In Korea, September brings more than just fall foliage as a deluge of art exhibitions and sales sweeps across the country to coincide with the return of two mega-fairs: Frieze and Kiaf Seoul.

Seoul Auction, Korea’s oldest auction house, is among the big-shot local players jostling for the attention of incoming collectors during the frenzied Seoul Art Week. Its eight-story Gangnam Center is already abuzz with an array of genre-spanning exhibitions, ranging from a contemporary art showcase to a display of centuries-old European antique jewelry.

Unfolding as part of the company’s “Connect Seoul” initiative, which began last year, are a handful of simultaneous presentations — “Yoshitomo Nara,” an exhibition of 30 paintings and sculptures by the Japanese art star; “Mindfulness,” a rendezvous between painter Lee Ufan and ceramist Park Young-sook; and “Contemporary Art Sale,” a preview of its Sept. 10 marquee auction.

The auction house is also collaborating with Hong Kong’s K11 Art Foundation and Paris-based antique dealer Les Enluminures to host the “Lunar Water” media art show and the “European 카지노 Heritage” jewelry exhibition, respectively.

Taking the helm of this ambitiously scaled program is Hong Chang-hee, sales director of Seoul Auction’s partner team. He explained that one of the primary goals of “Connect Seoul” is to demonstrate the discerning taste and caliber of Korean collectors to the international arts community during the country’s busiest cultural week.

“We’re not a museum or gallery, so we don’t directly receive works from artists or exhibit our own collection,” he told The Korea Times in an interview Friday. “Instead, when organizing blockbuster shows like these, we reach out to collectors with whom we have long-standing relationships to feature pieces from their trove.”

Among the gems amassed by Korean connoisseurs on view are the 1.2-meter-long painting titled “Green Eyes” by Nara, which has seldom been seen by the public since its acquisition, as well as ceramic master Park’s large, luminous moon jars and new white porcelain assemblages adorned with Lee’s meditative brushstrokes.

Children’s bicycles sold here by Chinese online platform AliExpress have been found to contain a hazardous substance exceeding the South Korean standard by about 260 times, the Seoul city government said Wednesday.

The city government said it has conducted a safety examination on 16 kinds of children’s products sold on AliExpress, such as inline skates, kickboards, bicycles, glasses and sunglasses, and half of them were found to contain hazardous substances exceeding domestic standards or were not durable enough.

An inspection of two child bike models from the Chinese platform found that the seat from one of them contained phthalate plasticizers exceeding the allowable level by 258 times, the 추천 government noted. Phthalate plasticizers are endocrine disruptors that can affect reproductive function and cause eye or skin irritation upon contact.

In the other bike product, the level of phthalate plasticizers exceeded the domestic standards by 240 times, while about 1.5 times the permissible level of lead was detected in the plastic part of the bell, it added.

In addition, two models of inline skates were found to contain excessive amounts of phthalate plasticizers and cracked and broke during performance tests, the city government said.

K-pop phenomenon ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) has released its fourth mini album, “CINEMA PARADISE,” Monday, making a quick return to the music scene in just three months after its previous release. The heart-stealing boy band is now bound to make new waves with tracks that promise to be another hit.

Formed last year through Mnet’s survival audition show “Boys Planet,” ZB1 consists of nine selected members — Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Sung Han-bin, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook and Han Yu-jin. The group’s inception was entirely determined by global audiences’ votes during the show.

Proving its global appeal, ZB1 became the first K-pop group to achieve million-seller status with each of its first three albums, all within a day of their release — an impressive feat for a 스포츠 rookie group.

Continuing the success streak, the group’s newly released album, “CINEMA PARADISE,” aims to captivate listeners more than ever before. To celebrate the release, ZB1 members gathered Monday at a press event at BlueSquare Mastercard Hall in Seoul’s Yongsan District.

“I’m happy to be able to return to ZEROSE (ZB1’s official fandom) for the fourth time after a year together,” Kim Gyu-vin said.

Teasing the album’s contents, Kim Ji-woong added, “We’ve included ZB1’s refreshing vibes as well as a movie-like storyline in this album, so please look forward to it.”

The Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA), a government authority overseeing the welfare and interests of Koreans living abroad, will host an export conference to connect local cosmetics companies with potential overseas buyers.

