News

BLACKPINK's new song 'JUMP' tops Billboard Global chart

2025/07/22 19:40

BLACKPINK's new song "JUMP" has topped the Billboard Global chart. According to its agency this marks the group's fourth time to rule the chart. What's more BLACKPINK hit number one on the Billboard Global 200 chart for the third time. These latest rankings make the team the first K-pop girl group to have the most top-ranking songs on both charts. Meanwhile TWICE's fourth full-length album called "This Is For" ranked 6th on the Billboard 200 chart. Since 2021 TWICE has seen two albums and five EPs enter the Billboard 200's Top 10.

MMCA to present history of Korean contemporary art

2025/07/22 19:38

On the cultural front. Exhibitions showcasing Korea's modern works of art are taking place at two branches of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Our Cha Yun-kyung has a glimpse. The Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, located in Jong-no District, is presenting famous works of Korean contemporary artists from the 1960s to the 2010s, utilising the museum's own collection. Starting with the renowned Kim Whan Ki's work, "Echo of Mountain," audiences can also find "Samramansang," a giant installation by Kang Ik-joong, and also "Floor" by Suh Do-ho. "As lots of Korean artists donated their works, as well as some from the Lee Kun-hee art collection, the quality of the museum's collection has been improved." World-famous artist Paik Nam-june's "Junk," which was shown at his personal exhibition at the Wolfsburg Art Museum in 1995, and Kim Soo-ja's "Bottari" from 2007 are being shown in public for the first time ever. The Gwacheon branch of MMCA, located in Gwacheon district, also presents works created in the first half of the 20th century, which encompass the Korean Empire to the Korean War, exploring how artists wrestled with the changes and challenges of their times. Famous art that came out after the Korean War is also scheduled to be shown from the end of June, which will offer viewers a multilayered introduction to current trends in Korean contemporary art through various eras. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

[K-Enter] TWICE reach no. 6 on U.S. 'Billboard 200'

2025/07/22 17:37

Walter, for "once" let's start off with news on "TWICE"! TWICE have achieved another major milestone as their new album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 6 in the chart. According to an article published on Billboard's official website on Sunday, the group's fourth studio album "THIS IS FOR", released on July 11, earned 80,000 equivalent album units, securing the No. 6 spot on the main U.S. album chart. This marks TWICE's seventh consecutive album to enter the top 10 of the Billboard 200, beginning with their 10th mini album "Taste of Love", which also reached No. 6 in June 2021. With this latest entry, TWICE have extended their own record for the most top 10 appearances on the Billboard 200 by a K-pop girl group. The group also kicked off their sixth world tour, "THIS IS FOR", with two shows on July 19 and 20 in Incheon. "THIS IS FOR" is for all TWICE fans out there, from one record-breaking group to a record-breaking soloist who is part of a group though. BTS's Jungkook has broken yet another record on the global music streaming platform Spotify. According to the World Music Awards (WMA), Jungkook has become the first Asian solo artist to surpass 100 million streams with each of his original tracks, to which he has 18 in total on Spotify. The global media outlet Oneily Vibe highlighted Jungkook alongside Billie Eilish and Harry Styles as the only artists on Spotify whose entire original discography has individually topped 100 million streams, an extraordinary accomplishment. Jungkook has also surpassed 9.2 billion cumulative unfiltered streams on Spotify. Lastly, let's talk about an animation directed by a well-known Korean director in the field. Renowned Korean animator and director Park Sung-hoo, celebrated worldwide for his dynamic action direction in titles like The God of High School, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Ninja Kamui, has released his latest project, BULLET/BULLET, now streaming on Disney+ as of July 16. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, BULLET/BULLET follows the unpredictable journey of a junk shop worker named Gear. The series, a passion project developed over ten years, showcases Park's signature style through the thrilling adventure of a bold team of underdogs who rise up against corruption and injustice. Thanks for that news Walter, now let's move onto Ari our AI anchor for more culture-related news. Ari, over to you!

K-wave AI News

2025/07/22 17:36

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Hwacheon Tomato Festival, now recognized as one of Korea's signature summer events, is set to return on August 1 in Hwacheon County, Gangwon-do Province. Running through August 3, the festival will unfold across six themed zones, offering over 40 programs. The highlight is the "Golden Ring Hunt," where 22 tons of surplus tomatoes are scattered across a giant pit, inviting participants to dive in and search for the hidden gold rings. The experience zone offers hands-on activities such as tomato face painting, while the performance zone will feature a lineup of live shows. Festivities will kick off with an opening ceremony, featuring special performances and fireworks to mark the start of the three-day summer spectacle. The 2025 World Surf League Siheung Korea Open wrapped up after a successful event at Turtle Island in Siheung, Gyeonggi-do Province, drawing over 20,000 spectators. Marking a world first, the event was the WSL's inaugural QS6000 official competition held in an artificial wave pool. A record-breaking 192 athletes from 16 countries competed in the shortboard and longboard divisions, making it the largest tournament in the event's history. Siheung City is also calling for public interest and participation in the 2025 National Marine Sports Games, scheduled to take place at Turtle Island from August 30 to September 2. Renowned Swiss photographer Markus Klinko has opened his first Korea exhibition with a David Bowie tribute in Seoul. The show features 22 selected works from the past two decades, including iconic portraits and album covers of David Bowie, as well as other global stars like Lady Gaga. Klinko gained international acclaim in 2002 with the cover photo for Bowie's album "Heathen," praised for its striking portrayal of the artist's symbolism and inner world. Calling Korean culture a global phenomenon, Klinko unveiled plans to open a studio in Seoul this fall and to regularly visit Korea for projects related to K-pop, K-dramas, and K-beauty. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-Travel] Where to travel in Korea this summer? Part 3: Jeju Island

2025/07/22 17:34

It's time for our K-Travel segment, where we introduce some of the most popular places to visit this summer in Korea. Today we go over to Jeju Island, South Korea's biggest island and one of the top travel destinations in Korea. Jeju has also become a popular place to do a "handalsari", or a place to live in for a month. We are now going to connect to someone who is doing just that. Jesse Lee, a student and Jeju guide. Hello Jesse! Q1. (Jesse, we've had you in the studio before. That's when you were a guide in Seoul.) Please introduce yourself to our viewers who might see you for the first time and what brought you to Jeju? Q2. What was your first impression when you arrived on Jeju Island? (What was the biggest difference you felt compared to other big cities like Seoul or Busan?) Q3. Jeju is a popular travel destination among foreigners. As you've been on the island now for a while, what do you think attracts foreigners to Jeju? Q4. Jeju Island is home to many famous tourism spots, from natural attractions to cultural sites and beaches of course. But what would be your personal must-visit place? Q5. In summer there are also plenty of fun activities to do on the island. Have you tried any of them and what would you recommend? Q6. We can't leave out the food on Jeju. Which food has impressed you so far and which Jeju delicacy would you recommend to foreign friends? Q7. Any final tips for anyone who plans to visit Jeju Island in summer? Thank you very much Jesse for connecting with us today and hope you have an unforgettable summer! Thank you Walter as always. We'll see you back tomorrow.

[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.