News

[Features reporter] Meet K-pop rookie group 1VERSE featuring N. Korean defectors

2025/07/21 17:38

Kun-woo, you've been introducing us to many of the freshest K-pop acts while meeting them face-to-face along the way. This time, I hear you've sat down with yet another new boy band. Tell us more. Yes, this brand-new boy group is called 1VERSE. What really caught my attention and why I decided to feature them is their diversity. That's because all of the members come from outside South Korea, including North Korea. But before I dive into the story, here's a look at my meeting with the boys. Alone, they're just individuals with different verses, but together, they create a story, a song, and a universe. That's how you could describe this brand-new five-piece K-pop group 1VERSE, which has two members who are North Korean defectors. It's extremely rare to see North Korean-born "idol" stars debut on the K-pop scene, which makes you wonder how they first got into K-pop. "I came across F(x)'s 'LA chA TA' music video when I was young and heard K-pop songs through USBs passed around secretly." Coming to South Korea at a young age was already a dangerous journey, but their struggle didn't end there. "My beloved family were still in the North, and while coming here allowed me to finally dream, I still felt like the loneliest of the lonely. The biggest battle was with myself, a fight I kept losing. But just having our members by my side filled that emptiness and gave me strength." Even language was a hurdle, especially for rap. "I naturally speak in a North Korean dialect, but when I rap, I train myself to turn it off. As for English, I started with the ABCs and kept practicing until it finally started to feel natural." Other members -Asian-Americans "KENNY" and "NATHAN," and Japanese "AITO" -also faced their own challenges. "The hardest part about like training was the barrier of cultural barrier. There's a lot of getting used to that and also sentence structures. So I had to learn how to shape my mind into a Korean person." "I've never been away from family for the past twenty-three years in my life. There was a lot of adjustment to do. However, with the guys now and the staff and everyone, they're like my second family." Despite their different backgrounds, they found common ground in pursuing their dreams through music. "With diversity being a factor in our group, we learned that hey, everyone's story is important, everyone matters, and everyone deserves to be heard and deserves to be respected, despite wherever they come from." They hope to be of comfort to others, and that very hope is what's guiding them toward their own dreams. "I had a time when I didn't even look up at the sky. Those hard times live in my lyrics now. To anyone watching us, even from the North, I want to say: dream." Five different dreams in one universe(1VERSE). 1VERSE is showing that K-pop no longer solely belongs to South Korea, but to those with dreams and passion, regardless of where they are from. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

[K-Enter] "The King of Kings" beats "F1" to take the number one podium

2025/07/21 17:37

Time for K-enter news, let's start with a K-animation that recently made its much anticipated debut in KOREA! The Korean animated film "The King of Kings," which made waves in the North American box office, has now claimed the top spot in Korea surpassing Brad Pitt's American sports drama film "F1". According to the Korean Film integrated ticketing system on Monday morning, "The King of Kings" drew 127,984 viewers on Sunday, the first Sunday since opening, officially landing at No. 1 at the domestic box office. Over its opening weekend , the film attracted more than 300,000 moviegoers. The film also ranked No. 1 in both seat occupancy and sales rate. The movie premiered in the U.S. during the Easter season in April, where it earned over $60 million US dollars in theatres, surpassing Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" to become the most successful Korean film ever released in Hollywood. You and I talked back stage about whether this is going to be a success domestically just like in North America, but it looks like the film is off to a successful start. And from one success to another, BLACKPINK. BLACKPINK have claimed the No. 1 spot on Spotify's weekly chart for the second time with their latest single "Jump." According to YG Entertainment, "Jump" topped the "Spotify Weekly Top Songs Global chart" released last Thursday. This marks BLACKPINK's second No. 1 on Spotify's weekly chart, following the success of their second album's title track, "Shut Down." So far, BLACKPINK are the only K-pop group to have reached No. 1 on the chart twice. Released on July 11, "Jump" racked up approximately 44 million streams on Spotify in just one week. The song also dominated the "Spotify Daily Top Songs Global chart", holding the No. 1 spot for six consecutive days from July 12 to 17. In addition to its Spotify success, "Jump" reached No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart in 61 countries. Its music video has also maintained the top position on YouTube's Global Daily Trending Music Videos chart for seven straight days. BLACKPINK are currently on their "DEADLINE" world tour with Toronto Canada being their next stop. Last but not least let's talk about RIIZE. RIIZE have expanded their first world tour with additional stops. The "2025 RIIZE CONCERT TOUR " will now include eight cities across North America including Rosemont, New York, Washington D.C. and more. For specific dates and venues you can check out their social media platforms. RIIZE has been impressing their fans with the genre of 'Emotional pop' not to mention their diverse stage performances. It's no wonder the extra dates were added. The tour kicked off in Seoul in early July and spans many cities around Asia and North America, eventually reaching 22 cities worldwide by February 2025. Thank you for that news Walter. Now we move onto our AI anchor Ari for more culture news. Ari take it away.