The conference, co-hosted with Incheon Metropolitan City, will take place at Songdo Convensia in the port city, Thursday, as part of the 2024 World Korean Business Forum.

OKA Commissioner Lee Sang-deok and Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok will deliver congratulatory speeches, with L&K Cosmetics Chairman Kwon Yong-soo opening the conference with a keynote address on the expansion of K-beauty and strategies for the growth of Korean business networks.

Following the keynote address, National Federation of Beauty Supplies Chairman Cho Won-hyeong is expected to discuss the current state and future prospects of Korean cosmetics in the U.S. market. Aju Cosmetic CEO Hwang In-seok will then address export strategies for small and medium-sized cosmetics companies.

In the conference’s discussion session, Kyungin Women’s College professor Ko Sung-hyun will emphasize the critical role of human resources and business-academia cooperation. Small 한국을 and Medium Business Distribution Center official Um Dong-ki will present the government’s initiatives to help local cosmetics companies expand overseas, while Exprive CEO Baek Seung-min will discuss the impact of foreign social media influencers on the cosmetics industry.

Around 20 buyers from 14 countries are expected to attend the conference’s afternoon session, where they will meet with local cosmetics manufacturers to explore potential partnerships.

“We believe there are chances especially for small and medium-sized companies in the cosmetics industry. We hope to see some tangible results through the conference,” an OKA official said

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz will play doubles together for Spain at the upcoming Paris Olympics, the Spanish tennis federation said Wednesday.

The announcement comes three days after the 21-year-old Alcaraz won the French Open for the first time — earning his third Grand Slam trophy.

The same courts used for the French Open each year will host Olympic tennis . Nadal has won the French Open a record 14 times.

Alcaraz, who will play in his first Olympics, is widely seen as the heir to Nadal in Spanish tennis, and has frequently remarked that Nadal was his childhood hero.

“Rafa and Carlos will be playing together in Paris,” said Spain 커뮤니티 captain David Ferrer while announcing the squad.

Alcaraz has set winning an Olympic medal for Spain as one of his top career goals. He said after winning at Roland Garros that this year he would prefer a gold medal at the Paris Olympics over successfully defending his Wimbledon title.

“The Olympic Games are every four years and it’s a special tournament where you’re not only playing for yourself, but for a country, representing every Spaniard,” the No. 2-ranked Alcaraz said. “I think this year I’d choose Olympic gold.”

Korean sophomore Kim Seong-hyeon sits four strokes off the opening-round lead at the U.S. Open.

Kim shot one-under 69 to sit in a six-way tie for ninth place after the first round of the men’s third major tournament of the season at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina, on Thursday (local time). Kim had three birdies and two bogeys on the par-70, 7,548-yard track.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Patrick Cantlay of the United States are tied for the lead after shooting 65s.

Kim is the top Korean player among a half-dozen in the field this week. Kim Si-woo and Tom Kim are tied for 34th after each shooting a 71.

Im Sung-jae, An Byeong-hun and Kang Sung-hoon all shot 74s — Im and Kang with two birdies against six bogeys, and An with four bogeys.

The U.S. Open also serves as the last opportunity for golfers 추천 to get into the Paris Olympics. The 60-man field for the Olympic tournament in Paris will be determined based on the world rankings after Sunday’s final round.

A country can send up to four golfers if they are all ranked in the top 15 and a maximum of two players if they are positioned outside the top 15.

After the top 15, the remaining spots will go to the highest-ranked players from countries that don’t already have at least two golfers qualified. Each nation can have a maximum of two players in this scenario.

Korea currently doesn’t have a top-15 player. Tom Kim is the highest-ranked Korean at No. 22, with An right behind him at No. 23.

Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to appear in a European Championship as Spain’s new generation brushed aside Croatia’s challenge 3-0 in their opening game on Saturday.

And the Spanish did it without dominating ball possession for the first time in 136 competitive games tallied by stats analyst Opta. Spain had only 46 percent possession against Croatia, according to UEFA.

Yamal, aged 16 years, 338 days, also became the youngest to set up a goal at the tournament when he crossed for Dani Carvajal to score Spain’s third goal before the break.

