News

London Fashion Week kicks off

2025/02/21 10:00

Over in the United Kingdom, London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2025 has kicked off. The event, which runs until February 24, features a mix of traditional runway shows and digital presentations, encompassing both established and emerging designers. This season, the British Fashion Council has introduced sustainability requirements for brands, emphasizing the industry's commitment to environmental responsibility. Participants include Harris Reed, who opened the week with a showcase, while Burberry is set to close the event on Monday evening. A pop-up shop to commercially support designers will also run from February 22 to 24.

BLACKPINK to be first K-pop girl group to perform at Wembley Stadium

2025/02/20 17:00

In other news. Wembley Stadium in London will turn pink this summer. Because BLACKPINK is poised to become the first ever K-pop girl group to perform at the stadium on August 15th. The group's agency YG Entertainment announced on Thursday that BLACKPINK will kick off a mega world tour this year starting in Seoul on July 5th. The tour will run through ten cities including New York, Paris, Milan, and Tokyo. During their previous "BORN PINK" world tour the group set a fresh record by attracting some 1.8 million fans.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/20 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The largest global gaming exhibition in Korea, G-STAR, will be held in Busan this year. The city announced that it has been selected as the host for G-STAR from 2025 to 2028, based on an interim evaluation by the Korea Association of Game Industry. Busan received strong marks for its support in areas including exhibition infrastructure, accommodation, and transportation. This year's G-STAR will take place from November 13 to 16 at BEXCO. G-STAR is one of the most prominent gaming exhibitions in the world that showcases the latest trends and innovations in the gaming industry, offering a platform for game developers, publishers, and players to connect. Despite the overall downturn in the film industry, revenue from Korean films rose by 15% last year. According to a recent report from the Korean Film Council, domestic film revenue reached 691 billion won, or roughly 480 million U.S. dollars, marking a 15% increase from 2023. But the total theater revenue, including foreign films, remained below 1.2 trillion won, or around 833 million dollars, for the third consecutive year, reflecting a continued sluggish performance. This figure represents only 65% of pre-pandemic levels. The Jeju Folklore and Natural History Museum is hosting an exhibition titled, "The Snake, Guardian of Homes and Villages," marking 2025, the Year of the Snake. It highlights the role of snakes as guardian deities in Jeju's traditional beliefs and their ecological significance in restoring damaged ecosystems. The museum hopes to revive awareness of Jeju's unique cultural heritage and reflect on the fading practice of snake worship. The exhibition runs through May. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

Literature translator Mark Oh spreads Korean fantasy stories to the world

2025/02/20 14:00

After K-pop, K-movies, and K-dramas, K-LITERATURE is the latest form of K-culture gaining global attention. In the five-year period from 2018 to 2022, 1.85 million copies of Korean literature were sold overseas. As the genres preferred by global readers diversify, Korean literature introduced abroad has been expanding to include graphic novels, essays, and more. For today’s ‘Hallyu People’ we connect live to Sydney, Australia where Mark Oh, a young translator, introduces Korean FANTASY literature to international readers. Hello Mark! 1) Mark, please introduce yourself to our viewers and what you currently do in Australia. 2) You are translating into English the fantasy novel series “Pangaea” which has been written by a Korean author. Please tell us how this started. 3) It must be very special to translate your mother’s works. How do you feel about it and also how does your mother, author Ha Jeeyoon feel about it? 4) Is there anything in particular you pay attention to when translating the Pangaea series in terms of the uniqueness of fantasy fiction and also considering that your mother wrote them? 5) Do you have any special experience to share that helped you translate “The Pangaea” series? 6) How much exposure is Korean literature receiving in Australia? 7) The Pangaea novel series is also expected to be adapted into other types of content I heard? 8) What are your future plans or aspirations as a translator?

[Short-form] “Donghae Line”, linking Korea’s stunning coastal gems

2025/02/20 14:00

Hop on the Donghae Line and explore Korea’s stunning scenic destinations from Gangneung to Busan!