Meet K-pop rookie group 1VERSE featuring N. Korean defectors

2025/07/21 13:37

In K-pop news. A fresh new boy band. Truly one of a kind, with all of its members coming from outside of South Korea, including North Korea. Park Kun-woo has 's story. Alone, they're just individuals with different verses, but together, they create a story, a song, and a universe. That's how you could describe this brand-new five-piece K-pop group 1VERSE, which has two members who are North Korean defectors. It's extremely rare to see North Korean-born "idol" stars debut on the K-pop scene, which makes you wonder how they first got into K-pop. "I came across F(x)'s 'LA chA TA' music video when I was young and heard K-pop songs through USBs passed around secretly." Coming to South Korea at a young age was already a dangerous journey, but their struggle didn't end there. "My beloved family were still in the North, and while coming here allowed me to finally dream, I still felt like the loneliest of the lonely. The biggest battle was with myself, a fight I kept losing. But just having our members by my side filled that emptiness and gave me strength." Even language was a hurdle, especially for rap. "I naturally speak in a North Korean dialect, but when I rap, I train myself to turn it off. As for English, I started with the ABCs and kept practicing until it finally started to feel natural." Other members -Asian-Americans "KENNY" and "NATHAN," and Japanese "AITO" -also faced their own challenges. "The hardest part about like training was the barrier of cultural barrier. There's a lot of getting used to that and also sentence structures. So I had to learn how to shape my mind into a Korean person." "I've never been away from family for the past twenty-three years in my life. There was a lot of adjustment to do. However, with the guys now and the staff and everyone, they're like my second family." Despite their different backgrounds, they found common ground in pursuing their dreams through music. "With diversity being a factor in our group, we learned that hey, everyone's story is important, everyone matters, and everyone deserves to be heard and deserves to be respected, despite wherever they come from." They hope to be of comfort to others, and that very hope is what's guiding them toward their own dreams. "I had a time when I didn't even look up at the sky. Those hard times live in my lyrics now. To anyone watching us, even from the North, I want to say: dream." Five different dreams in one universe(1VERSE). 1VERSE is showing that K-pop no longer solely belongs to South Korea, but to those with dreams and passion, regardless of where they are from. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

[Arts & Culture] S. Korea's ancient petroglyphs added to UNESCO World Heritage List

2025/07/18 22:43

It's Friday, which means it's time for Arts and Culture. We have our culture correspondent Choi Soo-hyung in the studio. Welcome back, Soo-hyung! Thank you for having me here, Dami! So, what do you have for us today? Dami, as you know, about a week ago, ancient rock carvings, known as petroglyphs, in Ulsan city, in the southern part of the country, were successfully inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. So, I dug in to discover what their true meaning and value are. Let's take a look. The petroglyphs line the Bangucheon Stream in Ulsan and have become South Korea's 17th entry on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These are carvings made into rock walls beside the stream by prehistoric people who lived on the Korean Peninsula about 6-thousand years ago. This is South Korea's first UNESCO World Heritage listing of petroglyphs, and these show the prehistoric life of the people and their possible beliefs. "This inscription is especially meaningful as it marks the first petroglyph site in all of Asia to be recognized by UNESCO. Until now, only seven countries, including Russia, Algeria and Brazil, had petroglyphs on the World Heritage List. South Korea is the first in East Asia to achieve this." On July 12 in Paris, the World Heritage Committee recognized the Bangucheon Petroglyphs as masterpieces of human creativity, showcasing the artistic and unique skills of ancient people living along coastal areas of the Korean Peninsula. Especially, the committee said those featuring whales and whaling were a historically important record of "Outstanding Universal Value." "Whale inscriptions are extremely rare worldwide. These petroglyphs uniquely show not only different whale species, but also detailed hunting methods. With little written record from prehistoric times, the Bangucheon Petroglyphs provide invaluable insight into the lives and creativity of early humans." Following their addition to the UNESCO Tentative List in 2010, the full listing has finally come to fruition after 15 years of deliberation and review. Notably, it is the second prehistoric heritage site in Korea to gain World Heritage status, after the dolmen in Ganghwa, in the country's western region. Due to its location near a stream and risk of flooding, the World Heritage Committee recommended reporting progress on flood prevention measures and formally involving local communities in site management. The Korea Heritage Service also made special efforts to ensure their preservation, contributing to the successful listing. "To be listed as a World Heritage site, its value must be clearly identified and well preserved through strong management plans. All work needs to meet UNESCO's standards. We prepared thoroughly in these areas, which led to its successful listing." South Korea has 13 sites on the UNESCO Tentative List, including the second phase of tidal flats, Seoul's old city walls, and Busan's wartime heritage, all currently under review. I see. So Soo-hyung, as you mentioned earlier, what efforts were made to have the petroglyph site added to the UNESCO World Heritage list? Yes, Dami. Professor Lee said that government support was important, but local communities also played a key role. Due to flood and sunlight damage risks, it took decades after their 1970s discovery to reach the Tentative List in 2010. There were many efforts to reduce the risk of damage, including building a dam, setting up research centers, along with private-public cooperation. "The local community played a major role in inscribing the Bangucheon petroglyphs. There was much debate over building a dam and how to preserve the site. In the end, citizen groups, local government, and community members worked together to achieve the World Heritage listing." As the World Heritage Committee also commented, inscription is not the end, it is a shared responsibility to continue preserving this site of universal value. Right, then, what other sites is South Korea preparing to list for UNESCO World Heritage status? Currently, we have 13 left on the tentative list. The Korea Heritage Service aims to inscribe the second phase of South Korea's tidal flats, expanding the already-listed UNESCO World Heritage site covering Seocheon, Gochang, Shinan, Boseong and Suncheon, in the west of the country. By adding the tidal flats of Seosan, Muan, Goheung and Yeosu, the KHS said, submitting them to the list will better cover the habitats and migratory routes of waterbirds. In addition, Seoul's old city walls that once encircled Hanyang, an old name for the capital predating Seoul, and Busan's wartime heritage from the Korean War, are under review. Sounds really great, Soo-hyung. There's more good news about the next host of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, isn't there? That's right. On July 15, during this year's committee session, South Korea was selected as the next host country. While other Asian countries have hosted the committee in the past, this will be South Korea's first time since Japan last hosted it in 1998. As a result, Korea will serve as the chair of the 48th World Heritage Committee in July next year, with the host city being Busan. Officials in Busan say the city was chosen for its proven ability to host large-scale events, with strong infrastructure, security, and accommodation. Busan Metropolitan Government, has announced plans to showcase the value of World Heritage through unique programs only Busan can offer. Indeed, thank you so much, Soo-hyung, for sharing your report. My pleasure.

