News

[Short-form] Winter fun in Seoul you won’t want to miss

2025/01/21 14:00

Looking for exciting activities this winter vacation? Explore and catch the winter fun in the city before it slips away!

[K-enter] 'KickFlip', JYP Entertainment's first boy group to debut in 7 yearssecond inauguration day

2025/01/21 14:00

It's time for our daily dose of K-entertainment news with Walter Lee. Now, Walter you talked about them on a recent episode and we did say we would report on them again very soon, we are talking about JYP's new boy group 'KickFlip'. Yes! KickFlip, held a showcase on Monday afternoon to commemorate the release of their debut mini-album 'Flip it, Kick it!' and finally made their official debut. 'KickFlip' is a team led by leader Gyehun and are made up of four other Korean members, Donghwa , Juwang , Minje , Donghyun and two Japanese members, Amaru and Keiju . Their debut mini-album, Flip it, Kick it!, features six tracks, including the title song "Mama Said," as well as "Umm Great" "Warriors," and "Like a Monster." Notably, KickFlip’s first album, 'Flip it, Kick it!', surpassed 300,000 pre-orders as of January 15th. By 10pm on Monday, it ranked first on real-time album charts Hanteo Chart and Circle Chart. Good luck to 'KickFlip' on their new endeavours. Sticking with boybands but this time a generous donation by one, to a great cause. According to the social welfare foundation 'Walking with Us' on Tuesday, boy band RIIZE donated 100 million Korean won, that's just short of 70 thousand U.S. dollars, in the name of their fan club, BRIIZE, to support cultural and artistic programs for children and teenagers. Previously, RIIZE had also donated proceeds from the sales of their "RIMEticon event" where they invited fans to freely use photos and videos previously uploaded on RIIZE’s official social media accounts to create their own “RIMEticon,” a combination of RIIZE and emoticons, which was launched to commemorate the release of their first mini-album 'RIIZING'. With this donation, RIIZE has contributed over 120 million Korean won, just over 80 thousand U.S. dollars, in total to support the 'All-Kidstra' program and cultural arts education for underprivileged youths, continuing to encourage children and adolescents in pursuing their dreams and aspirations. A truly heartfelt story and hopefully a donation that goes a long way. Now on Monday with Professor Soh, our movie expert, we briefly talked about this movie but you have some updates on it. On Monday afternoon, a press screening and media conference for the film from a spin off of the 2015 film 'The Priests', 'Dark Nuns' was held with director Kwon Hyuk-jae , along with actors including the star Song Hye-kyo . 'Dark Nuns' tells the story of individuals who undertake a forbidden ritual to save a boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit. It is the second installment following the 2015 film The Priests, which captivated 5.4 million viewers. Song Hye-kyo plays the role of Sister Yunia . Song revealed that she challenged herself with her first on-screen smoking scenes in this project. She explained, "The first scene is a big close-up of a smoking moment. I didn’t want to fake it. While filming the movie, I practiced acting a lot, but I also practiced smoking quite a bit." The Priests 2: Dark Nuns will be released on January 24 just in time for the holidays.

Robert Pattinson visits Korea for first time to promote upcoming "Mickey 17"