[K-enter] BLACKPINK announces 2025 world tour details

2025/02/20 14:00

So Bella, let’s start off with some updates on some "dates" we have been waiting for from BLACKPINK. Literally, BLACKPINK will be in your areas! The group announced its highly anticipated 2025 world tour dates and locations on Wednesday. BLACKPINK revealed that the limited run of shows will kick off on July 5th and 6th at the Goyang Stadium in Seoul. Then the tour will continue in major cities like Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Paris, and Barcelona. You can check out the exact dates and locations on their social media. It’s notable that they will make a stop at London’s famed Wembley Stadium, which will be the very first time that a K-pop girl group will perform at the venue. The 2025 world tour will be the first time BLACKPINK has gone on the road as a group since the “Born Pink World Tour” which ran from 2022 to 2023. Staying on the topic of K-pop, we have another K-pop artist performing on the global stage? BTS J-Hope will headline Lollapalooza Berlin, which takes place from July 12th to 13th at Olympia Stadium Berlin. Lollapalooza is a major music festival that began in the United States in 1991 and has since expanded globally. Lollapalooza Berlin, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is drawing more attention than ever by announcing an outstanding lineup including Justin Timberlake, Gracie Abrams, and of course ‘our hope,’ J-Hope. This is not J-Hope’s first time performing at Lollapalooza. He was the first ever Korean singer to be on the main stage of Lollapalooza held in Chicago back in July 2022. Meanwhile, he will begin his solo world tour “HOPE ON THE STAGE” at KSPO Dome in Seoul from February 28th to March 2nd. We still have more stories related to K-pop, this time about boy group SEVENTEEN? Seventeen has been named among the top 20 global artists by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, IFPI. According to the Global Artist Chart 2024 announced on Tuesday, Seventeen ranked third, following global pop star Taylor Swift and Drake. The Global Artist Chart ranks artists based on a combination of physical album sales, digital downloads and audio/video streaming figures. Seventeen first entered this chart in 2021 at No.9, rose to sixth place in 2022, and climbed four more spots to reach second place in 2023. Stray Kids and Enhypen also secured a spot on the Global Artist Chart 2024. Stray Kids ranked fifth and Enhypen ranked 14th, highlighting the global popularity of K-pop. Meanwhile, Seventeen will hold their 9th official fan meeting, “SEVENTEEN in CARAT LAND,” on March 20th and 21st at Incheon Munhak Stadium. And lastly we end with a new movie that will premiere tomorrow? Yes, before we get into the details of the movie, Soa, do you know Dahyun from girl group TWICE? Well, she will debut as an actress in the new movie, “You Are the Apple of My Eye,” along with actor Jinyoung. The film is a remake of a Taiwanese film of the same name and follows the story of 18-year-old Jin-woo, who spends countless days working up the courage to confess his feelings to Seon-ah. Dahyun said at the press conference held on Wednesday that she always had a dream of becoming an actress, but just started last year as she gained good opportunities. “You Are the Apple of My Eye” will premiere on Friday at movie theaters. More and more singer-turned actors are making successful debuts on the screen, just like the main actors Dahyun and Jinyoung who also was a boy group member (B1A4), as well as singer-songwriter Demian or now actor Sohn Jeong-hyuck who also stars in the movie. Can't wait for the movie to be out. Thank you Bella for those stories.

From 24-hour self-service ramyeon shops to unique stores: S. Korea’s evolving ramyeon scene for foreign tourists

2025/02/19 20:00

Korea's ramyeon has been garnering quite a big following on the global stage with a growing number of travelers to the country starting their travel agenda with a trip to popular ramyeon hotspots. Our Lee Eun-hee takes a look. Visitors from around the world have flocked to this unique spot: a 24-hour, self-service ramyeon, or South Korean instant noodles shop located in the heart of Seoul, Jongno-gu district. This ramyeon shop offers foreign visitors over 60 varieties of instant noodles to enjoy anytime, with options for all tastes, including mild, spicy, vegan, and Halal. "Cooking instructions and safety guidelines are available in multiple languages, ensuring easy access for everyone. The preparation methods vary for different types of ramyeon, with special Halal-only options also provided." "We often see tourists coming straight from the airport. Since unmanned stores are not common in many countries, people are usually surprised by our setup. Many also ask if the payment system works properly." Another unique ramyeon spot is 'Neoguri's Ramyeon Shop,' which opened in January and serves ramyeon made by Nongshim, one of South Korea's leading food companies. A second store opened at the Hyundai Outlet Dongdaemun, located in central Seoul, following the success of the first store, which sold an average of 12-thousand bowls per month between September and November last year. "I came here because I had this ramyeon in Japan before. The soup was smooth and very delicious." "It was attractive that I could choose and eat ramyeon freely, and the ramyeon I ate was also very delicious." The ramyeon store's owner says that some milder-flavored products, which don't sell well in S. Korea, are popular among Japanese and American customers. "We've tailored our selection to include the most popular products. Additionally, we have Muslim customers who often seek vegan options, so we've made sure to include those as well." According to the Korean food ministry, ramyeon exports, reached a record of over 1 billion U.S. dollars, or around 1-point-5 trillion Korean won, by October 2024, marking a 30-percent increase from 2023. "Before heading back to Japan today, I stopped by because it looked interesting. Seeing this ramyeon, which isn't available in Japan, made me wish I could have it there too." As Korean ramyeon gains popularity, visiting self-service ramyeon shops to cook and enjoy instant noodles on the spot has become a must-do activity for foreign visitors to Korea. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