Meet K-pop rookie group 1VERSE featuring N. Korean defectors

2025/07/18 22:40

In K-pop news. A fresh new boy band debuted today, but they are truly one of a kind, with all of its members coming from outside of South Korea, including North Korea. Park Kun-woo has their story. Alone, they're just individuals with different verses, but together, they create a story, a song, and a universe. That's how you could describe this brand-new five-piece K-pop group 1VERSE, which has two members who are North Korean defectors. It's extremely rare to see North Korean-born "idol" stars debut on the K-pop scene, which makes you wonder how they first got into K-pop. "I came across F(x)'s 'LA chA TA' music video when I was young and heard K-pop songs through USBs passed around secretly." Coming to South Korea at a young age was already a dangerous journey, but their struggle didn't end there. "My beloved family were still in the North, and while coming here allowed me to finally dream, I still felt like the loneliest of the lonely. The biggest battle was with myself, a fight I kept losing. But just having our members by my side filled that emptiness and gave me strength." Even language was a hurdle, especially for rap. "I naturally speak in a North Korean dialect, but when I rap, I train myself to turn it off. As for English, I started with the ABCs and kept practicing until it finally started to feel natural." Other members -Asian-Americans "KENNY" and "NATHAN," and Japanese "AITO" -also faced their own challenges. "The hardest part about like training was the barrier of cultural barrier. There's a lot of getting used to that and also sentence structures. So I had to learn how to shape my mind into a Korean person." "I've never been away from family for the past twenty-three years in my life. There was a lot of adjustment to do. However, with the guys now and the staff and everyone, they're like my second family." Despite their different backgrounds, they found common ground in pursuing their dreams through music. "With diversity being a factor in our group, we learned that hey, everyone's story is important, everyone matters, and everyone deserves to be heard and deserves to be respected, despite wherever they come from." They hope to be of comfort to others, and that very hope is what's guiding them toward their own dreams. "I had a time when I didn't even look up at the sky. Those hard times live in my lyrics now. To anyone watching us, even from the North, I want to say: dream." Five different dreams in one universe(1VERSE). 1VERSE is showing that K-pop no longer solely belongs to South Korea, but to those with dreams and passion, regardless of where they are from. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

What has the popular K-pop animated movie led to?

2025/07/18 22:38

Netflix's animated hit KPop Demon Hunters is still making waves, and the secret behind its success? A unique fusion of Korean tradition and pop culture. Ahn Sung-jin tells us more. K-pop and animation combining to create a global sensation. The Netflix movie "KPop Demon Hunters," which tells the story of a K-pop girl group and their secret identities as demon hunters, topped charts in 41 countries within the first week of its release on June 20. Its original soundtrack album also dominated global music charts, ranking second on the Billboard 200 and 8 individual tracks topping a variety of other charts. But it's not only the visuals and music. The movie is made even more special by incorporating Korean tradition and culture, even embedding aspects of shamanism. "Netflix has a lot of reach all over the world so who ever did not know about the Korean culture before was introduced to it some way or the other." "Also just like the K-pop part. It was a good way to combine something so main stream these days and Korean culture. It was also a good way to educate people about Korea." And this explosive craze for the animated film has resulted in a sales boost for products which bear a resemblance to characters and items that appear onscreen. In fact, at the gift store at the National Museum of Korea, items including tiger and magpie badges and a pen featuring a "gat" or traditional Korean hat, saw a huge uptick in sales. "This seems to be an opportunity to share Korean traditional culture with global consumers through content. Hallyu at the moment is trending with a lot of interest so we hope to further work on disseminating our culture through these products." The presence of such traditional icons play a true role in disseminating Korean culture beyond K-pop. "Not only is it very well-made, but it's the Korean elements that become interesting and refreshing for Western viewers. With their popularity, these films serve as cultural ambassadors, often more effective than government campaigns." By blending Korean heritage with intriguing storytelling and catchy rhythms, "KPop Demon Hunters" has turned into a trendsetter for global fans, fueling further interest in Korea's cultural icons. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Meet K-pop rookie group 1VERSE featuring N. Korean defectors