2025/01/20 20:00

Legendary Korean director Bong Joon-ho's first new film in six years, "Mickey 17," will be released next month. Before its official release, he and the lead actor, Robert Pattinson are on a promotional tour here in Korea. Here's our Park Kun-woo with takeaways from that event. The first Korean director to win an Oscar, Bong Joon-ho, is set to return to the big screen with his new film, "Mickey 17." With just about a month to go until its premiere, global promotions have kicked off this week, starting in Bong's home country. "Hollywood star Robert Pattinson, starring as Mickey, the main character of Mickey 17, is in Korea for the first time to meet fans. He and director Bong Joon-ho are holding a press conference at this cinema, and we're about to go meet them. Follow me." "Annyeonghaseyo. I always wanted to come. And just really really excited to show you guys the movie." He also shared why he wanted to appear in Bong's movie. "Bong manages, with a sense of humor, a very very prominent and such a huge movie. We turned up on set and it looked like a giant Star Wars-looking thing. (Bong is probably one of the) four or five directors in the world working now that has that kind of appeal I think to every single actor in the world." Bong stressed that he had aimed to make a sci-fi movie with a strong human touch. "It's a sci-fi film full of the scent of humanity. Humans are printed out like documents from a printer, which in itself is very dehumanizing. You feel how miserable this character is. But despite that, you see how he overcomes his struggles." He added he tried to set the movie in the near future to make it more tangible for people. "You couldn't even have imagined talking with Chat GPT in the previous decade. The events in the movie may seem like science fiction, but they could happen to you soon." Fans waiting for the movie's release also waited from the early morning to see their favorite movie star and director. "Young girls who watched "Twilight" must have liked him. I have been waiting from the early morning cause I was happy to see him at last in Korea. Everybody will be waiting for the upcoming movie." Amid high anticipation, "Mickey 17" is set to screen at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival next month ahead of its theater premieres. With its premiere in Korea on February 28th ahead of other countries, one question remains: Will the new movie create another global sensation? Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Movies to watch out for during Lunar New Year holidays

2025/01/20 14:00

In a week from now, the Lunar New Year holidays will begin, with January 27th having been designated as a temporary holiday a great opportunity to catch a movie. Today we will look into the latest hits and upcoming releases that are expected to draw visitors to the theaters during the holidays and beyond. We’ll do that with our movie expert Jae Soh , Professor and filmmaker at Seoul Institute of the Arts. Welcome Professor Soh! Q1. Let’s begin with the latest Korean movies that are doing great at the box office and your forecast for the movie sector during the lunar new year holiday season. Q2. There are a number of new domestic films currently being promoted in the run-up to their release. Please tell us about them. Q3. From occult to comedy to romance there seems to be a variety of genres to look out for. But is there a particular movie we should keep an eye on? Q4. How do you see the audience’s preferences and trends change and will the movies at the beginning of the year set the tone for the trends in the rest of the year? Q5. The Lunar New Year holiday as well as the Chuseok holiday here in Korea are also the best seasons to stay at home with the family and watch fun movies on TV. What’s lined up for next week’s holidays? Q6. Going back to the box office. There are voices of concern that the back-to-back releases of movies may have a negative impact in terms of competition? What’s your assessment? Q7. Finally, can we expect any positive long-term impacts of the lunar new year holiday season on the film industry?

[K-enter] Rosé's "APT" No. 2 on UK Singles Chart for 3rd Straight Week...Jimin's "Who" Hits 20-Week Milestone

2025/01/20 14:00

Time for the latest in the world of K-entertainment with Walter Lee. We have updates on two artists doing well in the UK charts. Another week has passed, and Rosé still remains at No. 2 on the UK Official Singles Chart Top 100 for a third consecutive week, continuing her outstanding run with her song "APT" feat. Bruno Mars. For anyone who may not be familiar with the UK Official Singles Chart Top 100, it is the equivalent to the U.S. Billboard Top 100, where Rosé is at no.5 at the moment. There was speculation that the single might actually reach No. 1 last week, but we might just have to wait until the next chart update to see if she can grab that top spot. Let's all hope she can top the charts this week! Standing in her way is Gracie Abrams' "That's So True." And who is our other artist? Staying with the UK charts, BTS Jimin’s song titled “Who” remains strong. It is in the UK Official Singles Chart for its 20th consecutive week, currently sitting at no.13. But this is a special moment for Jimin, as his song surpasses PSY's "Gentleman" to make it the second longest-charting K-pop solo song in UK chart history, second only to PSY's legendary 2012 hit "Gangnam Style." We are sticking to a K-pop theme today and we want to give a review of NCT 127's latest tour. Let's talk about NCT 127's fourth world tour, "Neo City: The Link – The Moment", which started with two sold-out shows at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome on Saturday and Sunday, drawing 37,000 fans. The concert showcased their explosive energy and iconic performances, featuring hits like "Gas," "2 Baddies," and "Sticker,". Despite performing as six members due to enlistments and departures, the group displayed unwavering unity, impressing fans with their sharp choreography and powerful live vocals across a 26-song setlist. The production was equally mesmerising, with massive LED screens, lasers, lifts forming pyramids, and cinematic VCRs that added to the show. After a successful Seoul run, NCT 127 will continue their tour across 14 cities worldwide, including Jakarta, Bangkok, Toronto, Osaka, LA and more. Ending off with some K-drama news. The trailer for the Netflix series "The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call", starring Ju Ji-hoon , has been released. The medical drama series follows the story of Baek Kang-hyuk , played by Ju, a brilliant surgeon who served in war zones and now takes on the task of reviving a struggling trauma team at an infamous hospital. The K-drama is based on a popular webtoon of the same name, which gained widespread love for its inventive storyline. The Netflix series The Trauma Code will premiere worldwide on Netflix on the 24th. That's going to be later this week. Alright, thank you for your K-enter updates Walter. Stick around. For other culture-related new, we now turn to our AI anchor Ari! Take it away!