The 21-year-old Nico Williams starred on the other flank for Spain, which is going for its fourth European title.

Midfielder Fabián Ruiz scored one goal and set up the opener 스포츠 for captain Álvaro Morata in a dominant performance from the team in red.

“We have to stay wary, stay calm and be proud. We have to keep improving in the next game,” Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said. He warned Spanish journalists not to get carried away. “We just have to stay calm and be professional.”

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón saved a penalty in the 80th from substitute Bruno Petkovi?, who thought he scored when Ivan Peri?i? sent in the rebound. But the goal was ruled out after a VAR review as Peri?i? was too keen and encroached on the penalty area before Petkovi? took the spot kick.

Defending champion Italy was playing Albania in the other Group B game later.

Korean sophomore An Narin has collected her second top-10 finish of the 2024 LPGA season, coming up a handful of strokes shy of ending the country’s long title drought on the top women’s golf tour.

An was the top-performing South Korean player at ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway, New Jersey, on Sunday (local time), as she tied for sixth place at 10-under 203 in this 54-hole event.

An shot a two-under 69 in an up-and-down final round at Seaview Resort’s Bay Course that featured six birdies and four bogeys.

Linnea Strom of Sweden shot a tournament-record 60 in the final round to erase a seven-shot deficit to win the tournament at 14-under. Korea’s Jenny Shin, the overnight leader who began the final round at 10-under, finished tied for ninth at nine-under after submitting a 72 on Sunday.

This was the 14th tournament of the 2024 season, and Korea, once a dominant force in women’s golf, has yet to produce a winner. It is the second-longest winless drought to begin a season since 2000, when Grace Park won the 16th tournament of the campaign.

Strom’s 60, which featured nine birdies and an eagle, was 한국을 the lowest final-round score by a winner in LPGA history. The previous mark was a 61 by the Korean champion Park In-bee at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic in 2014.

Shin, looking for her first win since 2016, birdied the third hole but then had a double bogey on the very next hole. She managed just one birdie against one bogey the rest of the way

Suga, a member of the K-pop juggernaut BTS, will be summoned by police for questioning on suspicions that he drove an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol last week.

According to police, Sunday, the 31-year-old rapper will soon be questioned at the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul for allegedly driving an electric scooter under the influence in the Hannam neighborhood on Aug. 6.

This case came to light when a police officer found Suga lying on the ground at 11:27 p.m. Noting the smell of alcohol, the officer took him to a nearby station, where his blood alcohol content was measured at 0.227 percent, well above the 0.08 percent threshold for license revocation.

The investigation will likely focus on whether Suga was 커뮤니티 aware that he was violating the Road Traffic Act, which prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol.

The day after the incident, Suga released a statement admitting to drinking alcohol before riding the electric scooter but claimed he was unaware that he was breaking the law.

Violators of the law, which applies to drivers of cars and electric scooters alike, could face a maximum prison sentence of five years or a fine of up to 20 million won ($14,000) if their blood alcohol content is 0.2 percent or higher.

Since September 2023, Suga has been serving as a public service worker, an alternative form of the country’s compulsory military service.

The filming for renowned Korean director Park Chan-wook’s new movie is set to begin Saturday with a cast including Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, the film’s distributor said Monday.

The film, tentatively titled “I Can’t Help It,” centers on Man-soo, a middle-aged man who, after being suddenly fired from a paper company, becomes determined to find a new job and deals with those standing in his way, according to CJ ENM.

The flick is based on the mystery novel “The Ax” by American writer Donald E. Westlake.

“Concrete Utopia” star Lee Byung-hun will portray 추천 the main character, Man-soo. This marks his third collaboration with the Cannes award-winning director after “JSA” (2000) and “Three… Extremes” (2004).

Son Ye-jin, known for the popular TV series “Crash Landing on You” (2019-2020) and the movie “The Negotiation” (2018), will play the role of Man-soo’s cheerful and mentally strong wife, A-ra.

The cast also includes Lee Sung-min from “Handsome Guys” (2024), Yeom Hye-ran from the popular Netflix original “The Glory” (2022), Cha Seung-won of “Believer 2” (2023), “Hospital Playlist” (2020) star Yoo Yeon-seok and Park Hee-soon of “The Policeman’s Lineage”