News

[Features reporter] How Yeosu is looking to welcome cruise tourists

2025/03/14 14:00

Sung-jin, you are going to introduce a way of visiting Korea that's growing in popularity? Right, I suppose the most common way to travel to places would be by plane, train or car, but today I want to share another method that would allow you to not only visit Korea but also have a look at its coastal cities and their culture as well. A 78,000 ton cruise ship with more than 2,000 passengers glides into port. This cruise has come from Japan and has arrived at its first stop in South Korea, the south coast city of Yeosu. “Yeosu city hall aims to provide a glimpse of Korean culture through such traditional performances and show unique aspects of the city as it looks to brand itself as a new cruise destination.” As soon as visitors finish their customs checks, they are greeted by Korean snacks, jewelry and craftwork, and for those looking to explore the city even further, a shuttle bus takes them around for free. "Every time we pulled into a port like today here in South Korea, we were met with wonderful performances, and we found everyone to be very welcoming and we really appreciate the shuttles and it really helps us to see and navigate easily." From must-visit places such as the Yi Sun-shin Plaza and its replica historical turtle ship, to the beauty of Odongdo Island or the ocean cable car, the city has plenty for tourists to see and do. After the excitement of Yeosu city, these passengers will head to their next stop in Korea. "Well we’re pretty old hats at this we’ve been doing it this is probably our 12th cruise. Just enjoying this area we don't know much about Yeosu but we’re looking forward to Jeju tomorrow." To accommodate all the tourists, the city provides administrative support, including temporary currency exchange and tourism information centers as well as interpreters and tour guides. “With more cruise visitors, whether it's shopping or dining, the local economy of Yeosu is becoming more active. I think this will be an opportunity to improve its brand image and further promote itself which is why we are putting a lot of attention and support into these MICE and cruise businesses.” The city is expecting to welcome another six cruises this year carrying a total of 10,000 tourists as it looks to put itself on the map as a cruise destination. Have you guys been on a cruise before? I went been on a cruise a long time ago as a kid. I can't remember much of the details anymore, but my parents did tell me that it was a cruise around the Nordic countries in Europe. Sung-jin, as well as these cruise terminals in Yeosu city, there are a couple more ports or cruise terminals that stop in Korea right? Absolutely! In this article I looked at the cruise terminal in Yeosu and what it has to offer, but there are other destinations in Korea including Busan and Incheon. Both are also destinations for not only for international cruises, but also for those who would like to catch a cruise or a ferry and travel domestically. Well, thank you Sung-jin for that exciting story. Thank you Sung-jin.

Japanese translator for Han Kang's "We Do Not Part" awarded Yomiuri Prize for Literature

2025/03/13 17:00

A Japanese translator has won a prestigious Japanese literary award for her translation of author Han Kang's novel "We Do Not Part". According to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea on this Thursday translator and poet Mariko Saito ( ) was recently awarded the 76th Yomiuri Prize for Literature in translation. Saito has translated quite a number of Nobel laureate Han Kang's books including "The White Book" and introduced over 30 other Korean literary works to Japanese readers.

K-wave AI News

2025/03/13 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Jeollabuk-do Special Self-Governing Province and its biggest city Jeonju have united in their bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics. More than 1,000 people, including Governor of Jeonbuk State Kim Kwan-young, Jeonju Mayor Woo Beom-ki, and local residents, gathered on Wednesday to reaffirm their commitment to securing the games. Highlighting Jeollabuk-do's victory over Seoul in securing Korea's candidacy for the 2036 Olympics, Governor Kim presented the province's strategy and roadmap leading up to the global sporting event. The gathering also featured various celebratory performances in support of the initiative. The province aims to secure swift pan-government support and focus on promoting bipartisan cooperation to strengthen its bid. An event celebrating the beauty of royal palaces amid Korea's vibrant spring atmosphere is set to begin next month. Two signature nighttime tour programs, "Moonlight Tour at Changdeokgung Palace" and "Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour" will be offered to visitors selected through a lottery. Participants can explore the palaces' hidden corners with expert guides, enjoy traditional performances, and immerse themselves in royal culture while strolling through illuminated palaces. The program also includes an opportunity to try "surasang," a royal meal once prepared for kings and queens, along with exclusive access to normally restricted annexes. Tickets can be applied for through Ticketlink, with a limit of two per person. The Seogwipo Canola Flower International Walking Festival will return to Jeju Island next weekend. The festival is a signature spring event of Seogwipo City, where participants can stroll along routes that include Jeju's southern coastline against a background of vibrant yellow canola flowers. The event will feature three courses of 5, 10, and 20 kilometers. More than 2,000 participants have already pre-registered. Those wishing to take part can sign up online through the Seogwipo Tourism Association's website. The annual event is part of the "East Asia Flower Walking League" formed by Seogwipo City, Japan's Kurume City, and China's Dalian City. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-enter] Stray Kids earn ninth gold certification