International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo underway in Monaco

2025/01/20 10:00

In Monaco, the 47th International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo is underway. The event created by Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1974, brings together top circus performers from around the globe, competing for the Golden Clown Award. It runs from January 17th to the 26th. Highlights of this year's festival include a record-breaking act featuring over 40 animals in the ring at once, a debut performance by China's renowned bicycle acrobats, and a daring quadruple somersault by Mexican trapeze artists. Young talents from the "New Generation" competition will also showcase their skills alongside seasoned artists.

[Arts & Culture] [80 years of Korean Liberation] 'The pen is mightier than the sword'

2025/01/17 20:00

Time now for our Weekly Arts and Culture segment. We have our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin in the studio. Welcome, Yoo-jin! Happy Friday! What do you have for us today? As you'll already know, I'm sure, this year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule. To honor this historic milestone, a variety of stage and screen productions are bringing the story of Korea's independence movement to audiences. For this week, here are two productions that introduce Korean freedom fighters on stage and on screen. "Higher than the sky." "We refuse to accept this statement!" Four young men and women sing with passion, even with guns pressed into their backs. Their mission: to protect the Korean language from being erased during Japan's colonial rule. This homegrown musical, "Yesterday's Poem, Tomorrow's Song," brings to life the struggles of young Korean independence fighters to defend their language and culture through poetry, when forced to adopt Japanese. This is the first musical to use the poetry of Kim So-wol as its lyrics. Kim, one of Korea's most beloved poets, lived during the Japanese colonial period from 1910 to 1945. "Korea's independence movement was also about the power of words, poetry, and speech. We wanted to highlight not only the lyrical beauty of Kim So-wol's poetry but also the deep emotions tied to our history and identity." "There are countless films, dramas, and performances about the independence movement. But our musical focuses on cultural efforts, young people who believed in fighting through creativity and expression." Alongside the musical, other creative projects are honoring the sacrifices and resilience of independence activists, as this year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan. The film "Baeksan-From Uiryeong to Balhae" is another example. The documentary tells the story of independence activist Ahn Hee-je, who ran a trading company that served as the financial backbone of the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai. "Ahn believed in nurturing people and fostering education to build a better future. He understood that independence required not just weapons but also resources, networks, and platforms to sustain the movement. His trading company, similar to today's largest conglomerates, also helped train independence fighters." Using advanced AI technology, Director Chin vividly brought Ahn's story to life on screen. Drone footage of Balhae Farm, a rice farm Ahn founded to support displaced Korean farmers and fund the independence movement, shows his vision: a haven where independence grew through empowerment. "While armed resistance played a significant role in the independence movement, we must also recognize there were many figures like Ahn, who worked behind the scenes to provide the critical resources that made such efforts possible." These stories remind us that freedom was won through countless acts of courage in many forms. These two productions really prove that the pen can be as mighty, or sometimes even mightier, than the sword. Yoo-jin, you mentioned earlier that there are several productions here in Korea focusing on the independence movement. Could you tell us about some other notable works? Sure. There's the film "Harbin," starring actor Hyun Bin. Since its release on Christmas Eve, Harbin has dominated the domestic box office, holding the top spot for 24 consecutive days. So far, it has sold over four million tickets. The film is a historical drama that tells the story of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, played by Hyun Bin. It focuses on his mission to assassinate Ito Hirobumi, Japan's first prime minister and resident-general of Korea, at Harbin Station in China. And there's good news for our international viewers. "Harbin" is already being screened in theaters across the U.S., Indonesia, and Malaysia, and it's set to premiere in Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan later this month. And Yoo-jin, what events can we look forward to this year celebrating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan? Since it's still early in the year, not all plans have been announced yet. However, according to the Culture Ministry, museums under its wing will host exhibitions to mark the occasion. This year also marks 60 years of normalization of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of events are held as the year unfolds. Hope you keep us updated throughout the year, Yoo-jin. Thank you for your report today. My pleasure.