2025/07/18 19:40

On the K-pop front. A new boy band is gaining quite a bit of attention here in South Korea as some of its members hail from North Korea. My colleague Park Kun-woo met up with them. Alone, they're just individuals with different verses, but together, they create a story, a song, and a universe. That's how you could describe this brand-new five-piece K-pop group 1VERSE, which has two members who are North Korean defectors. It's extremely rare to see North Korean-born "idol" stars debut on the K-pop scene, which makes you wonder how they first got into K-pop. "I came across F(x)'s 'LA chA TA' music video when I was young and heard K-pop songs through USBs passed around secretly." Coming to South Korea at a young age was already a dangerous journey, but their struggle didn't end there. "My beloved family were still in the North, and while coming here allowed me to finally dream, I still felt like the loneliest of the lonely. The biggest battle was with myself, a fight I kept losing. But just having our members by my side filled that emptiness and gave me strength." Even language was a hurdle, especially for rap. "I naturally speak in a North Korean dialect, but when I rap, I train myself to turn it off. As for English, I started with the ABCs and kept practicing until it finally started to feel natural." Other members -Asian-Americans "KENNY" and "NATHAN," and Japanese "AITO" -also faced their own challenges. "The hardest part about like training was the barrier of cultural barrier. There's a lot of getting used to that and also sentence structures. So I had to learn how to shape my mind into a Korean person." "I've never been away from family for the past twenty-three years in my life. There was a lot of adjustment to do. However, with the guys now and the staff and everyone, they're like my second family." Despite their different backgrounds, they found common ground in pursuing their dreams through music. "With diversity being a factor in our group, we learned that hey, everyone's story is important, everyone matters, and everyone deserves to be heard and deserves to be respected, despite wherever they come from." They hope to be of comfort to others, and that very hope is what's guiding them toward their own dreams. "I had a time when I didn't even look up at the sky. Those hard times live in my lyrics now. To anyone watching us, even from the North, I want to say: dream." Five different dreams in one universe(1VERSE). 1VERSE is showing that K-pop no longer solely belongs to South Korea, but to those with dreams and passion, regardless of where they are from. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Korean content's growing popularity boosts Netflix 2Q earnings growth

2025/07/18 19:38

Also on Netflix. Korean content reportedly pushed up profits for this streaming service during the second quarter. According to Netflix officials original animation "KPop Demon Hunters" and drama series "Squid Game" Season Three were among the screen productions that led to better-than-expected earnings. In fact revenue rose almost 16 percent in the second quarter on year amounting to over 11 billion U.S. dollars.

What has the popular K-pop animated movie led to?

2025/07/18 19:38

On the entertainment front. Netflix's animation "KPop Demon Hunters" continues to make headlines with its original storytelling and intriguing blend of Korean culture. Ahn Sung-jin files this report. K-pop and animation combining to create a global sensation. The Netflix movie "KPop Demon Hunters", which tells the story of a K-pop girl group and their secret identities as demon hunters, topped charts in 41 countries within the first week of its release on June 20. Its original soundtrack album also dominated global music charts, ranking second on the Billboard 200 and 8 individual tracks topping a variety of other charts. But it's not only the visuals and music. The movie is made even more special by incorporating Korean tradition and culture, even embedding aspects of shamanism. "Netflix has a lot of reach all over the world so who ever did not know about the Korean culture before was introduced to it some way or the other." "Also just like the K-pop part. It was a good way to combine something so main stream these days and Korean culture. It was also a good way to educate people about Korea." And this explosive craze for the animated film has resulted in a sales boost for products which bear a resemblance to characters and items that appear onscreen. In fact, at the gift store at the National Museum of Korea, items including tiger and magpie badges and a pen featuring a "gat" or traditional Korean hat, saw a huge uptick in sales. "This seems to be an opportunity to share Korean traditional culture with global consumers through content. Hallyu at the moment is trending with a lot of interest so we hope to further work on disseminating our culture through these products." The presence of such traditional icons play a true role in disseminating Korean culture beyond K-pop. "Not only is it very well-made, but it's the Korean elements that become interesting and refreshing for Western viewers. With their popularity, these films serve as cultural ambassadors, often more effective than government campaigns." By blending Korean heritage with intriguing storytelling and catchy rhythms, "KPop Demon Hunters" has turned into a trendsetter for global fans, fueling further interest in Korea's cultural icons. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

[Kulture Issue] The "Golden" era of "KPop Demon Hunters" what's behind the animated film's success?