SEVENTEEN ranks third in Global Artist Chart 2024 by IFPI

2025/02/19 20:00

K-pop boy bands remain popular all around the world. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry on Wednesday, SEVENTEEN was ranked third in its Global Artist Chart 2024, following Taylor Swift and Drake. Stray Kids and ENHYPEN were fifth and 14th respectively. The Industry publishes its Global Artist ranking based on sales across streaming, downloads, and physical albums and shows each year's recorded music industry trend.

From 24-hour self-service ramyeon shops to unique stores: S. Korea’s evolving ramyeon scene for foreign tourists

2025/02/19 17:00

Korea's ramyeon has been garnering quite a big following on the global stage with a growing number of travelers to the country starting their travel agenda here with a trip to popular ramyeon hotspots. Our Lee Eun-hee takes a look. Visitors from around the world have flocked to this unique spot: a 24-hour, self-service ramyeon, or South Korean instant noodles shop located in the heart of Seoul, Jongno-gu district. This ramyeon shop offers foreign visitors over 60 varieties of instant noodles to enjoy anytime, with options for all tastes, including mild, spicy, vegan, and Halal. "Cooking instructions and safety guidelines are available in multiple languages, ensuring easy access for everyone. The preparation methods vary for different types of ramyeon, with special Halal-only options also provided." "We often see tourists coming straight from the airport. Since unmanned stores are not common in many countries, people are usually surprised by our setup. Many also ask if the payment system works properly." Another unique ramyeon spot is 'Neoguri's Ramyeon Shop,' which opened in January and serves ramyeon made by Nongshim, one of South Korea's leading food companies. A second store opened at the Hyundai Outlet Dongdaemun, located in central Seoul, following the success of the first store, which sold an average of 12-thousand bowls per month between September and November last year. "I came here because I had this ramyeon in Japan before. The soup was smooth and very delicious." "It was attractive that I could choose and eat ramyeon freely, and the ramyeon I ate was also very delicious." The ramyeon store's owner says that some milder-flavored products, which don't sell well in S. Korea, are popular among Japanese and American customers. "We've tailored our selection to include the most popular products. Additionally, we have Muslim customers who often seek vegan options, so we've made sure to include those as well." According to the Korean food ministry, ramyeon exports reached a record of over 1 billion U.S. dollars, or around 1-point-5 trillion Korean won, by October 2024, marking a 30-percent increase from 2023. "Before heading back to Japan today, I stopped by because it looked interesting. Seeing this ramyeon, which isn't available in Japan, made me wish I could have it there too." As Korean ramyeon gains popularity, visiting self-service ramyeon shops to cook and enjoy instant noodles on the spot has become a must-do activity for foreign visitors to Korea. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/19 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. A newly renovated space dedicated to the history of Goguryeo has opened at the National Museum of Korea. Once a dominant power in ancient East Asia, Goguryeo thrived with a distinct and vibrant culture. The museum has revamped its Prehistoric and Ancient History Hall, doubling the size of the Goguryeo Room and its collection of artifacts, also incorporating the latest research findings. The permanent exhibition also features updated sections on various ancient eras, along with a newly created learning space for children. Why not embark on a journey through the world of Goguryeo, surrounded by over 1,800 artifacts? Inspire Arena, Korea's first multipurpose indoor performance venue, marked its first anniversary. The arena attracted 500,000 visitors in its debut year and aims to surpass 700,000 this year through enhanced accessibility. Since hosting the Melon Music Awards in 2023, the venue has staged 36 events, featuring K-pop artists and global superstars like Maroon 5 and Linkin Park. Thanks to its prime location near Incheon International Airport, foreign visitors accounted for 60% of total attendance. Last year's ticket sales revenue is estimated at 40 billion won, or roughly 28 million U.S. dollars. The number of Netflix app users in Korea reached a record high last month. According to market tracker WiseApp Retail, Netflix logged over 14.1 million monthly users in January, shattering its own previous record. Coupang Play, TVING, Wavve, and Disney+ followed in that order. The surge in users comes as Netflix's latest Korean originals, "Squid Game" Season 2 and "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," fueled renewed interest. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-enter] BTS' J-Hope donates 200 mil. KRW to Asan Medical Center in Seoul