[80 years of Korean Liberation] 'The pen is mightier than the sword': Meet freedom fighters on stage and screen

2025/01/17 17:00

This year Korea marks 80 years of liberation from Japanese colonial rule and in light of this occasion a series of screen and stage productions have been scheduled to share with audiences the selfless sacrifices of the country's independence activists. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports. "Higher than the sky." "We refuse to accept this statement!" Four young men and women sing with passion, even with guns pressed into their backs. Their mission: to protect the Korean language from being erased during Japan's colonial rule. This homegrown musical, "Yesterday's Poem, Tomorrow's Song," brings to life the struggles of young Korean independence fighters to defend their language and culture through poetry, when forced to adopt Japanese. This is the first musical to use the poetry of Kim So-wol as its lyrics. Kim, one of Korea's most beloved poets, lived during the Japanese colonial period from 1910 to 1945. "Korea's independence movement was also about the power of words, poetry, and speech. We wanted to highlight not only the lyrical beauty of Kim So-wol's poetry but also the deep emotions tied to our history and identity." "There are countless films, dramas, and performances about the independence movement. But our musical focuses on cultural efforts, young people who believed in fighting through creativity and expression." Alongside the musical, other creative projects are honoring the sacrifices and resilience of independence activists, as this year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan. The film "Baeksan-From Uiryeong to Balhae" is another example. The documentary tells the story of independence activist Ahn Hee-je, who ran a trading company that served as the financial backbone of the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai. "Ahn believed in nurturing people and fostering education to build a better future. He understood that independence required not just weapons but also resources, networks, and platforms to sustain the movement. His trading company, similar to today's largest conglomerates, also helped train independence fighters." Using advanced AI technology, Director Chin vividly brought Ahn's story to life on screen. Drone footage of Balhae Farm, a rice farm Ahn founded to support displaced Korean farmers and fund the independence movement, shows his vision: a haven where independence grew through empowerment. "While armed resistance played a significant role in the independence movement, we must also recognize there were many figures like Ahn, who worked behind the scenes to provide the critical resources that made such efforts possible." These stories remind us that freedom was won through countless acts of courage in many forms. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] K-pop Groups Dominate U.S. CD Sales in 2024