2025/03/13 14:00

To start us off, we have a story on Stray Kids’ new achievement? Stray Kids have received their ninth gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, RIAA, for their 2024 single album “Hop.” The RIAA grants gold certification to singles and albums that surpass 500-thousand units in sales in the United States. According to the RIAA, the group earned the gold certification after “Hop” surpassed 500-thousand units sold in the U.S. With this achievement, Stray Kids now hold four RIAA gold singles and five gold albums, including “Maniac,” “Back Door,” “Rock-Star,” and “Ate.” This make them the first-ever K-pop act to hold five RIAA gold-certified albums. Meanwhile, Stray Kids are set to release a new digital single, “Mixtape : dominATE,” on March 21st the group’s first release of 2025. Let’s see if they can get their tenth gold certification with the new release. We now move onto K-movies. There is an upcoming film that you are especially looking forward to? I enjoy most films of course, but I have to say my favorites are crime and investigation-related action films. Well, there is an upcoming film perfect for me! It’s “YADANG: THE SNITCH.” The new film follows a broker who controls South Korea’s drug trade, a prosecutor eager to rise through the ranks, and a detective willing to risk everything to bring down drug-related crime. It stars Kang Ha-neul, 강하늘, Yoo Hae-jin, 유해진, and Park Hae-joon. 박해준. The posters and trailer for “YADANG: THE SNITCH” have been released. The anticipation is definitely growing as the trailer promises to reveal the backdoor dealings of the country’s drug investigations. “YADANG: THE SNITCH” is set to hit theaters on April 23rd, so join me in marking your calendars! And we end off with an update on Korean ballad singer Wheesung, who died earlier this week. On Tuesday, we reported that Wheesung was found dead at his home in Seoul on Monday, with no signs of foul play, and that an autopsy will be conducted to determine his cause of death. Well, the preliminary results came in on Wednesday. According to the National Forensic Service, the cause of Wheesung’s death is unknown. It’s expected that the detailed examination results, which could include the outcome of drug tests, will take about two more weeks to come out. Authorities are looking into whether he left a note or any forms of message. They also found at least one syringe near him when he was discovered at his home. Meanwhile, a three-day funeral service for Wheesung is set to begin this Friday at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul. His family initially planned to keep the funeral private, but they decided to make it public to allow time for those who loved him to mourn together. Wheesung’s brother asked the fans to visit the funeral hall, saying, “Please do not hesitate to keep my brother company on his final journey so that he does not feel lonely.” Please keep us updated when the detailed examination results come out. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

Stray Kids becomes first K-pop group with five gold-certified albums from U.S. recording industry

2025/03/12 20:00

On the entertainment front. Boy band Stray Kids has become the first K-pop act to earn the most Gold-certified albums by the Recording Industry Association of America. According to Association, the group achieved their fifth Gold-certification with the album 'Hop' on Tuesday, local time. Its Gold certification is awarded when sales of albums --or singles on a different listing --reach 500-thousand units in the United States. With five albums and four singles certified by the Association, Stray Kids has now earned nine Gold certifications.

[K-Enter] BTS Jimin sets record for longest-charting K-pop solo artist on Billboard Hot 100

2025/03/12 14:00

Now time for a daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. We start off with a hot new record set by a certain BTS member. BTS's Jimin has set a new record as the longest-charting K-pop solo artist on the U.S. Billboard main song chart, the "Hot 100." According to the latest chart released by U.S. music magazine Billboard, the track "Who" from Jimin's second solo album "MUSE" ranked 41st on the "Hot 100," marking its 32nd week on the chart. This surpasses the previous longest-charting K-pop solo record of 31 weeks, set by Psy's "Gangnam Style" in 2012. It also ties the record for the longest-charting K-pop song on the "Hot 100," held by his own group BTS's "Dynamite." This means, Jimin has become the artist with the longest-charting records in both group and solo activities. I'm sure his other group members are very proud of him. Another member will be part of a new variety TV show that we'll be turning our attention to now. Webtoon artist-turned-broadcaster Kian84's Netflix variety show "Kian's Bizarre B&B" will be released next month. "Kian's Bizarre B&B" is a new type of guesthouse variety show set at Ulleungdo Kianjang , a sort of guesthouse according to Kian84's own ideas. The show features Kian84, BTS member Jin, and actress Ji Ye-eun as they interact with guests. BTS's Jin appears as an "all-round employee", actress Ji Ye-eun , who was a member of the variety show 'Running Man', joins as the youngest staff member. "Kian's Bizarre B&B" will be released over three weeks starting April 8, with a total of nine episodes. The first week will premiere three episodes, followed by three more episodes each week. I'll be looking forward to that. Lastly an important documentary about traditional Korean women's music is set to be released. Tell us more. The press conference for the documentary film "Women's Gukgeuk : Enduring on the Edge of Time" was held on Tuesday at Megabox COEX in Seoul. "Women's Gukgeuk " features Master Jo Young-sook , a first-generation actress at the gukgeuk all-female musical theatre and the current holder of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Baltal , "Baltal," meaning "Foot Mask Theatre". Master Jo is known as the real-life inspiration for the popular 2024 drama Jeong-nyeoni or "A Star Is Born" in English. The documentary captures the journey of Master Jo and her disciples as they strive to preserve the legacy of women's gukgeuk . Master Jo remarked, "I have been performing women's gukgeuk since 1951. As the title suggests, women's gukgeuk has been on the edge of disappearance, but it has endured thanks to our relentless efforts to secure its rightful place." She also stated, "Women's gukgeuk is a magnificent and extraordinary cultural heritage of our country." "Women's Gukgeuk : Enduring on the Edge of Time" is set to premiere on March 19th. It definitely is an important part of Korean history and a documentary not to be missed. Thanks for today's K-enter news Walter and stick around. Now we move onto Ari with more culture news.