2025/07/18 15:38

Huntrix and Saja Boys are not only battling for the top spot as the most popular idol group in the animated musical fantasy film "KPop Demon Hunters" on Netflix, nope, the fictional girl and boy groups' popularity has grown beyond the screen, to not only reach the top of viewers charts in many countries, but to take over music charts like Billboard. For more on the "KDH phenomenon" we are now joined by our culture critic, Professor Chie Hye-won at Kyung Hee University. Welcome back Professor Chie! Q1. Who would have thought, that an American production would make a whole movie on KPop, demons and Korean mythology and it would take the world by storm? What did you think of 'KPop Demon Hunters' Professor Chie and what's behind the success? Q2. What's the most unique attempt you're seeing in this production? Q3. The producers of the movie have emphasized that they wanted to incorporate many elements of Korean culture. In what kind of way was this expressed in the film? Q4. So, we're seeing more and Koreans (or people with Korean background) creating K-content on major global platforms. How significant is that and what does this mean for K-content in the future? Q5. Songs from the movie soundtrack have made it on Billboard ("Golden" by Huntrix makes it to No.1 on the Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S.), MONSTA X, Cha Eun-woo and other "real" idols have shown cover dances of Saja Boys, etc. How is this all affecting the K-pop industry? Q6. The influence of 'KPop Demon Hunters' goes so far, that it has been mentioned at a recent foreign ministers' meeting between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. What can we make of that? Q7. This shows how far the impact of this movie is reaching into how big do you see the potential for K-content? Thank you very much Professor Chie for your insights, have a great weekend. Bella, thank you as always. See you next week.

[Features reporter] What has the popular K-pop animated movie led to?

2025/07/18 15:37

I made it quite obvious in the opening, but we're going to delve deep into the "KPop Demon Hunters" phenomenon throughout the show today, and it starts with your coverage Sung-jin! Right, one of Netflix's recent animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters" has been sparking much interest in Korean heritage and culture to a wider audience as it continues to top charts for its visuals and music. But this popularity has been appealing to consumers who look for something special. Let's have a look at it together. "A demon boy band?" K-pop and animation combining to create a global sensation. The Netflix movie "KPop Demon Hunters", which tells the story of a K-pop girl group and their secret identities as demon hunters, topped charts in 41 countries within the first week of its release on June 20. Its original soundtrack album also dominated global music charts, ranking second on the Billboard 200 and 8 individual tracks topping a variety of other charts. But it's not only the visuals and music. The movie is made even more special by incorporating Korean tradition and culture, even embedding aspects of shamanism. "Netflix has a lot of reach all over the world so who ever did not know about the Korean culture before was introduced to it some way or the other." "Also just like the K-pop part. It was a good way to combine something so main stream these days and Korean culture. It was also a good way to educate people about Korea." And this explosive craze for the animated film has resulted in a sales boost for products which bear a resemblance to characters and items that appear onscreen. In fact, at the gift store at the National Museum of Korea, items including tiger and magpie badges and a pen featuring a "gat" or traditional Korean hat, saw a huge uptick in sales. "This seems to be an opportunity to share Korean traditional culture with global consumers through content. Hallyu at the moment is trending with a lot of interest so we hope to further work on disseminating our culture through these products." The presence of such traditional icons play a true role in disseminating Korean culture beyond K-pop. "Not only is it very well-made, but it's the Korean elements that become interesting and refreshing for Western viewers. With their popularity, these films serve as cultural ambassadors, often more effective than government campaigns." By blending Korean heritage with intriguing storytelling and catchy rhythms, "KPop Demon Hunters" has turned into a trendsetter for global fans, fueling further interest in Korea's cultural icons.

