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  • Ha Ji-won First Korean Actor to Throw Pitch at Fenway

    Ha Ji-won First Korean Actor to Throw Pitch at Fenway

    As of July 21, 2026, actress Ha Ji-won has become the first Korean actor to take the mound at Boston's Fenway Park, throwing a ceremonial first pitch at the Red Sox-Orioles game on July 21 local time. The appearance is part of a global fan outreach event organized by Major League Baseball.

    July 21Ha Ji-won's scheduled first pitch date at Fenway Park (local time)
    July 16Date Ha Ji-won threw a first pitch at Jamsil Baseball Stadium
    12 yearsGap since Ha Ji-won's previous first pitch in Korean pro baseball

    Key points

    • Ha Ji-won threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Boston Red Sox-Baltimore Orioles game at Fenway Park on July 21 local time.
    • She is the first Korean actor to throw a first pitch at Fenway Park.
    • She previously threw a first pitch at a Korean professional baseball game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on July 16.
    • The Fenway Park appearance was arranged as part of Major League Baseball's global fan outreach initiative.

    Actress Ha Ji-won is stepping onto the Major League Baseball stage. On July 21 local time, she'll throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Boston Red Sox-Baltimore Orioles game at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. It marks the first time a Korean actor has thrown a first pitch at the historic ballpark.

    The invitation comes as part of a Major League Baseball initiative that blends sports and pop culture to connect with fans around the world. Ha's team said she was grateful for the invitation to such a meaningful event and hopes to create good memories with the players, the local Korean community, and baseball fans from around the globe who come to the ballpark.

    This isn't Ha's first time on the mound this month. On July 16, she threw the first pitch at a Korean professional baseball game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul — her first appearance on a Korean mound in 12 years. With the Fenway Park appearance following less than two weeks later, she's connecting with baseball fans in two countries in quick succession.

    Ha has recently been broadening her range of activities, appearing as a college freshman on a web variety show aimed at connecting with younger viewers, and she's set to return to Korean theaters with a new film in September.

    In Korea right nowIn Korea, the news that a Korean actress will throw a pitch at one of American baseball's most iconic ballparks has drawn an enthusiastic response. Coming so soon after her domestic first pitch, the moment is being cited as another example of how sports can showcase Korean entertainment figures and content to a global audience.

    FAQ

    When and where is Ha Ji-won throwing the first pitch?

    On July 21 local time, at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, during the Boston Red Sox-Baltimore Orioles game.

    What makes this first pitch notable?

    She is the first Korean actor to throw a ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park.

    Has Ha Ji-won thrown any other recent first pitches?

    Yes — she threw the first pitch at a Korean professional baseball game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on July 16, her first in 12 years.

    📎 원문 보기 · Sources

    SBS NEWS 기사 이미지Ha Ji-won First Korean Actor to Throw Pitch at FenwaySBS NEWS · Jul 21, 2026하지원, 한국 배우 최초로 보스턴 펜웨이 파크에서 시구Read the full story & photos at the source →
    텐아시아 기사 이미지Ha Ji-won First Korean Actor to Throw Pitch at Fenway텐아시아 · Jul 20, 2026하지원, 韓 최초로 MLB 펜웨이 파크서 시구 | 텐아시아Read the full story & photos at the source →
    이투데이 기사 이미지Ha Ji-won First Korean Actor to Throw Pitch at Fenway이투데이 · Jul 20, 2026하지원, 한국 배우 최초 MLB 펜웨이 파크 시구…21일 보스턴-볼티모어전Read the full story & photos at the source →
    Ha Ji-won First Korean Actor to Throw Pitch at Fenway뉴스1 · Jul 20, 2026하지원, 韓 배우 최초 펜웨이 파크 시구…美 MLB 보스턴 vs 볼티모어 전Read the full story & photos at the source →

  • ‘Train to Busan’ Gets 4K Rerelease for 10th Anniversary

    ‘Train to Busan’ Gets 4K Rerelease for 10th Anniversary

    As of July 21, 2026, the zombie disaster film 'Train to Busan' is returning to theaters overseas in a 4K remaster next month to mark its 10th anniversary. The rerelease kicks off in the Philippines, followed by North America, Japan, and Italy, with North American screen counts more than 10 times higher than at the film's 2016 debut, topping 500 theaters.