K-wave AI News

2025/03/12 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 'Seoul Light DDP festival,' which transforms the exterior of Dongdaemun Design Plaza into a massive media art display, has claimed top honors at three of the world's most prestigious design awards. This year, it clinched the main award title at Germany's iF Design Award for "Poetry of Time," a media art reinterpretation of an original work by Kim Whanki, a pioneer of Korean abstract art. In 2023, Seoul Light DDP received the Red Dot Design Award main prize and a bronze prize at the IDEA Design Award. Since 2019, the festival has transformed DDP's façade into a giant canvas, showcasing works by renowned media artists such as Refik Anadol and Quayola. The National Maritime Museum of Korea in Busan has unveiled its newly renovated Children's Museum. The revamped space debuts with "A Journey Through the Sea on a Time Machine" as its first permanent exhibition. It also features the Island Village Playground, an interactive play area designed to support early childhood development through sensory experiences and hands-on activities. Marking its 10th anniversary in 2022, the museum embarked on a comprehensive renovation, introducing extensive upgrades, new exhibits, and immersive experiences to enhance visitor engagement. The '2025 Gaya Culture Festival,' a signature event in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, will take place in April. Under the theme "Gaya, a 2,000-Year-Old Ancient Capital," the four-day festival will kick off with an opening ceremony on April 10 at 7 PM on the main stage at Surungwon. This year, the festival will enhance programs related to the Daeseong-dong Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and expand the Gaya Fantasia program, which received a positive response last year. The King Suro Parade will also be a key highlight. Major events, including kite flying and a media façade display, will be concentrated around the tomb cluster. Gimhae City hopes the festival will unite communities and further fuel the city's future development. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

Chester Zoo shows off baby 'dancing lemur'

2025/03/12 10:00

In the United Kingdom, Chester Zoo is celebrating the birth of a rare Coquerel's sifaka, a species of lemur commonly known as a 'dancing lemur.' The lemur was born on January 20, with the zoo saying every new birth is a "huge cause for celebration." According to the zoo, the 'dancing lemurs' get their nickname as they can stand upright and spring from side to side as if they are dancing. Coquerel's sifakas are an endangered species and can only be found in the northwestern forests of Madagascar.

AI incorporated into Korean traditional processional court music

2025/03/11 20:00

An unlikely encounter between Korea's traditional court music and artificial intelligence offers audiences the chance to indulge in the lost lyrics of the past. Lee Eun-jin explains. The royal processional music of the Joseon-era kings as they departed from and returned to their palaces will be performed on stage at the Yeakdang Hall of the National Gugak Center in Seoul. The royal processional music of the Joseon Dynasty followed a specific format. Starting with chulgungak, for when the king leaves the palace then haengak, for during the procession. Hwangungak is played upon his return and finally, yeollyeak banquet music is performed after his arrival at the palace. "Under the title 'Haengak and Boheoja: Steps of Heaven and Earth' it's less a restoration, and more a three-dimensional production of the royal family's elegant yet brilliant processional court music." Boheoja -a repertoire of Korean court music -sings of a peaceful reign. But the last of its three parts only survived as an instrumental piece. In this production, AI was used to generate new verses. AI models were trained on 350 of Crown Prince Hyo-myeong's works, one of the most prolific 'hansi' poets of the Joseon era. They were cross-referenced with over 100 poems by scholars Jeong Yak-yong and Kim Jeong-hui for the newly composed lyrics. "The old books of poems written with brushes were digitized. After all the Chinese characters were processed, old Korean translation samples were also collected and input." 'Boheoja' is performed in Korean traditional opera, telling the story of King Sejo, the 7th monarch of the Joseon dynasty, and Prince Anpyeong, who was sacrificed as a victim of King Sejo's lust for power. "27 years after the Gyeyu-Jeongnan coup where did Moosim, the daughter of Anpyeong, go? Perhaps pacing around her father's traces." The fundamental rhythm and scales are based on traditional music, but the complicated sounds in between have been removed, to bring a so-called ballad-style pansori, expected to be more widely received by the audience. "We follow the more simple flow of the traditional sounds, but the complicated sounds in between (haha) that even I can't relate to, have been taken out." Led by young director Kim Jeong, who has been garnering attention in the theater industry, experienced singers will be staging the Life of Remorse, at the National Gugak Center in Seoul on March 13th and 14th. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