[K-enter] "Squid Game" nominated for the Gold Derby TV Awards

2025/07/18 15:35

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. We can't stop talking about "KDH and we can't stop talking about "Squid Game." This time it was nominated for some awards in the U.S.? Netflix's "Squid Game" and six actors from the series have been nominated for the 2025 Gold Derby TV Awards. According to the Gold Derby website, on Thursday, Lee Jung-jae was included among the six nominees for the Drama Actor category. For the Drama Supporting Actress category, Kang Ae-sim, who played mother Jang Geum-ja, and Park Kyu-young, who played Noeul, a North Korean defector, were nominated. Additionally, Lee Byung-hun, and Choi Seung-hyun (also known as TOP) were nominated for the Best Supporting Actor. Lastly, Gong Yoo was nominated for the Drama Guest Actor category. "Squid Game" series itself was also nominated for the Drama Series and Ensemble of the Year. The Gold Derby Awards, which marks its 22nd anniversary this year, is an American pop culture award ceremony that selects excellent works and actors in 30 different categories, including drama, entertainment, animation, and movies. The results will be announced on August 18th. Along with these nominations, we have updates on the view count? The "Squid Game" series has surpassed 700 million total views. Netflix announced on Thursday that the final season of the series topped the Netflix chart in 93 countries with over 60 million views within just three days of its release last month. The series has shown a strong performance from the start as the first season holds the record for the Most Popular Non-English Shows of All Time on Netflix. It also won six trophies at the Emmy Awards and picked up many domestic and international awards too, and it still continues to thrive globally. Let's end off with an exciting story on a rookie boy group that's been doing amazing since their debut. 'Monster rookies' AHOF will hold their first fan concert since their debut, titled " AHOF 1ST PHILIPPINE FANCON RENDEZVOUS IN MANILA," at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila, the Philippines on August 30th. It is the very first solo fan concert by AHOF and comes just one month after their debut. The group are achieving both popularity and buzz as 'monster rookies,' breaking various records since their debut. Their first album recorded initial sales of over 360-thousand copies, ranking 5th for the highest first-week sales of debut albums by boy groups. Having achieved success domestically, AHOF are now expanding their global activities. Prior to the fan concert in the Philippines, a release event will be held in Japan. Thank you Bella for today's stories! We now go over to our AI anchor Ari for more on the culture front! Ari!

K-wave AI News

2025/07/18 15:34

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korean poet Kim Hye-soon has been named the winner of the 2025 International Literature Award, becoming the first Asian to receive the prestigious honor presented by Germany's House of World Cultures. The jury unanimously selected Kim for the German translation of her poetry collection "Autobiography of Death." The jury described her poetic diction as "a miracle that opens a path to hear the echoes formed on the threshold of the afterlife." Kim previously became the first Korean poet to win Canada's renowned Griffin Poetry Prize in 2019 and later received Sweden's Cicada Prize, earning widespread global acclaim. The National Museum of Korea has launched a special exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan. The exhibition showcases key independence movement artifacts, along with original prison record cards featuring photos of prominent activists who were closely monitored by the Japanese Empire. They're being unveiled to the public for the first time. A short AI-generated video is also on display, bringing to life the bright smiles of independence activists who sacrificed their lives before witnessing Korea's liberation. The Korea Character Licensing Fair 2025, the country's largest character industry event, has officially opened at Seoul's COEX. The fair showcases a wide range of intellectual property content across characters, animation, and entertainment, providing visitors with a comprehensive view of the industry. Attendees can also explore the entire industry ecosystem, from character development to manufacturing and licensing. Now in its ninth year, the event is recognized as Asia's largest content IP business platform. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[NEWs GEN]: K-pop Goes Global: How K-pop continues to evolve beyond borders

2025/07/18 14:33

[NEWs GEN]: K-pop Goes Global: How K-pop continues to evolve beyond borders [뉴젠] 뉴욕 한복판서 글로벌 오디션... 현지화 되는 케이팝의 현주소는?

Kim Hye-Soon becomes first Asian to win Germany’s International Literature Prize

2025/07/18 11:37

Poet Kim Hye-Soon has made history as the first Asian to win Germany's prestigious International Literature Prize. The announcement was made on Thursday, by the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, or House of World Cultures. Kim's winning work, The Autobiography of Death, was praised for its rhythmic depth and ability to illuminate the unspoken truths of life and death. Currently in South Korea, Kim expressed her gratitude virtually, thanking the translators, judges, and organizers for the recognition.

[Econ & Biz] K-Beauty’s beautiful glow: Behind its recent record-breaking success