2025/01/17 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Today, we start off with a big milestone by K-pop artists in the U.S. K-pop groups, including Stray Kids, Enhypen and Ateez, dominated CD sales in the United States last year. According to the Year-End Music Report released by music data tracking company Luminate, seven K-pop albums ranked in the top 10 CD sales in the U.S for the year of 2024. Stray Kids led the K-pop charge, securing the second-highest spot on the ranking, with their album “Ate” selling 442,000 copies. The group’s latest release, “Hop,” also performed well, ranking fifth. Another group who made the ranking is Enhypen with their album “Romance: Untold” making third, selling about 360,000 copies. In addition, Ateez made a strong showing with two entries in the top 10. The group’s “Golden Hour: Part. 1” and “Golden Hour: Part. 2” placed fourth and seventh, respectively. Tomorrow by Together’s “minisode 3: Tomorrow” ranked sixth and TWICE’s “With YOU-th” secured ninth place. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift’s “Tortured Poets Department” claimed the top spot with over 1.5 million copies sold. In the “overall sales” category, which combines physical CD album and digital album sales, Stray Kids and Enhypen made it into the top 10. Next, we will continue with another K-pop story. Which group are we talking about next Bella? The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation, or Komsco, has minted medals themed on the group Seventeen to celebrate the group’s 10th year anniversary. The medals have been created in collaboration with Seventeen’s agency Pledis Entertainment and its parent company HYBE. Komsco announced that the medals "encapsulate Seventeen’s identity and achievements." The design of the Seventeen 10th Anniversary Commemorative Medal features Seventeen’s official logo with a vinyl record pattern. A total of 1,000 one-ounce gold medals, 3,000 half-ounce gold medals and 13,000 silver medals will be available to buy. Lastly, you have an update on "Dark Nuns" which is a movie coming out soon. Prior to its release, “Dark Nuns” has been distributed to movie theaters in 160 countries. Its distributor, NEW, confirmed that the film will be screened to audiences from all over the world, starting with Indonesia, Taiwan, and Mongolia on January 24th. It will then open in the Philippines on January 29th, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand on February 6, and Vietnam on February 21st. The sequel, “Dark Nuns,” which comes 10 years after “The Priests,” tells the story of Sister Yunia and Sister Michaela, who go to a forbidden ceremony to save a boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit. The film will star Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-bin and it will be released in Korea on January 24th. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

[Short-form] The Four Seasons of Changdeokgung Palace

2025/01/17 14:00

Explore the charms of Changdeokgung Palace, where history and nature harmonize boasting timeless beauty in every season.

U.S. film director David Lynch dies at the age of 78

2025/01/17 10:00

American filmmaker David Lynch has died at the age of 78. The director died due to complications from emphysema, a chronic lung condition, according to his family. His celebrated creations include Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, and Mulholland Drive, all of which received best director Oscar nominations, and the TV series Twin Peaks. Lynch's career began with the 1977 classic Eraserhead, and he received an Honorary Academy Award in 2019 for his contributions to cinema. While Lynch fought health challenges in recent years, he kept working on creative endeavors until his passing.

2025 Korea Image Awards for those who promote S. Korea

2025/01/16 17:00

Every year Seoul hosts an awards ceremony to acknowledge the efforts of those who served to enhance Korea's image overseas. Our Ahn Sung-jin was at the latest event. Gold-medal fencer Oh Sang-uk, table tennis medalist Shin Yubin and star chef Edward Lee. What these figures have in common is that they have played a key role in raising Korea's image. "Since 2005, the Corea Image Communication Institute holds its annual Korea Image Awards which not only honors those who raise Korea's profile abroad, but also those who represent and shine the country." Oh became the first Asian fencer to win a grand slam of golds at the Asian Games, Asian Championships, World Championships and Olympics. "When fencing at the Olympics, I never thought about being Asia's first, which is actually what helped me win the match." Fellow Olympic medalist, Shin Yubin, who won two bronze medals in table tennis, was given the "Korea Image Flowerstone Award." Shin went viral at the Games for her positive attitude and for the snacks she ate during her breaks. "It's an honor to receive this award, and I'm glad that my accomplishments can help promote the country. I've still got a long way to go, but I will do my best to further promote South Korea." The finalist on Netflix's Culinary Class wars, Edward Kyun Lee was given the "Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award", for his efforts to introduce Korean cuisine with traditional ingredients and a modern twist. "For the past few months I was able to look back on who I am as Korean Lee Kyun. So many people from Korea have sent me love and support, and I was truly able to understand the meaning of "jeong" in Korea." These award winners show that it's not just K-pop and dramas that spread Korean culture around the world. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