AI incorporated into Korean traditional processional court music

2025/03/11 17:00

An unlikely encounter between Korea's traditional court music and artificial intelligence offers audiences the chance to indulge in the lost lyrics of the past. Lee Eun-jin explains. The royal processional music of the Joseon-era kings as they departed from and returned to their palaces will be performed on stage at the Yeakdang Hall of the National Gugak Center in Seoul. The royal processional music of the Joseon Dynasty followed a specific format. Starting with chulgungak, for when the king leaves the palace then haengak, for during the procession. Hwangungak is played upon his return and finally, yeollyeak banquet music is performed after his arrival at the palace. "Under the title 'Haengak and Boheoja: Steps of Heaven and Earth' it's less a restoration, and more a three-dimensional production of the royal family's elegant yet brilliant processional court music." Boheoja -a repertoire of Korean court music -sings of a peaceful reign. But the last of its three parts only survived as an instrumental piece. In this production, AI was used to generate new verses. AI models were trained on 350 of Crown Prince Hyo-myeong's works, one of the most prolific 'hansi' poets of the Joseon era. They were cross-referenced with over 100 poems by scholars Jeong Yak-yong and Kim Jeong-hui for the newly composed lyrics. "The old books of poems written with brushes were digitized. After all the Chinese characters were processed, old Korean translation samples were also collected and input." 'Boheoja' is performed in Korean traditional opera, telling the story of King Sejo, the 7th monarch of the Joseon dynasty, and Prince Anpyeong, who was sacrificed as a victim of King Sejo's lust for power. "27 years after the Gyeyu-Jeongnan coup where did Moosim, the daughter of Anpyeong, go? Perhaps pacing around her father's traces." The fundamental rhythm and scales are based on traditional music, but the complicated sounds in between have been removed, to bring a so-called ballad-style pansori, expected to be more widely received by the audience. "We follow the more simple flow of the traditional sounds, but the complicated sounds in between (haha) that even I can't relate to, have been taken out." Led by young director Kim Jeong, who has been garnering attention in the theater industry, experienced singers will be staging the Life of Remorse, at the National Gugak Center in Seoul on March 13th and 14th. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-wave] AI incorporated into Korean traditional processional court music

2025/03/11 14:00

The Court Music Orchestra of the National Gugak Center will soon be staging a performance centered on court music from the Joseon Dynasty. There are some special elements to the performance, titled " Haengak and Boheoja: Steps of Heaven and Earth," including the involvement of AI technology in reconstructing some of the lyrics. Lee Eun-jin has the details. The royal processional music of the Joseon-era kings as they departed from and returned to their palaces will be performed on stage at the Yeakdang Hall of the National Gugak Center in Seoul. The royal processional music of the Joseon Dynasty followed a specific format. Starting with chulgungak, for when the king leaves the palace then haengak, for during the procession. Hwangungak is played upon his return and finally, yeollyeak banquet music is performed after his arrival at the palace. "Under the title 'Haengak and Boheoja: Steps of Heaven and Earth' it's less a restoration, and more a three-dimensional production of the royal family's elegant yet brilliant processional court music." Boheoja -a repertoire of Korean court music -sings of a peaceful reign. But the last of its three parts only survived as an instrumental piece. In this production, AI was used to generate new verses. AI models were trained on 350 of Crown Prince Hyo-myeong's works, one of the most prolific 'hansi' poets of the Joseon era. They were cross-referenced with over 100 poems by scholars Jeong Yak-yong and Kim Jeong-hui for the newly composed lyrics. "The old books of poems written with brushes were digitized. After all the Chinese characters were processed, old Korean translation samples were also collected and input." 'Boheoja' is performed in Korean traditional opera, telling the story of King Sejo, the 7th monarch of the Joseon dynasty, and Prince Anpyeong, who was sacrificed as a victim of King Sejo's lust for power. "27 years after the Gyeyu-Jeongnan coup where did Moosim, the daughter of Anpyeong, go? Perhaps pacing around her father's traces." The fundamental rhythm and scales are based on traditional music, but the complicated sounds in between have been removed, to bring a so-called ballad-style pansori, expected to be more widely received by the audience. "We follow the more simple flow of the traditional sounds, but the complicated sounds in between (haha) that even I can't relate to, have been taken out." Led by young director Kim Jeong, who has been garnering attention in the theater industry, experienced singers will be staging the Life of Remorse, at the National Gugak Center in Seoul on March 13th and 14th. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] Singer Wheesung found dead at home... singer's agency expresses heartbreak

