K-wave AI News

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea.

Here's our top story.

Korean dramas and films have established themselves as the most popular non-U.S. content on Netflix.

According to content market analysis firm Ampere, Korean content has ranked second only to U.S. shows in total viewing time on Netflix since 2023, with a share of 8 to 9%.

U.S. content accounts for almost 60%.

Ampere also noted that Korean titles make up 85 of the 500 most-watched non-U.S. shows and films on the platform.

Standout hits include "Squid Game" Season 2, which amassed nearly 620 million viewing hours in the second half of last year, the romance drama "Love Next Door," and the culinary competition show "Culinary Class Wars."

The entire county of Danyang in Chungcheongbuk-do Province has been officially designated a UNESCO Global Geopark, becoming the first in the Chungcheong region to earn the title.

The area has drawn international recognition for its iconic karst landscapes, distinctive structural geology, and stunning natural scenery. Home to geological formations spanning 1.3 billion years, Danyang offers valuable insights into paleoclimate through cave formations and bears traces of Earth's mass extinction events.

The UNESCO designation honors not only geological value but also aesthetic, cultural, and historical significance, promoting conservation and sustainable development.

The 'Haeundae Sand Festival' will take place from May 16 to 19 in Busan.

Marking its 20th anniversary, the festival will center on the global expansion of K-culture, showcasing popular Korean culture through some 20 sand sculptures. Artists from Korea, the U.S., Canada, China, and Russia will create stunning works depicting various K-culture scenes, from the Korean alphabet 'Hangeul' to the beloved Baby Shark character.

Interactive experiences, including traditional games featured in Squid Game, will also entertain visitors.

That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.