2025/07/17 22:42

South Korean cosmetics, widely known as K-Beauty products, have been topping the to-buy lists of foreign tourists visiting the country. And newly released figures underscore the growing global appeal of Korean beauty brands. For more, we turn to our correspondent Park Jun-han here in the studio. It's good to have you, Jun-han. Thanks for having me, Dami. 1. Jun-han, Korean beauty products have been popular for quite some time. But how popular are they really? That's right, Dami. Just yesterday, I went to Myeongdong, one of the most popular areas for foreign visitors. There, I could spot people from all over the world shopping for Korean beauty products. They told me that K-Beauty products are well-known in their countries, and they're happy to buy them at a lower price than they would at home. Let's take a listen to what tourists had to say about their K-Beauty shopping experience in Korea. "I heard about it through social media in France. We have a lot of channels in France that talk about it, so every French person wants to try it because it works — so yeah. It's my first time; I've never tried it, so I'll try and see." "We found out through TV. I think it's well known that Korean beauty products are very good. Also, friends and family asked us, 'Are you going to Korea? Can you bring me this or that?' because they know Korean products are very famous for that." 2. I see, Jun-han. Now we know that K-Beauty products are famous all over the world, what makes them stand out among many others around the world? What makes them so special? You actually made a great point there, Dami. When asked about what makes Korean cosmetics so special, one of the industry experts told me that they are technologically advanced for their price and are creative in product development. Let's take a listen. "Cosmetics companies in South Korea are so technologically advanced and cost-effective that last year we became the third-largest exporter in the world. They're incredibly creative and great at coming up with new products, which is why they're receiving this kind of attention around the world." Another claim made by the same industry expert is that cultural exposure and influence — such as through K-pop and K-Drama figures — are attracting potential consumers to buy K-Beauty products. "As K-Dramas and K-pop have become more popular, people around the world are seeing more of Korean people's skin. I think that has contributed to a perception that Koreans have great skin because they use Korean cosmetics. Most of the products are now vegan, and there are also many functional patents behind them." 3. No wonder that K-Beauty exports hit a new record in the first half of this year. Jun-han, can you walk us through the latest figures? Sure Dami. The growth of South Korea's beauty product exports is surging at a dramatic pace, backed by record figures. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, South Korea exported cosmetics to 176 countries in the first half of 2025, reaching a total of 5.51 billion U.S. dollars — a 14.8 percent increase from the same period last year. By country, China, the United States and Japan were the top three importers, accounting for 48.1 percent of total exports. Although China saw an over 10 percent year-on-year decrease in export value, it still ranked as the number one importer. The United States and Japan, however, saw remarkable increases of over 17 percent and 15 percent, respectively. From 2012 to 2024, South Korea's cosmetics exports surged by over 850%, showing a strong annual year-on-year growth trend. And if the current pace continues, 2025 could mark yet another historic high, hopefully surpassing the 11 billion dollar mark. 4. K-Beauty is doing remarkably well, but I'm sure there's still room for improvement and even concerns within the industry about future challenges. Tell us. That's right, Dami. Although our cosmetics industry is performing very well, there are some concerns that remain, such as regulatory challenges and a possible increase in prices due to the 25% U.S. "reciprocal" tariffs. Now, let's take a listen to what a professor of the beauty industry had to say. "The government's R&D expenditure is too small compared to the increasing sales and exports of the cosmetics industry. All industries in Korea face difficulties without government support, and I think the industry can grow much more if it is supported. Also, another industry expert raised concerns about factors that might increase product prices. "Concerns over tariffs essentially come down to pricing. Since each individual ingredient must undergo safety testing, the overall cost naturally increases. As a result, cosmetic prices inevitably rise. Rather than simply easing regulations, I believe we need to explore ways to simplify the safety assessment process while still ensuring product safety." With rising demand from all over the world, K-Beauty is now not just a trend — it's a new culture. Alright, Jun-han, Thanks for sharing your thoughtful insights today. Thank you, Dami, I hope to see you again soon.

[K-enter] "Omniscient Reader : The Prophet" sold to 113 countries

2025/07/17 15:37

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Let’s kick off with a Korean film that is about to meet global viewers. “Omniscient Reader: The Prophet” has achieved pre-sales in 113 countries, signaling a promising global box office. The film is a fantasy action piece that follows Kim Dok-Ja, an ordinary man who unexpectedly finds himself transported into the fantasy world of a novel he was reading. It stars Lee Min-ho, Ahn Hyo-seop, Nana from Afterschool and Jisoo from BLACKPINK. “Omniscient Reader: The Prophet” will kick off in Korean and Taiwanese theaters on July 23rd, followed by theaters in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia, the United States, and many more around the globe. So July 23rd in Korea, will mark my calendar! Now, on the side of K-pop, we have a boy group celebrating their 10 year anniversary? MONSTA X celebrates their 10th anniversary of debut this year. They held a press conference on Wednesday in Seoul to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of their debut. The group attributed their decade-long run to the family-like bond and shared sense of purpose among the members. MONSTA X debuted in 2015 and has since built a global fanbase with their hit songs, including “Trespass,” “Dramarama,” and “Shoot Out.” In 2021, the group paused their activities, as members began their mandatory military service, and has resumed their activity as a group last May. The group is set to meet their fans through their 10th anniversary concert, “2025 MONSTA X CONNECT X,” at KSPO DOME in Seoul from July 18th to 20th. Congratulations MONSTA X on such a meaningful anniversary! And let’s end with another K-pop artist, Hyoyeon from Girls Generation. Hyoyeon has returned with a powerful sound that will heat up this summer. She released her new digital single “YES” on Wednesday, which comes about nine months after her latest single “Retro Romance” released last September. The new single, a sped-up house genre, is catching the ears of the listeners with the repetitive keyword “YES” in its chorus. Hyoyeon also debuted as a DJ in 2018, and she is currently on her fourth North American DJ tour “2025 SUMMER USA TOUR” held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Denver. Looking forward to DJ and singer Hyoyeon dominating global stages this summer. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