2025/02/19 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Walter, we are starting off with a donation from a BTS member. On Tuesday, Seoul Asan Medical Center announced that BTS member J-Hope has donated 200 million Korean won, roughly 138,000 U.S. dollars, to support the development of the children's hospital at the medical center. This donation was made in celebration of his birthday on February 18. This is not the first time that J-Hope has contributed to the medical center as he also donated 100 million won, just over 69,000 dollars, to the center in 2022. But overall with this latest donation, J-Hope’s officially known total personal donations have now surpassed 1.2 billion won, just over 832,000 dollars. Meanwhile fans can look forward to his return to music coming in March. Soa, why do you think many stars like to make donations on their birthdays? Moving onto some girl group news now, who are we talking about? Girl group ILLIT's debut song "Magnetic" has reached 200 million views on YouTube as of Monday according to their agency, BELIFT LAB. "Magnetic" comes from their debut album "Super Real Me" and was released in March 2024. It is a dance song that blends R&B and house genres, using the word "magnet" as a metaphor for the feeling of rushing toward someone you love. "Magnetic" topped domestic music charts and gained significant popularity overseas, including in the U.S. and the U.K. Yes and since their debut song was in March 2024, their 1 year anniversary must be coming up as well, so what a way to celebrate early. Now staying on the topic of girl groups and debuts lets talk about one group that have made their music video debut recently. Starship Entertainment, the agency of popular girl group IVE, has introduced a new five-member girl group by the name of "KiiiKiii" . On Sunday, Starship Entertainment released the music video for KiiiKiii’s pre-debut track "I DO ME". The girl group is set to make their official debut on March 24 with the release of their first album. "I DO ME" is a pop dance song that expresses the determination to trust one’s instincts and live confidently. This marks Starship Entertainment's first girl group debut since IVE in 2021. With IVE's popularity, I’m sure KiiiKiii will do just as well. Lastly, some K-film news. The movie "Streaming", starring Kang Ha-neul has posted a release date of March 21. "Streaming" is a thriller film about Woo-sang , a popular true crime online streamer, who discovers a clue to an unsolved serial murder case and broadcasts his pursuit of the culprit in real time. Actor Kang has gained popularity through films such as "Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet," "Midnight Runners," and "Love Reset" as well as dramas like "The Heirs" and "Misaeng: Incomplete Life." Recently, he also appeared in "Squid Game" season 2 on Netflix. And we cannot leave out the drama "When the Camellia Blooms". Looking forward to his new role. Thanks for the K-enter news Walter. Don't go anywhere. And now we go to our AI anchor Ari for other culture-related news.

From 24-hour self-service ramyeon shops to unique stores: S. Korea’s evolving ramyeon scene for foreign tourists