2025/03/11 14:00

Wheesung was a big part of my teens and even if you were not a fan, most Koreans in their twenties to forties know at least one of his hit songs. Walter, tell us what we know so far. Yes, early 2000's singer Wheesung , real name Choi Wheesung , has died at the age of 43. He was found at his apartment in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul at roughly 6:29 p.m. on Monday. Some time had passed before the singer was found by his mother who then called the emergency services. According to the police, so far there are no signs of intrusion or crime, and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. Debuting in 2002, Wheesung gained recognition as a ballad and R&B singer with hit songs such as 2002's "Can’t We" , 2003's With Me, and "The Day We Meet Again." . He has also worked with artists such as Ailee and Twice. He was set to perform alongside fellow ballad singer KCM at Exco in Daegu on Saturday. Now we move onto Jennie from Blackpink, it's no surprise that her solo album is doing great. How well has it been doing? Blackpink leader Jennie’s solo album, "Ruby", which was released just last Friday, has risen to the top of iTunes' "Top Albums" charts in 21 countries and regions, including the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. Additionally, it secured the No. 1 spot on the daily digital bestseller charts of China's QQ Music and Kugou Music. The music video for the title track "Like Jennie" also topped YouTube’s trending videos and popular rising videos charts. Jennie also held a showcase in Los Angeles to celebrate the release of "Ruby" stunning audiences with her performances becoming a viral sensation across social media. Like you said, there was no doubt that her album was going to be a success. I have had "Like Jennie" on repeat all week. We are staying on the topic of solos and a first for a fourth generation idol, who are we talking about? Yes, I am super excited about this. I am an ahjay fan of this girl group, I sound so gross. Anyway, I'm talking about Yeji from the girl group ITZY becoming the first member of the group to launch a solo career. On Monday, a press conference was held at a hotel in Seoul to celebrate the release of Yeji’s solo debut album, "AIR". The title track, "Air", is a synth-pop song characterized by its powerful bass sound and addictive hook. Yeji personally participated in writing the lyrics, and legendary producer Park Jin-young, better known as JYP, also contributed to the album, of course he did. The album consists of four tracks: "Air", "Invasion", "Can't Slow Me, No" and "258". Yeji said, “While preparing for this album, I realized once again how much I love being a singer. If I had to rate my effort, I would give myself a perfect score of 100.”

K-wave AI News

2025/03/06 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 24th Gwangyang Maehwa Festival, or Plum Blossom Festival, will kick off this Friday, heralding the arrival of spring in Korea. Maehwa Village in Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do Province is recognized as one of Korea’s top 100 tourist destinations for its picturesque scenery. The festival will offer visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the breathtaking spring spectacle as well as the village’s traditional charms. Various activities, such as yacht rides on the Seomjin River and hot air balloon experiences, are also in store. A Gwangyang city official noted that while an unusual cold snap has made it difficult to predict the peak bloom, the plum blossoms are expected to reach full bloom this weekend and into next week. Renowned pianist Paik Kun-woo has released his third Mozart album, the final installment of his three-part Mozart piano recording project. Often described as a “seeker of truth on the keyboard,” Paik is revered for his meticulous artistry and relentless pursuit of musical depth. The album features “Fantasia in C Minor” as its centerpiece, alongside “Six German Dances,” “Adagio for Glass Harmonica,” and more. To mark the release, Paik will embark on a nationwide Mozart recital tour from this month through October. The tour kicks off in Yeosu this Saturday and will be held across 17 cities, including Seoul, Incheon, Andong, and Miryang. The 'Netmarble Game Museum' has officially opened in Seoul's Guro-gu District. Located at the headquarters of Korea's major game developer, Netmarble, the museum showcases a collection of over 2,000 items, including early console game devices, game software, and other collectibles. The museum's inaugural exhibition focuses on the history of Korean computer games, presenting them through key themes and a chronological timeline. Established by the Netmarble Cultural Foundation, the museum aims to promote the social and cultural value of 게임 while reexamining the gaming industry and its cultural impact. That’s all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-wave] MMCA Exhibition features art by Asian women