    11.57 millionCumulative domestic admissions after the film's 2016 release
    500+ theatersConfirmed North American screen count for this rerelease
    138 billion won (~$93.5M)Combined domestic and international box office revenue

    Key points

    • Distributor NEW announced the international rerelease schedule for the 4K remaster of 'Train to Busan' on July 21.
    • The rerelease begins August 5 in the Philippines, followed by North America on August 14, Japan on August 21, and Italy on September 2.
    • Additional releases are being planned in Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Spain, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
    • The film drew 11.57 million admissions in Korea after its 2016 release and screened in a Midnight Screenings section at the Cannes Film Festival.

    Director Yeon Sang-ho's zombie disaster film 'Train to Busan' is heading back to overseas theaters next month to mark its 10th anniversary. Distributor NEW announced on July 21 that the newly remastered 4K version will open first in the Philippines on August 5. North America follows on August 14, Japan on August 21, and Italy on September 2.

    The scale of the North American rerelease stands out. The film had only limited screenings in select markets during its original 2016 run, but this time it's confirmed for more than 500 screens — over 10 times the reach a decade ago. NEW says it also plans to expand into Latin American markets including Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Spain, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia.

    The film follows passengers fighting to survive aboard a KTX high-speed train from Seoul to Busan as a mysterious virus spreads. Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, and Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee) star, and the film became the launchpad for what's since grown into Yeon's so-called "Yeonniverse" of interconnected projects.

    Before its official 2016 release, 'Train to Busan' earned early buzz by screening in a Midnight Screenings section at the Cannes Film Festival. It went on to draw 11.57 million admissions in Korea, with combined domestic and international box office revenue reaching roughly $93.5 million — about 138 billion won.

    Lee Jung-ha, CEO of Contents Panda, which is handling the overseas distribution, said the film is finally getting a full wide release in North America a decade after its limited 2016 debut there. He added that since the film was what first put Korean-style zombie movies on the map globally, he hopes this rerelease brings new audiences fresh enjoyment.

    In Korea right nowIn Korea, 'Train to Busan' is widely regarded as the film that kicked off the K-zombie genre, setting the template for the wave of Korean zombie titles that followed. Ten years after its release, news of a major overseas rerelease has Korean film fans pointing to it as fresh proof of K-content's staying power abroad.

    FAQ

    What is 'Train to Busan' about?

    It's a 2016 Korean zombie disaster film about passengers on a KTX high-speed train from Seoul to Busan fighting to survive after a mysterious virus breaks out.

    When and where can international audiences see it again?

    The 4K remaster opens August 5 in the Philippines, then rolls out August 14 in North America, August 21 in Japan, and September 2 in Italy, with additional releases planned across Latin America and in Spain.

    Why is it being rereleased now?

    This year marks the 10th anniversary of its 2016 debut, so the distributor remastered the film in 4K to mark the occasion with a fresh overseas run.

    📎 원문 보기 · Sources

    SBS NEWS 기사 이미지‘Train to Busan’ Gets 4K Rerelease for 10th AnniversarySBS NEWS · Jul 21, 2026개봉 10주년 맞은 천만영화 '부산행' 해외서 재개봉한다Read the full story & photos at the source →
    이투데이 기사 이미지‘Train to Busan’ Gets 4K Rerelease for 10th Anniversary이투데이 · Jul 20, 2026'부산행' 재개봉 확정⋯공유ㆍ마동석 조합 돌아온다Read the full story & photos at the source →
    일간스포츠 기사 이미지‘Train to Busan’ Gets 4K Rerelease for 10th Anniversary일간스포츠 · Jul 20, 2026연상호 ‘부산행’, 10년 만에 다시 극장으로…4K 글로벌 재개봉 - 일간스포츠Read the full story & photos at the source →
    ‘Train to Busan’ Gets 4K Rerelease for 10th Anniversary세계일보 · Jul 20, 202610주년 '부산행' 관객 다시 만난다…글로벌 재개봉Read the full story & photos at the source →

  • Samsung Creates Robot Unit, Bets Big on Humanoids

    Samsung Creates Robot Unit, Bets Big on Humanoids

    As of July 21, 2026, Samsung Electronics has launched a new robot division that reports directly to the CEO's office, with Device eXperience (DX) division head Noh Tae-moon taking on leadership of the unit himself. Humanoid robots — human-shaped machines — are the top priority, and Samsung is consolidating scattered robotics hardware and software teams to speed up commercialization.

