, who was in charge of handling funds at the casino. Landing International Development Ltd., the Hong Kong-based operator of the Jeju casino, disclosed the cash disappearance on its website last week and filed a police report through its local affiliate, Landing Entertainment Korea. Last week, police emba

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SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea ranked 6th in the world in terms of military strength this year, an annual military power index showed. According to Global Firepower (GFP) 2021, South Korea had a firepower index of 0.1621 to stand at the 6th out of 138 countries. The country's ranking remains the same as last year. The index took into account more than 50 factors, with categories ranging from military might and financials to logistical capability and geography. The lower the index, the stronger a country's military. North Korea ranked 28th in the world with 0.4684 this year, down from last year's 25th, according to the index. The U.S. topped the list, followed by Russia, China, India and Japan. graceoh@yna.co.kr

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SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korean rapper Iron, disgraced by a string of assault and other scandals, was found dead at an apartment in Seoul on Monday, police said. Iron, whose real name is Chung Heon-chul, was found bleeding and lying on the grass by an apartment guard around 10:25 a.m. before being transported to hospital and pronounced dead, police said. Police opened an investigation into the exact cause of his death. The 28-year-old Iron gained fame after becoming a semifinalist in the third season of cable music channel Mnet's hip-hop audition program "Show Me the Money" in 2014. Iron was briefly detained last month for allegedly assaulting his 18-year-old roommate with a baseball bat at his home in the central Seoul ward of Yongsan. The roommate was reported to be Iron's student, who was living at his home to learn about music. In 2018, Iron was sentenced by a court to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, for punching his girlfriend in the h

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SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- Superstar BTS has swept the 2021 Gaon Chart Music Awards with six trophies for its successful albums and songs released last year. At the annual awards ceremony held virtually on Wednesday due to the new coronavirus pandemic, the K-pop act won three trophies in the "Artist of the Year - Digital Music" category and two in the "Artist of the Year - Physical Album" category. The awards are given to 12 digital songs that topped the chart each month and four physical albums that sold the most on a quarterly basis. "On," the main track of the group's fourth full album "Map of the Soul: 7"; global megahit song "Dynamite"; and "Life Goes On," the main track of the group's latest EP "BE," were chosen as the best songs for February, August and November of last year, respectively, based on chart statistics. Among four trophies for physical albums, BTS took home two with "Map of the Soul: 7" and "BE." The group also picked up the "Retail Album of the

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SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Yonhap) -- The demotion of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's powerful sister at an ongoing party congress is raising questions over whether it signals any change in her status in the top echelons of power. During the sixth-day session of the party's eighth congress in Pyongyang on Sunday, Kim Yo-jong, the leader's younger sister, was not listed as a member nor as an alternate member of the party's politburo, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Her absence on the politburo list drew a sharp contrast with South Korean intelligence authorities' assessment that the younger Kim is "the de facto No. 2 leader" steering overall state affairs. They earlier predicted that she would be elevated to a higher party rank in the party congress. Observers said that it is premature to determine where Kim Yo-jong stands in the top party echelons based on the recent reshuffle, given her pedigree and the great trust the leader places in her. Kim Yo-j

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SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- D.O., member of K-pop boy band EXO, has completed his mandatory military service and was officially discharged Monday. D.O., whose legal name is Doh Kyung-soo, was recently on his final leave and was discharged without having to return to his base, according to the military's COVID-19 guidelines, according to SM Entertainment. In a handwritten note posted on fan community Lysn, the 28-year-old thanked fans for waiting and said he will do his best in upcoming activities. D.O., who enlisted in July 2019, is the second EXO member to complete mandatory military service. Band member Xiumin was discharged last month. Members Chen and Suho are serving their terms. mlee@yna.co.kr

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YONGIN, South Korea, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- Seungri, the disgraced former member of K-pop boy band BIGBANG, has been additionally indicted for allegedly mobilizing gang members to threaten people he got into a fight with at a bar. Prosecutors on Thursday added the charge for the 31-year-old, according to the general military court under the Ground Operations Command in Yongin, about 50 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Seungri, whose legal name is Lee Seung-hyun, was at the center of a major sex and drug scandal that roiled the country in 2019. Last January, he was charged on eight counts, including overseas gambling, prostitution mediation and embezzlement. The Seoul Central District Court was to try his case, but the case was transferred to the military court as the scandal-ridden celebrity joined the Army in March. In the latest hearing, the prosecutors accused him of conspiring with his business partner Yoo In-suk, former chief of Yuri Holdings Co., to mobilize gang mem

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