2025/03/06 14:00

Developed as part of an Asian art project by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, an exhibition took place in Seoul showcasing around 130 works of post-1960s art by female artists from 11 Asian countries. The art pieces portray the perspective of female bodies. Lee Eun-jin has the story. This painting of a topless woman strutting in the middle of Myeong-dong in the 1970s represents the women who challenged the status quo of society's gender norms. Rough-textured concrete letters and unstructured waste wood pieces express the desire to escape institutional and disciplinary suppression. The elongated fabric rolled out from a structure that embodies a prison symbolizes the solidarity of women fighting for escape. "This installation of paintings expresses women in colonial Philippines the various social and historical stories of the Philippines, from the perspective of a female artist." The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art collected works that independently express the woman's body, and brought a large-scale exhibition of female Asian artists under the title "Connecting Bodies". There are more than 130 pieces by female artists from 11 different Asian countries since the 1960s. This is the first time for some of the works, including the works of Paik Nam-june's wife Kubota Shigeko and Mitsuko Tabe, as well as Chinese artist Guo Peng, to be showcased in Korea. "This exhibition showcases the artwork of Asian women not by defining it as a typology or ideology, but by telling the many stories of society through the lens of the body." Rather than organizing works in chronological order, or by artists or region, the exhibition is made up of six thematic sections, with focus put on the value of communication and connection, expressed through the body. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] Singer Lee Mi-ja announces retirement after 66 years

2025/03/06 14:00

Bella, today we have fully packed stories on Korean singers. Who are we going to talk about first? We are going to start off with singer Lee Mi-ja. Lee Mi-ja has announced her farewell performance as she declared that she will cease all activities after next month’s concert, indicating her intention to retire. On Wednesday, Lee Mi-ja held a press conference to discuss her upcoming concert, “Connecting the Pulse.” She will share the stage with younger traditional Korean music artists, Joo Hyun-mi and Jo Hang-jo, who will carry on her legacy. Lee Mi-ja’s farewell concert will be held on April 26th and 27th at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. Let’s hear what she had to say at the press conference. Next, we have another farewell story from one of the members of Seventeen. Seventeen Wonwoo is set to enlist in the military, becoming the second member of the group to begin his service following Jeonghan. His agency, Pledis Entertainment, announced on Wednesday, that Wonwoo will begin his mandatory military service on April 3rd. As a result, Wonwoo will not be able to participate in scheduled activities after his enlistment, including the “Tecate Pa'l Norte 2025” festival in April and Seventeen’s Japan fan meeting. However, the agency reassured fans by saying that he will take part in the “Carat Land” fan meeting concerts on March 20th and 21st and will also make sure to stay connected with fans through pre-prepared content. And to end off on a happy note, we have some exciting news about singer-songwriter YOUNHA . Singer-songwriter YOUNHA is getting married! YOUNHA announced the news by posting a hand-written letter on her fan cafe on Wednesday. She wrote, “I have found my reliable partner in life and will be getting married.” She added, “I will now support and encourage your life as a stronger and more stable YOUNHA.” Her agency, C9 Entertainment, announced that YOUNHA will hold a private wedding ceremony with family and close friends at the end of this month with a non-celebrity fiancé. YOUNHA debuted in Japan back in 2004, before launching her career in Korea. She released several hit songs, including “Event Horizon” and “Password 486.” Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

Rise of virtual idols broadens K-pop spectrum

2025/03/05 20:00

On the entertainment front. A virtual idol group is gaining a fan base thanks to advances in technology. Our Park Kun-woo met up with the group and explores what's behind it all. Five K-pop band members who claim to come from outer space. They make up PLAVE, the first virtual idol group to sell over a million albums. As their fan base continues to expand, a special cafe has even been created, offering an exclusive space for fans to enjoy related content. Fans from all over the world gather here daily, proving the popularity of these virtual idols. "I think it was just really refreshing. I didn't really listen to K-pop that much before. I was also interested in the technology behind it." Artists like PLAVE, who use motion capture technology from sensors attached to real artists behind the avatars, tend to be more popular than those created purely with advanced technology without an actual person. As a result, more motion-captured idols are being created, and finding ways to reach a broader audience. "Virtual idol groups aren't just performing but they're connecting with fans just like any real-life idols. Let me show you how they send their love." Virtual idols also have advantages on the production side, especially as they save time and money. "They don't need travel time or large entourages during tours and since they're not real people, the risk of mistakes is minimized. Investment costs are much lower compared to real artists, especially in areas like appearance management." The virtual artist market is growing rapidly and one research firm predicts it will grow tenfold by 2028 compared to 2021. "Virtual idols are based on animation and sub-culture, which makes it somewhat difficult to connect with the mainstream audience at first. But if they continue to share their "humanity" with their own stories included in their music-making efforts, they could gradually break through and become more accepted." He also said virtual idols with "humanity" traits are similar to real K-pop idols in terms of their appeal to the audience, meaning the K-pop scene would be able to continue expanding, breaking beyond reality. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Rise of virtual idols broadens K-pop spectrum