    56 trillion won (~$40B)Goldman Sachs' projected size of the global humanoid robot market by 2035
    88%Share of humanoid robots launched worldwide last year that were made in China
    $5 trillionMorgan Stanley's forecast for the maximum size of the global humanoid market by 2050
    2030Samsung's target year for fully automating its domestic and overseas production plants

    Key points

    • Samsung Electronics has set up a robot-dedicated division reporting directly to the CEO's office, with DX division head Noh Tae-moon serving as its concurrent leader.
    • The company plans to first validate humanoid technology on its own factory floors before gradually expanding into the broader market.
    • A new facility for handling robot training data will be built at the Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province plant.
    • Former Hyundai Motor Group personnel and university professors specializing in robotics research are joining the new division.

    Samsung Electronics is reorganizing to turn robotics into its next major growth engine. On July 21, the company announced it has formed a new robot-dedicated division led personally by Noh Tae-moon, co-CEO and head of the Device eXperience (DX) division. The reshuffle's core aim: consolidate hardware, AI, software, and product planning staff — previously scattered across multiple departments — under a single chain of command.

    The new division's first target is the humanoid robot — machines built to move and function like humans. Samsung's approach is to deploy robots in industrial settings, like its own factories, to prove out performance first, then gradually expand into other markets. To feed that effort, the company plans to build a dedicated data-processing facility at its Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province plant to handle field data used for training the robots. R&D staff will be consolidated at the Woomyeon-dong campus in Seocho, Seoul, with additional hubs planned in the US, China, and Japan — countries at the forefront of robotics technology.

    Talent recruitment is in full swing. Lee Dong-gun, a vice president with deep ties to Boston Dynamics through his time at Hyundai Motor Group, has been tapped to lead robotics strategy. He'll be joined by Seoul National University professor Kim Hyun-jin, known for research on autonomous robot navigation systems, and Ajou University professor Kim Eui-kyum, an authority in precision control for components like robotic hands — bringing together academic and industry expertise.

    Market forecasts are bolstering the bet. Goldman Sachs expects the global humanoid robot market to swell into the tens of trillions of won by 2035, while Morgan Stanley projects an even larger figure by 2050. Still, most humanoid robots launched worldwide last year were made in China, meaning Samsung — a relative latecomer — has real ground to make up.

    Samsung first built out a robotics push in late 2024 with its acquisition of domestic robot maker Rainbow Robotics, and this reorganization marks the next step toward commercialization. The company has also set a goal of fully automating its production plants at home and abroad by 2030.

    In Korea right nowIn Korea, the reorganization is drawing attention as part of a broader robotics race across the electronics industry. LG Electronics set up its own CEO-direct robotics division just last month, setting up a head-to-head contest between the two conglomerates to make robotics their next growth pillar. With Hyundai Motor Group already building a presence in the robotics market through Boston Dynamics, observers say the competition among Korea's biggest companies for robotics leadership is only intensifying.

    FAQ

    What does Samsung's new robot division actually do?

    It brings together robotics-related hardware, AI, software, and product planning functions that were previously spread across different departments, overseeing the company's push to commercialize robotics.

    Why is Samsung focusing on humanoids?

    The market for human-shaped robots is expected to grow rapidly alongside advances in AI. Samsung plans to validate the technology on its own factory floors first, then scale up from there.

    Who are the notable new hires in this reorganization?

    Vice President Lee Dong-gun, who worked on matters related to robotics company Boston Dynamics during his time at Hyundai Motor Group, has moved over to lead robotics strategy, and two university professors specializing in robotics are also joining.

    📎 원문 보기 · Sources

    매일경제 기사 이미지Samsung Creates Robot Unit, Bets Big on Humanoids매일경제 · Jul 21, 2026삼성, 로봇으로 '제2 갤럭시신화' 쓴다 - 매일경제Read the full story & photos at the source →
    경향신문 기사 이미지Samsung Creates Robot Unit, Bets Big on Humanoids경향신문 · Jul 21, 2026삼성, 로봇 사업 본격 육성…2030년까지 ‘전 공장 AI 자율화’Read the full story & photos at the source →