K-wave AI News

2025/07/17 15:36

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Korea Tourism Organization has rolled out a special summer tourism feature on its integrated travel platform VISITKOREA, targeting international tourists. It offers personalized travel recommendations and tour programs based on six travel styles: active adventurer, cultural explorer, culinary seeker, nature lover, nightscape collector, and indoor enthusiast. Users can take a brief travel personality quiz to discover their ideal travel style. The organization plans to further expand tailored travel content and marketing for global travelers based on user data collected through the VISITKOREA platform. World-renowned soprano Hwang Su-mi will take on the role of host and artistic director for the "2025 Lotte Concert Hall Matinee Concert" series this fall, presented by the Lotte Foundation for Arts. Speaking at a press event, Hwang said the unfamiliar matinee format posed a new challenge, but she is excited to expand her horizons as a vocalist and connect musically with other performers. The concerts will take place at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul on September 18, October 16, and November 20. Hwang gained global recognition after winning the prestigious 2014 Queen Elisabeth Competition and further drew spotlight as the soloist for the Olympic Anthem at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. "The Cherry Orchard," marking Cannes-winning actress Jeon Do-yeon's return to theater after 30 years, launches its international tour this fall with performances in Hong Kong and Singapore. The production is a contemporary adaptation of Anton Chekhov's classic by director Simon Stone, set in modern-day Seoul. The tour opens at the 2025 Hong Kong Asia+ Festival in late September, followed by a November show in Singapore celebrating 50 years of Korea-Singapore diplomatic ties. LG Arts Center, the production company, plans to extend the tour to Australia and New York next year. "The Cherry Orchard" has attracted around 40,000 theater-goers since its Korean premiere last June. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

Global K-pop audition held in New York; K-pop fans to become K-pop artists

2025/07/17 15:35

With K-pop going viral worldwide, global auditions to discover aspiring artists for the genre are gaining attention. A global K-pop audition was held in New York as part of the biggest annual dancing festival, "K-FAN 2025." Global wannabe K-pop artists showed their talent in front of Korean entertainment agents during a global K-pop audition at the dancing festival “K-FAN 2025” held in New York at the end of June. Thirteen teams and solo participants were on stage after passing the preliminaries, which involved around 100 teams. "K-Pop is something where you can express yourself and try out different concepts with other group members. I will keep working hard and keep taking opportunities, such as performing in festivals like these." "I wanna try new things and I get stage fright really badly but I wanna put myself out there." Participants who were K-pop fans were thrilled to be part of the global K-pop artist debut project. Several agents from famous Korean agencies, such as "STARSHIP Entertainment" and "ADOR," participated as judges. "As K-pop is going viral all over the world, we also need prominent global members. It was worth it to meet lots of potential trainees." More global potential trainees are expected to participate in K-pop auditions which will also be held again in the U.S., as well as Europe, and Asia. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Webtoon companies set out to catch pirates themselves

2025/07/17 15:34

The increase in popularity of Korean webtoons and novels has not only led to the release of other webtoon-and webnovel-based content, like the movie "Omniscient Reader", that Bella reported on earlier, but it has also resulted in a surge of illegal online reproduction and distribution cases leaving creators disheartened. Webtoon companies are now actively tracking down the individuals behind these acts. Lee Eun-jin tells us more. K-webtoons often feature uniquely Korean superheroes, with the characters ranging from being cute to quirky. And many of the beloved K-dramas on various OTT platforms are actually based on webtoons. But illegal distribution has become a serious issue, with new episodes often uploaded to piracy sites just 10 minutes after release. This has forced webtoon companies to go after the pirates themselves, which led to the formation of an illegal distribution response team four years ago, the first in the industry. They monitor for illegal content around the world with a hawk's eye. They have since identified the operators behind more than 80% of targeted piracy sites. They infiltrate illicit channels and use proprietary technology to gather scattered data online and determine the identities of those responsible. "When we send a warning email with the message, 'We know who you are,' it's not long before they shut down the site or take down our content." To date, over 800 million pieces of illegal content have been removed, and nearly 30 global distribution sites have been shut down. The number of shutdown sites has increased significantly since the team's launch, but the process hasn't been easy. "It's personally tough at times, especially when we receive insults from users of these illegal sites, sometimes bordering on defamation." Last year alone, more than 400 million cases of illegal K-content distribution were reported overseas, with over 70% involving webtoons. According to the most recent data collected for 2023, the estimated financial damage to the webtoon industry exceeds 440 billion won, that's approximately 320 million U.S. dollars. This is not a problem that can be solved by industry efforts alone. Such violations leave webtoon creators disheartened as others profit from their work. This has led to growing calls for harsher penalties and for the establishment of a profit recovery system that redirects illicit gains back to the victims. "Even when a webtoon is successful, it's not easy to just celebrate. It's heartbreaking—those who work hard get nothing, while others make money off their efforts." With the new government aiming for a cultural market worth some 211 billion U.S. dollars. .and the value of cultural exports to reach 35-point-2 billion U.S. dollars by 2030, illegal K-content distribution is expected to be a key issue moving forward. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.