An Australian who fell in love with Korean traditional alcohol

2025/01/16 14:00

From makgeolli and fruit wines, to distilled liquor like soju Korea has a wide range of traditional alcoholic beverages. Today we talk to someone who fell in love with these drinks and promotes them to foreigners in Korea and abroad. We are now joined online by Korean traditional alcohol specialist Julia Mellor, originally from Australia and currently connecting to us from the Netherlands. She is the founder of “The Sool Company”. Julia, hello! 1) It’s still mid-January. At the year end and beginning of the new year people like to gather and have some drinks. We also have the lunar new year holiday coming up. I can imagine it’s a busy season for you and your business. 2) Currently you promote and educate people about Korean alcohol, but you used to be an English instructor. Tell us about your journey here in Korea. 3) Countries around the world have their own traditional types of liquors. What’s unique about Korean traditional alcoholic beverages? And what is it about Korean “sool” that made you specialize in this field? 4) Tell us about your efforts to understand Korean traditional alcohol and what was your first experience with Korean alcohol? 5) “The Sool Company” doesn't only promote “sool”, but educates through brewing. Tell us about this process and do you have any memorable stories to share from foreigners who visited to learn about Korean traditional alcohol? 6) Please tell us about one of your visions which is to introduce Korean alcoholic drinks overseas. And that’s also the reason why you are currently in the Netherlands, right? 7) Can you share your future plans as a Korean traditional alcohol specialist?

[K-enter] "Squid Game" Season 2 Continues to Dominate Netflix Charts

2025/01/16 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Today we start with Netflix series, “Squid Game.” What do you have for us Bella? “Squid Game” Season 2 continues to captivate global audiences and is setting new milestones. It has held the No.1 position on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV chart for three consecutive weeks since its release on December 26th. The latest season is also the third most-watched series of all time on Netflix after “Squid Game” Season 1 and “Wednesday.” It also recorded the highest number of views for a follow-up series on Netflix. In the new season, the main character Gi-hun returns to Squid Game with a resolute mission to end the deadly games once and for all. Season 2 concludes with a cliffhanger, setting the stage for the complete story of “Squid Game” to reach its climax in the third season, which is scheduled to be released later this year. Next, we move onto K-pop to talk about a boy group? Boy group ATEEZ will enter KSPO DOME in Seoul for the 2025 ATEEZ World Tour “TOWARDS THE LIGHT: WILL TO POWER” FINALE IN SEOUL on March 22nd and 23rd. The title of this world tour, “Towards the Light: Will to Power,” means that we all have our own light and let’s move toward it. ATEEZ already performed across North America last year for their tour of the same name. They will start their tour “TOWARDS THE LIGHT: WILL TO POWER” IN EUROPE this weekend, where they will perform in nine countries, including the UK, France and Germany. Lastly, we have a new play that’s returning for its anniversary? Korean comedy play “The Secret of Flowers” is returning next month for its 10-year anniversary, after its premiere back in 2015. A press conference for it was held at the artist’s house in the Daehak-ro area of Seoul last Wednesday. Director of the play, Jang Jin, and actors Park Sun-ok, Lee Yeon-hee, Ahn So-hee, and Gong Seung-yeon attended the conference. The play “The Secret of Flowers” is set in Villaperosa, a small town in northwestern Italy, and tells the story of patriarchal husbands, who were into soccer and neglected to do housework. The husbands disappear in an accident overnight, but it happens that they fooled everyone for a specific purpose. The play is a work that brings out empathy and emotion while providing constant laughter through the commotion of ordinary daily life. “The Secret of Flowers” will be performed at the Link Art Center in Seoul from February 8th to May 11th. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

[K-wave] Children's fairytale books recreated into exhibition and musical performance