2025/02/19 14:00

Eun-hee, South Korean instant noodles, or ramyeon, continue to grow in popularity around the world, and local markets are evolving in unique ways. Can you tell us what you've seen? Yes Soa. I've noticed that special ramyeon shops are becoming more popular and are even considered must-visit spots for foreign tourists. I visited a few places to check them out, so let's take a look and see what attracts these global customers. Visitors from around the world have flocked to this unique spot: a 24-hour, self-service ramyeon, or S. Korean instant noodles shop located in the heart of Seoul, Jongno-gu district. This ramyeon shop offers foreign visitors over 60 varieties of instant noodles to enjoy anytime, with options for all tastes, including mild, spicy, vegan, and Halal. "Cooking instructions and safety guidelines are available in multiple languages, ensuring easy access for everyone. The preparation methods vary for different types of ramyeon, with special Halal-only options also provided." "We often see tourists coming straight from the airport. Since unmanned stores are not common in many countries, people are usually surprised by our setup. Many also ask if the payment system works properly." Another unique ramyeon spot is 'Neoguri's Ramyeon Shop,' which opened in January and serves ramyeon made by Nongshim, one of South Korea's leading food companies. A second store opened at the Hyundai Outlet Dongdaemun, located in central Seoul, following the success of the first store, which sold an average of 12-thousand bowls per month between September and November last year. "I came here because I had this ramyeon in Japan before. The soup was smooth and very delicious." "It was attractive that I could choose and eat ramyeon freely, and the ramyeon I ate was also very delicious." The ramyeon store's owner says that some milder-flavored products, which don't sell well in S. Korea, are popular among Japanese and American customers. "We've tailored our selection to include the most popular products. Additionally, we have Muslim customers who often seek vegan options, so we've made sure to include those as well." According to the Korean food ministry, ramyeon exports, reached a record of over 1 billion U.S. dollars, or around 1-point-5 trillion Korean won, by October 2024, marking a 30-percent increase from 2023. "Before heading back to Japan today, I stopped by because it looked interesting. Seeing this ramyeon, which isn’t available in Japan, made me wish I could have it there too." As Korean ramyeon gains popularity, visiting self-service ramyeon shops to cook and enjoy instant noodles on the spot has become a must-do activity for foreign visitors to Korea. This is something new to me. I have only tried ramyeon with these ramyeon making machines at a park along the Hangang River before. Same here. What would you say is the driving source behind this growing popularity of Korean instant noodles? So, I talked to Professor Lee Eun-hee, an expert in consumer science about the uniqueness of Korean instant noodles. She said Korean ramyeon has a distinct flavor -spicy, and savory and full of flavor. But also one driving force is social media, where images of famous K-pop idols like BTS eating ramyeon go viral, or foreign tourists watching scenes from Korean dramas and movies where ramyeon is enjoyed, sparking a desire to try it themselves. Not only is it delicious, but the reasonable price also makes it accessible. I love ramyeon too. Are there any other ways to enjoy ramyeon in Korea? Yes of course. As you guys mentioned, there is something called 'Hangang ramyeon' which is already viral among foreign visitors. Let me expand on that a bit. It is when you buy those instant noodles from a convenience store at one of the Hangang River parks and cook them there, which is a truly unique experience in South Korea. I've heard enjoying the beautiful river view while eating a hot bowl of ramyeon is an unforgettable experience and it tastes even better. It's a perfect way to relax and enjoy nature, especially in a busy city like Seoul, so I highly recommend that anyone visiting South Korea give it a try. Yeouido Hangang Park is the biggest and one of the most popular picnic spots, alongside Banpo Hangang Park and Ttukseom Hangang Park. However, there are many other riverside parks in Seoul where people can enjoy a pleasant outing with friends and family. A bowl of 'Hangang Ramyeon' won't cost you more than 5 U.S. dollars. It's been a while since I've had a picnic by the Hangang River. Maybe I should sometime soon. Yes, for sure. Maybe we could all go together. Yes, make sure to invite me too. Of course Walter. Thank you Eun-hee for sharing.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/18 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. A diverse array of masterpieces will be up for sale on the domestic art auction market this week. Seoul Auction will present a rare, near-complete woodblock map of Korea created in 1861 by the renowned cartographer Kim Jeong-ho. This unpublished work, part of the original 'Daedong Yeojido,' or the Great Map of Korea, holds immense historical value. Other highlights include Paik Nam-June's 1974 robotic piece 'Hacker Newbie,' and iconic paintings by Kim Eun-ho and Lee In-seong. Meanwhile, K Auction will feature Pierre-Auguste Renoir's 1905 'Still Life with Strawberries,' and a work by British abstract artist Frank Bowling, offered for the first time in a major domestic auction. Writer Ye So-yeon has won the grand prize at the 48th Yi Sang Literary Award for her short story, "The Dog and the Revolution." Established in 1977 to honor the literary legacy of writer-poet Yi Sang, the Yi Sang Literary Award is widely regarded as Korea's most prestigious prize for short and mid-length fiction. The Dog and the Revolution follows the unique journey of Tae-su, a father from the 1980s student movement generation, and his daughter Su-min, a feminist of the 2020s, as they unite in an unexpected way. The judging panel hailed the story as "a revolutionary work that transcends ideology" and "a truly groundbreaking narrative of inclusion." Total ticket sales for Korea's performing arts market surpassed 1.4 trillion won, or roughly 970 million U.S. dollars last year. According to the culture ministry's latest report, total sales reached 1.45 trillion won, up 14.5% from 2023. The number of performances grew by 6%, exceeding 21,600. Among the genres, pop music saw the most significant growth, with ticket sales increasing by over 31% year-on-year. The report, however, found that the market remains heavily concentrated in the capital region. Based on these findings, the ministry plans to continue efforts to promote regional performances. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-enter] BLACKPINK Jisoo's successful release of 'AMORTAGE' sweeping global music charts