2025/03/05 17:00

On the entertainment front. Virtual idols are doing their part to better promote K-pop amid a growing fan base and greater advances in technology. Our Park Kun-woo met up with one such group. Five K-pop band members who claim to come from outer space. They make up PLAVE, the first virtual idol group to sell over a million albums. As their fan base continues to expand, a special cafe has even been created, offering an exclusive space for fans to enjoy related content. Fans from all over the world gather here daily, proving the popularity of these virtual idols. "I think it was just really refreshing. I didn't really listen to K-pop that much before. I was also interested in the technology behind it." Artists like PLAVE, who use motion capture technology from sensors attached to real artists behind the avatars, tend to be more popular than those created purely with advanced technology without an actual person. As a result, more motion-captured idols are being created, and finding ways to reach a broader audience. "Virtual idol groups aren't just performing but they're connecting with fans just like any real-life idols. Let me show you how they send their love." Virtual idols also have advantages on the production side, especially as they save time and money. "They don't need travel time or large entourages during tours and since they're not real people, the risk of mistakes is minimized. Investment costs are much lower compared to real artists, especially in areas like appearance management." The virtual artist market is growing rapidly and one research firm predicts it will grow tenfold by 2028 compared to 2021. "Virtual idols are based on animation and sub-culture, which makes it somewhat difficult to connect with the mainstream audience at first. But if they continue to share their "humanity" with their own stories included in their music-making efforts, they could gradually break through and become more accepted." He also said virtual idols with "humanity" traits are similar to real K-pop idols in terms of their appeal to the audience, meaning the K-pop scene would be able to continue expanding, breaking beyond reality. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Passion for K-fashion in Australia

2025/03/05 14:00

Once a week we connect live to a correspondent overseas who fills us in on K-culture issues in their country. Today we will talk about K-fashion, which has been expanding its presence in the global fashion market, including in Australia. We are now connected to our K-correspondent, fashion writer Alexandra Feiam in Australia. Hello Alexandra! Q1-1. Alexandra, can you please tell us a little bit about yourself, as well as your interest in Korea? Q1-2. We heard you were quite surprised by Koreans’ passion for fashion? Q2-1. What about Australians? Walter, let me ask YOU first, you're from Australia. Were you into fashion back in Australia, and did things change for you after coming to Korea? Q2-2. Alexandra, in general, are Australians big fashion lovers? Also, where do they do their shopping? (online, offline, what kind of stores, etc.) Q3. As the Korean wave is spreading worldwide, K-fashion is also gradually taking over. As a fashion writer, do you feel this happening? Q4. So, how popular is K-fashion in Australia? And through which routes are Australians exposed to Korean fashion? Q5. How well known are Korean fashion brands and what are some unique features that make them popular? Q6. Many young people in Australia are influenced by K-pop idols’ fashion I hear? Which ones in particular? Q7. We see many Korean idols active as fashion brand ambassadors. How do you assess this trend and how much influence do they have on the fashion industry? Q8. (According to figures released by Seoul city last week, some 6.71 million U.S. dollars were secured from the 2025 F/W Seoul Fashion Week recently, with 100 international buyers having taken part in it.) Do you see any chances that Korea could become a fashion mecca as big as Paris, New York, Milan, London or Tokyo?

[K-enter] Jennie enters Billboard's 'Hot 100' for the fourth time

2025/03/05 14:00

Now it's time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Walter, today we are starting off with news on Blackpink's Jennie. I told you we have nothing but 100% of the best entertainment news for you today and starting off with Queen J for Jennie and her recent release "ExtraL" . This marks the fourth time Jennie has had a solo track enter Billboard’s main singles chart, the ‘Hot 100.’ This comes as we count down to the release of "RUBY" which is Jennie’s first solo album since her debut as a Blackpink member. There are only two more days left until we get the full album as it will be released worldwide on March 7. In this album, Jennie plans to showcase a diverse range of music that reflects her identity, collaborating with renowned musicians, and with her releases so far such as "Mantra" and "Love Hangover," we are definitely seeing that range. But she is not the only one in the 'Hot 100' is she? That's correct. According to Billboard, my boy Jimin and his title track "WHO" from his second solo album "MUSE" ranked No. 33 on the ‘Hot 100’ climbing 11 spots from last week’s No. 44. "WHO" has now spent 31 weeks on the chart, tying the record set by PSY’s 2012 global hit "Gangnam Style." The only K-pop song to chart longer than "WHO" and "Gangnam Style" on the ‘Hot 100’ is you've guessed it BTS’s "Dynamite" with 32 weeks. Congratulations to both Jennie and Jimin and for keeping our theme of 100 alive for today. Staying with K-pop and moving onto a boy group that is set to entertain stages in Japan and around the world. That's right. Boy group ENHYPEN will hold four concerts for their "ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR 'WALK THE LINE' IN JAPAN -SUMMER EDITION"-at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium on July 5 and July 6 and Osaka’s Yanmar Stadium Nagai on August 2 and August 3. From November 2024 to January 2025, ENHYPEN successfully completed a three-city dome tour in Japan, performing at Belluna Dome in Saitama, Fukuoka PayPay Dome, and Kyocera Dome Osaka. In June, ENHYPEN will take the stage at Rajamangala National Stadium, Thailand’s largest concert venue. In April, the group will perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the largest music festival in the U.S. Sounds like a busy but exciting schedule for the group and good luck to them. Lastly, let's delve into Korean animation. Korean animation "Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning" which was released on February 21, had surpassed 300,000 viewers as of the morning of Tuesday, March 4. The animated prequel "Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning" explores the origins of its protagonists, taking a different path from the original storyline. It unveils how the disgraced ex-priest Father Park, vengeance-driven martial artist Hyeon-am , and gifted young shaman Joon-hoo unite to form an unlikely team. It is based on the fantasy novel of the same name, which has sold over 10 million copies and amassed 230 million online views.