2025/01/16 14:00

For families with children that are now on winter vacation, there are some exhibitions and performances based on fairy tales and story books. Both parents and children can make memories while staying out of the cold and enjoying some culture. Lee Eun-jin has the story. Families take photos in front of a wall with a big picture from a children's book that parents read to their children. The children even get to interact with the main characters that have jumped out of the picture book. While visiting this fairytale exhibition, parents are also able to take the time that they didn't have in their busy schedules to read to the children, and connect with them. "It's difficult for children to participate in or enjoy exhibitions for adults, but I was happy to hear they had an exhibition for children! They could have a lot of fun." "I really enjoyed coming with my family." This exhibition set out to actualize the imagination of stepping in to a picture book. The pictures are hung at lower heights, closer to eye level for the children. "There was a book I had read, so it was even more fun reading it again here." "There was a book I had read at school so it was more fun! I want to come back again with other friends." There are immersive exhibitions that use animation and super-sized media art walls, where visitors can experience picture books from domestic authors, like Choi Sook-hee, as well as foreign artists. A picture book written by the famous author Baek Hee-na, well-known for her picture books "Magic Candies" and "Cloud Bread", is brought to the stage in a musical performance. "The Bath Fairy" tells the story of the main character Deok-ji and a fairy grandmother meeting in an old bathhouse. The magical world that the performance displays is enchanting for the children, and nostalgic for adults. Since its opening in July of 2021, the musical has attracted more than 200-thousand patrons, and it even won the Children's Family Musical Award at the Korea Musical Awards in 2024. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

J-Hope kicks off 2025 solo world tour with sold out Seoul concerts

2025/01/15 17:00

On the K-pop front. BTS's J-Hope is poised to embark on his first solo world tour next month. The tour will take him to 15 cities for over 30 shows on stage. It will start here in Seoul on February 28th and tickets have already sold out. Meanwhile his concerts in North America will begin in Brooklyn in New York City on March 13th. He's also looking to make new history as the first Korean solo artist to perform at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles in April.

K-wave AI News

2025/01/15 14:00

Welcome to The Kulture Wave AI News. Let's get started with today's top story. Gyeongju in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province attracted more than one million international tourists last year. This marks the first time the city has reached this milestone in a single year. The highest number of visitors came from China, followed by Taiwan, Japan and Russia. Gyeongju plans to enhance its promotion and marketing efforts to further stimulate tourism ahead of the upcoming APEC Summit, scheduled to take place in the city from late October to early November. Gyeongju, often referred to as "the museum without walls," was the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom. The "Hallasan Snow Flower Bus," offering convenient access to Hallasan Mountain's breathtaking winter scenery, will now operate on weekdays. The Snow Flower Bus route 1100 will run six times daily, complementing the existing route 240. With the additional weekday service, a total of 15 daily trips will be available to popular Hallasan destinations. This initiative aims to ease parking shortages and reduce traffic congestion in the surrounding area. The celebrated play "The Cherry Orchard" will take the stage at the Busan Citizens' Hall Grand Theater from March 13 to 15. Directed by renowned director Simon Stone, the production features an all-star cast, including some of Korea's most acclaimed actors like Jeon Do-yeon and 전도연 and Park Hae-soo. The play reinterprets the final masterpiece of Anton Chekhov, one of Russia's greatest literary figures, transforming the classic into a modern tale set in contemporary Korean society. Each character has been given a new name and identity, tailored to reflect Korean cultural nuances. Director Simon Stone, known for his innovative productions across the U.S. and the UK brings his expertise to this adaptation, promising a fresh take on the timeless story. That's all for now. Stay tuned for more cultural updates and engaging discussions coming your way!