2025/02/18 14:00

Time for our K-enter news with Walter Lee. Starting with a female K-pop star, some sweet achievements since her musical return on Valentine's Day last week? Jisoo from BlackPink has been the talk of the town for weeks here on the Kulture Wave, as February was expected to be a major month for her. Last Friday, she dropped her highly anticipated mini-album AMORTAGE, featuring the track "earthquake", along with songs like "Your Love," "TEARS," and "Hugs & Kisses." The album has been making waves globally, dominating music platforms over the weekend. Upon release, AMORTAGE quickly soared to the top of album charts around the world, including the iTunes rankings in more than 39 countries. On Spotify, it amassed over 5 million streams on its first day, securing a spot for "earthquake" on the Spotify Global Chart. In terms of album sales, AMORTAGE debuted at No. 1 on the Hanteo Chart and set a new record for the highest first-day sales by a solo artist in Korea this year. She is the final member of BlackPink to release her solo music within this past year, NOW we wait until we see all four of them reunite again in the latter half of the year. Next up, we have a fan meeting to talk about, who is holding the event? Super star boy group SEVENTEEN will host the "2025 SVT 9TH Fan Meeting SEVENTEEN in CARAT LAND" on March 20 and March 21 at the Incheon Munhak Stadium, giving their fan group "Carat" a chance to meet their idols. Last year, SEVENTEEN’s fan meeting drew a total of 1.5 million attendees both online and offline. Considering the vast size of their fandom, this year’s event will take place in a large stadium. Online live streaming will also be available. In April, SEVENTEEN will head to Mexico to perform at Tecate Pa’l Norte 2025, the largest music festival in the Latin American region. They will be the first K-pop artists to ever participate in the festival. It’s great to see K-pop groups breaking into new music festivals around the world. It just proves that the genre is still expanding and not slowing down. And lastly some K-movie news Walter. If you are a fan of the "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint" web-novel then I am sure you have been eagerly awaiting the movie adaptation. The live-action adaptation, which seems to be titled "Omniscient Reader: The Prophet", directed by Kim Byung-woo , has confirmed its July release but with no official date as of yet. The story follows Kim Dok-Ja played by Ahn Hyo-Seop , an ordinary man who unexpectedly finds himself transported into the fantasy world of a novel he was reading. It sort of reminds me of the movie "The NeverEnding Story". It has the highest production budget of all the Korean films scheduled for theatrical release in 2025, estimated at 30 billion Korean won, roughly 20 million US dollars. The star-studded cast, also includes Lee Min-ho , Nana, and guess who? Jisoo. Starting with Jisoo and ending with Jisoo. Thanks for all the K-enter news today Walter. Thank you Soa.

Baby panda cub twins capture hearts at their public debut in Hong Kong

2025/02/18 10:00

Finally, to Hong Kong, where its first locally born giant panda twins were revealed to the public for the first time. The six-month-old cubs, born in August 2024, were introduced to large crowds at Hong Kong's Ocean Park over the weekend. The two baby pandas are currently referred to as "Elder Sister" and "Little Brother," but a public contest to name them has been launched, and the submissions will open until March 7. The so-called "panda economy" is expected to boost tourism and local businesses in the city.