[Features reporter] Rise of virtual idols broadens K-pop spectrum

2025/03/05 14:00

Kun-woo, I heard you had the chance to dive deeper into the K-pop scene. What do you have for us this week? That's right. I had the amazing opportunity to speak with the members of a virtual idol group and also see how fans are following these virtual artists. But before I tell you more, follow me into the "virtual world." Five K-pop band members who claim to come from outer space. They make up PLAVE, the first virtual idol group to sell over a million albums. As their fan base continues to expand, a special cafe has even been created, offering an exclusive space for fans to enjoy related content. Fans from all over the world gather here daily, proving the popularity of these virtual idols. "I think it was just really refreshing. I didn't really listen to K-pop that much before. I was also interested in the technology behind it." Artists like PLAVE, who use motion capture technology from sensors attached to real artists behind the avatars, tend to be more popular than those created purely with advanced technology without an actual person. As a result, more motion-captured idols are being created, and finding ways to reach a broader audience. "Virtual idol groups aren’t just performing but they’re connecting with fans just like any real-life idols. Let me show you how they send their love." Virtual idols also have advantages on the production side, especially as they save time and money. "They don't need travel time or large entourages during tours and since they're not real people, the risk of mistakes is minimized. Investment costs are much lower compared to real artists, especially in areas like appearance management." The virtual artist market is growing rapidly and one research firm predicts it will grow tenfold by 2028 compared to 2021. "Virtual idols are based on animation and sub-culture, which makes it somewhat difficult to connect with the mainstream audience at first. But if they continue to share their "humanity" with their own stories included in their music-making efforts, they could gradually break through and more accepted." He also said virtual idols with "humanity" traits are similar to real K-pop idols in terms of their appeal to the audience, meaning the K-pop scene would be able to continue expanding, breaking beyond reality. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News. These idol groups may be virtual, but their popularity is "real" for real. And the numbers show that too I remember PLAVE recently entered the Billboard Global 200 chart, as the first virtual artists to do so. Your coverage is making me want to fanboy over some of them! So, can you tell us more about these virtual idol groups? Yes, so if you're interested in following some virtual idols, PLAVE is definitely one of the good choices. The fan culture I witnessed at the "PLAVE cafe," looked so much fun with fans sharing merchandise and information. And as you might expect, their concerts are incredibly popular as the tickets were sold out in just 10 minutes. But as I'm sure you're all familiar with PLAVE now, I'd like to introduce some other groups. The first one is Priz-V whom I had the chance to speak with. And I brought a special message for our viewers from them. First, take a listen. "Hello Arirang TV viewers! This is Priz-V! We've got a lot of exciting things coming up, so stay tuned and please show us your love and support. I truly appreciate it. Thank you! ! " So that was a lovely message from Priz-V who are preparing for their new release this April. Also, there's a boy band called AEONIT that will be releasing a new digital single next week. And I'm now wondering won't the rise of virtual idols be a threat to human K-pop trainees? As it's known that there are over a million K-pop trainees these days, it's quite interesting to think about that. I've been talking about it with my trainee friends as well. One expert I spoke to said this can actually be a new opportunity for the trainees. "The K-pop idol market is dominated by appearance and the endless pursuit of youth, constantly seeking replacements. So, if the idol trainees are tired of the system or can't express their strong musical philosophy due to various practical constraints, becoming a virtual artist can certainly be an opportunity." He also said that the fusion of technology and humans will continue in the future, and he hopes that whether as a virtual artist or a human artist, it's crucial to establish one's own music philosophy and style to succeed in the industry. Let's hope for a healthy coexistence of virtual and human K-pop artists. Alright Kun-woo, thanks for all of that. We'll see you next time. Thank you Kun-woo.