K-Correspondent_From K-dramas to K-healthcare Korean Wave in the Czech Republic

2025/01/15 14:00

Once a week we connect live to a correspondent who fills us in on K-culture news overseas. Today, we will talk to a K-correspondent in the heart of Europe, the Czech Republic. The country is well known here through a K-drama that was filmed in its capital Prague. Nowadays, Korean culture and products have become popular in the Czech Republic with the influence of K-pop, K-dramas, K-food and even Korean healthcare. Let’s now connect to our K-correspondent Kevin Chung in the Czech Republic to find out more! Kevin, hello! Q1. Please introduce yourself to our viewers. Q2. We see through the media how the Korean wave has grown in the Czech Republic. How do you perceive it? Q3. The Czech Republic’s capital Prague is a popular tourist destination for Koreans. Backed by the hallyu craze, are there any Korean tourism spots that are popular among Czechs? Q4. Are there any Korean dramas or movies that are a hit among Czech medical students? Q5. Recently, I heard that the influence of the Korean Wave is expanding into the medical field. Is this true? Q6. I wonder if there is any Korean medical practice that that Czechs are interested in. Q7. As far as I know, people in the Czech Republic consume a lot of meat and beer. I assume they may have similar tastes to Koreans. Where does Korean food stand in terms of popularity there? Q8. What other areas of the K-Wave are popular in the Czech Republic?

[K-Enter] J-Hope, Rosé, G-Dragon to attend French charity concert

2025/01/15 14:00

Time for K-Enter News with Walter Lee. Starting off with some news on three big names attending a fundraising concert in France. BTS's J-Hope, BLACKPINK's Rosé, and Big Bang's G-Dragon are set to take the stage at a charity concert named "Gala des Pièces Jaunes 2025" held at La Défense Arena in France on January 23rd (local time). The three K-pop stars are listed among the performers for the charity concert organised by the Fondation des Hôpitaux chaired by Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. Other performers include American singers Katy Perry and John Legend. The campaign involves collecting coins smaller than 1 euro (approximately 1,400 KRW) to improve the welfare of hospitalised children, with the fundraising effort lasting about a month. This will be Rosé's second time performing at the charity event as she has also taken part in the concert with BLACKPINK. C'est très intéressant. (Very interesting) Next up we are talking about a new K-pop group specifically from JYP. JYP Entertainment's rookie boy group Kickflip will release their debut mini-album, "Flip it, Kick it!", on January 20th, officially starting their activities. The group name, Kickflip, which refers to a skateboarding trick where the board barrel-rolls 360 degrees, 관습에서 벗어나 신선한 공연을 선보이겠다는 의지를 표현한 것입니다. The group Kickflip has seven members, five from Korea and two from Japan. They were recently named one of the "8 Rookie K-Pop Acts To Watch In 2025" by Grammy.com, signalling their bright future. Their debut mini-album, "Flip it, Kick it!", features six tracks, including the title song, "Mama Said". The mini-album will officially drop at 6pm on January 20th. On the same day, the group will hold a debut show on Mnet M2 at 7pm and a debut showcase at 9pm to mark the start of their career. I am sure we will be reporting on this group more in the near future. And now ending on some K-movie news. The press and distributor screening, along with a media Q&A session for the movie "Secret: Untold Melody" , starring EXO member Doh Kyung-soo better known as D.O. and Won Jin-ah , was held on Tuesday. "Secret: Untold Melody" is a fantasy romance film which starts with a chance meeting in a rehearsal room between Yoo Joon, a pianist played by Do Kyung-soo , and Jung Ah, portrayed by Won Jin-ah . Yoo Joon’s promising career is derailed by an unexpected injury, but Jung Ah rekindles his love for music, guiding him toward a timeless secret waiting to be uncovered. Doh Kyung-soo shared his experience playing the role, saying, "I don’t know how to play the piano, but the opportunity to act as if I were playing it and to try the melodrama genre drew me to this film." He also mentioned, "I worked hard to express the movements and actions of a pianist, such as how they emphasise certain notes or accents when playing." “Secret: Untold Melody" is set to be released on January 28th. The trailer of the movie really makes you wonder what that secret is. I'll have to find out at the cinema. Thank you for that news and stick around.

Oscar nominations postponed for second time because of wildfires

2025/01/14 10:00

For the second time, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has postponed the announcement of this year's Oscar nominations due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. Initially scheduled for January 17, then moved to January 19, the nominations will now be revealed on Thursday, January 23. In a statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang cited the active fires as the reason for extending the voting period, allowing members additional time. Also, the annual Oscar nominees' luncheon set for February 10 has been canceled. Despite these changes, the 97th Academy Awards ceremony remains scheduled for March 2.