"Squid Game" production designer Chae Kyoung-sun wins ADG Award for season 2

2025/02/17 17:00

On the entertainment front. Squid Game Season Two's production designer has been honored with an Art Directors Guild award. Chae Kyoung-sun won the award in the "One-Hour Contemporary Single-Camera Series" category at a ceremony on Saturday in LA. The Art Directors Guild Awards acknowledges excellence in production design for both small and big screens. Chae also clinched an Art Directors Guild award for exceptional visuals in Squid Game Season One.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/17 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Sales of MUDS, museum merchandise inspired by cultural heritage, have surpassed 20 billion won, or roughly 14 million U.S. dollars for the first time. The name "MUDS" combines the words "museum" and "goods." The National Museum Foundation of Korea says MUDS generated over 21 billion won in revenue last year, marking a 42% increase from the previous year. Interest from international visitors is also growing, with foreign customers accounting for nearly 17% of total MUDS sales at museums last year, up from just 6% in 2020. To cater to global demand, the foundation has launched an international online shop, offering 50 flagship products to customers in over 220 countries. Explore the collection at www.muds.kr. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art has named Yang Jung-uk the winner of the Korea Artist Prize 2024. His kinetic sculptures weave storytelling with warmth, reflecting his vision of an ideal life. The judging panel described his work as "a powerful reminder of art's ability to provide comfort" and highlighted "the deeply moving interplay between large-scale and intimate pieces." Each year, the museum selects four visual artists, offering them opportunities to exhibit their works before choosing a final winner. The exhibition, featuring works by Yang Jung-uk, along with fellow nominees Yoon Ji-young, Kwon Ha-yoon, and Jane Jin Kaisen, runs at MMCA Seoul through March 23. Poetry by Korean grandmothers from a small rural town has come to life on stage, captivating audiences with warm humor and heartfelt reflections on life. The musical, "Ojige Jaemitneun Gasinadeul," follows elderly women attending a literacy school in Chilgok, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, as they rediscover their voices through poetry. It reimagines their remarkable journey of learning to read and write for the first time at the age of over 70, radiating a sense of empowerment. Adapted from the documentary "Chilgok Gasinadeul," the production had a showcase in 2023 before making its full-stage debut this week, after three years in the making. Director Oh Kyung-taek noted that while creating a show that resonates across generations is challenging, he firmly believes this one succeeds. The performance runs through February 27. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

K-pop album sales analysis

2025/02/17 14:00

K-pop fever hasn't cooled off. Global demand is still growing with K-pop-related sales generally doing well. BUT, lately, there’s been a decrease in sales of music ALBUMS. Today, we want to analyze this shift with Jeff Benjamin, a K-pop expert and contributor to Billboard, Forbes, Rolling Stone, and more. Hello Jeff! Q1. Figures released earlier this month showed that K-pop album sales last year declined (There was a slight rise in album exports by 0.5%) What caused this drop? Q2. What’s your assessment of this change? Q3. Last year, K-pop idols were more active overseas than ever before, resulting in a surge in K-pop concert sales. So, can we say the K-pop market is still growing and what’s the connection between increased performances and the decrease in album sales? Q4. So, could we say fans' perception of album purchases is changing? Q5. Some also attribute the downward trend in album sales to the hiatus of K-pop giants like BTS and BLACKPINK. BUT BTS and BLACKPINK are set to RETURN in the second half of the year. So how much of an impact do they have on these sales of albums? Q6. It looks like it’s difficult to draw a correlation between K-pop growth and record sales from hereon. Are we expecting changes in the K-pop industry based on that?

[K-enter] Korean actor Kim Sae-ron dies aged 24

2025/02/17 14:00

It's now time for K-enter news with Walter Lee. The first story is one we wish we didn't have to report on. Yes, Korea is mourning the loss of Korean star Kim Sae-ron , as the 24-year-old actor was found dead at her residence in Seungsu-dong by a friend at around 4:50 PM on Sunday. As of now, police are still investigating Kim's death however they have said that there appears to be no forced entry into the house or signs of foul play. Kim first debuted as a child model in 2001 and later made her acting debut at the age of 9 in "A Brand New Life", however it wasn't until 2010 when she gained massive notoriety in the popular Korean movie "The Man from Nowhere" alongside Won Bin . However, in May 2022, she was heavily criticized after causing an accident while driving under the influence near Cheongdam-dong , Gangnam-gu, Seoul. She crashed into a roadside electrical transformer and a tree before fleeing the scene. Following the incident, she was bombarded with malicious comments from the public regarding her actions. Kim attempted to return to the spotlight with a stage performance but had to withdraw from projects due to health concerns. We here at the Kulture Wave and Arirang send our deepest condolences to Kim Sae-ron's family and friends. Moving onto an act of kindness from a veteran K-star. It was recently revealed that Korean actor and businessman Bae Yong-joon , donated 3 billion KRW, just over 2 million U.S. dollars, to the Yonsei University Health System. According to a report on Sunday, Yonsei University Health System announced in a newsletter, published in December last year, that Bae had donated the money for the development of its medical center. Bae stated, "Despite the challenging circumstances in the medical field, I decided to contribute in hopes that the medical center will continue to develop and grow into a leading institution in future medicine." Yonsei University Health System plans to use the donation for the center's development and to cover medical expenses for teenagers and infants from low-income backgrounds. Bae debuted as an actor in 1994 and gained immense popularity in 2002 with the KBS drama "Winter Sonata", which was said to be a key factor in the rise of Hallyu . And moving onto our last K-enter news of the day and we are going to K-pop. Girl group LE SSERAFIM is set to release their fifth mini-album, HOT, at 1 PM on March 14. This marks a return seven months after their previous release, CRAZY. At midnight on Monday, LE SSERAFIM announced their upcoming album through the fan interaction site Weverse. The new album embodies the group’s passionate attitude of giving their all to what they love. LE SSERAFIM is a five-member girl group that debuted in May 2022. They have released hit songs such as ANTIFRAGILE, UNFORGIVEN, EASY, and Perfect Night. Another HOT group's album to look forward to soon and easy to remember, as it's White Day in Korea. Thank you for today's K-enter news Walter, stick around.

[Features reporter] What happens when K-pop gets a classic makeover?

2025/02/17 14:00

Yoo-jin, what do you have for us today? There's a saying: 'Don't be afraid to try something new. It might just become the best thing you ever do.' And here in Korea, a concert that took place last Friday and Saturday is proof of that. To give you a sneak peek, it was a bold fusion of two very different musical worlds. Take a look. This 2007 hit by SM Entertainment's girl group Girls' Generation, "Into the New World," has jumped into a new world -the world of classical music. Since 2020, SM Entertainment and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra have teamed up, with eight classical renditions of songs by artists such as SHINee, Red Velvet, and aespa. Now, they've brought the world's first-ever K-pop orchestra live concert to Seoul. "It's the first of a kind in that the entire setlist performed by the orchestra is K-pop songs. So we're very proud of that." Performing over a dozen K-pop songs, is a new experience for everyone, starting with arranging the music. The key was to keep the original while adding originality. "When arranging, we sample works by famous classical music composers. We looked for pieces that would blend well with the original K-pop track to stay true to the original and highlight the classical elements." Then, it was practice, practice, and more practice until every note hit the mark. "We watched the original performance videos and compared them to the sheet music. Our goal was to bring the lyrics, rhythms, melodies, and emotional depth of the K-pop tracks into our orchestral performance." Finding this new groove wasn't easy. The orchestra's associate concertmaster compares it to learning a new language. "Because we're so used to playing all the you know normal classics Beethoven, Mahler, Brahms you know, and then now you know all these K-pop songs, so it's been a little bit challenging in a way." But in the end, they discovered the beauty of crossing genres and unlocking new potential. "We're taking K-pop's flashy performance and transforming it into something you can appreciate with just your ears. We're not just playing melodies. We're reimagining K-pop as 21st-century orchestral music. Even if you're not familiar with the original songs, you'll find something to enjoy." Two genres, worlds apart, have come together to strike a chord, creating something groundbreaking, making classics trendy, and turning trends into timeless classics. What a unique experience. We did report on the SM Town concert marking SM Entertainment's 30th anniversary before but this was totally different. It really sounds like the audience would have gotten the best of both worlds. But for those who didn't make it, is there any way they can still experience this collaboration? Luckily, there is. Last month, SM Classics released its first full album, "Across the World." It's available on major music platforms like Spotify, iTunes, and Apple Music. The album features 14 songs, including some were performed at these concerts. When asked which songs stood out, Conductor Kim mentioned aespa's "Black Mamba" and SHINee's "Sherlock," while the arrangers picked Red Velvet's "Feel My Rhythm." All three are on the album. And is there anything more we can look forward to in the near future? There's more to come. This September, Seoul Philharmonic will collaborate with Jung Jae-il, the composer behind the Squid Game soundtrack, to perform his latest works. It’ll be fascinating to see how the orchestra reinterprets contemporary music once again. That sounds like something to mark on the calendar. Thank you for your report today, Yoo-jin. Always a pleasure.