News

[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.

Breaking $10 billion in exports: K-beauty trends captivate the world

2025/01/14 14:00

Welcome to Trend Vibes where we delve into the latest trends connected to Korea. For that, we have our trend reporter, Seyoung! Hello! Do you notice anything different about me today? I’ve put a little extra effort into my makeup today! That’s because our topic is K-beauty! Last week, we talked about Korean people’s New Year’s resolutions. One of them was self-improvement, and as a part of efforts to improve oneself many people also focus on enhancing their appearance. So today, we’ll dive into the world of K-beauty! Oh, that sounds exciting! I’ve heard about the K-beauty boom, but how popular is it overseas right now? It’s huge! Let’s look at the numbers first. Korea’s cosmetics exports surpassed 10 billion U.S. dollars last year, setting a record high. As you can see from the graph on the screen K-Beauty exports have almost quadrupled from 2015 to 2024. Compared to 2012, 12 years ago, they have grown tenfold. Notably, it surpassed France to become the top imported cosmetics brand in the U.S., the world’s largest cosmetics market. In terms of recognition, K-beauty is also one of the most well-known terms among global consumers and there is a survey that actually proves this popularity. A 2023 Euromonitor survey asked over 20-thousand people across 20 major countries if they had heard of beauty terms linked to specific nations. The top answer? K-beauty! Nearly 30% of respondents knew about it, surpassing J-beauty (Japanese beauty) by about 10 percentage points. So we can say K-beauty excels both in profitability and global recognition! Wow, that’s such a proud achievement! What types of K-beauty products are most popular? There’s a wide variety of Korean cosmetics, so competition is fierce. In the U.S., skincare products are dominant. Japan prefers color cosmetics and loves girl group-inspired makeup trends,.. while France is drawn to the Korean-style skincare layering routine. Also since COVID-19, interest in skincare products with natural and organic ingredients and a delicate skincare routine itself has surged in places where people had to wear face masks for long periods as masks irritate the skin, while more people also focused on eye makeup due to masks covering the lower face. It’s fascinating how each country focuses on different aspects of K-Beauty! Exactly. I found it particularly interesting that France admires the routine itself. For instance, I layer skincare products step-by-step every night, sometimes with a sheet mask. I used to take it for granted, because I’ve seen my mom doing it for a long time and it was my old habit, too. But it’s exciting to see Korean skincare routines gain global attention! Beyond the products themselves, what’s driving the global appeal of K-Beauty? First, we can’t ignore the influence of K-pop. Fans want to replicate their favorite idols’ looks, and YouTube is full of tutorials on K-pop-inspired makeup. This naturally translates into product sales. And I want to ask you guys this question. Have you watched any of these videos or tried the looks yourself? or have you seen anyone trying these makeup styles from the videos? I sometimes watch these videos for fun, too. Along with the popularity of K-pop K-beauty’s unbeatable value is another reason. Korean brands offer excellent quality at reasonable prices, making them hard to resist. Lastly, localization strategies play a big role. For instance, one brand released sun care and moisturizing creams tailored to Vietnam’s humid climate, while another launched compact-sized cushion foundations for the Japanese market. This success isn’t limited to major corporations; small and medium-sized businesses are also thriving. Their innovation and competitiveness add real value to the industry. It’s inspiring to see such a balanced ecosystem driving K-beauty’s global popularity. What’s the outlook for the industry? I’d say it’s bright! The Korean government actively promotes K-beauty. For instance, the Korea Beauty Festival last June targeted international tourists interested in K-beauty. Additionally, the global recognition of K-beauty means that strong product quality can now outshine branding. Many experts believe that this mix of quality and affordability will drive further growth. Seyoung, it’s been such an insightful session. Glad you found it insightful Walter. But yes, not only were we able to explore the products but we also learned about the significance in K-beauty as an export growth engine. Thanks, Seyoung! My pleasure! Thank you!

[K-enter] BTS's 'Dynamite' Hits 2 Billion Streams on Spotify... A First for K-pop

2025/01/14 14:00

It's time for our K-entertainment news with Walter Lee. Our first story today is about a world famous song that goes like this "So I'ma light it up like dynamite, whoa" and the news you have on this song proves why it's a "world famous song" Yes, BTS have done it again, they can add another milestone to their already endless list of achievements. According to the latest data released on Sunday by the world's largest music streaming platform, Spotify, BTS's single "Dynamite," released all the way back in 2020, has reached 2 billion streams. What makes this so special is that BTS are the first K-pop group to surpass 2 billion streams on Spotify with a single song. "Dynamite" was the first song by a Korean artist to debut at No. 1 on Spotify's 'Daily Top Songs Global chart' and set a record as the most-streamed song on its release day. It was also the first K-pop song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify. BTS aren't the only ones making waves in the K-pop world right now, we have updates on two members from BlackPink. Yes, so last week I reported that Rosé made a personal best and a K-pop record by reaching No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with her hit song "APT", a collaboration with pop star Bruno Mars. Well it looks like the singer is not going anywhere as the hit song has maintained its position at No. 5 on the Hot 100 chart for the second consecutive week, only cementing her achievement in K-pop history. And who is the other member we are going to talk about? Also last week, we mentioned Jisoo and her upcoming K-drama series "Newtopia" coming out on February 7. But that's not the only thing Jisoo plans to do in February as she also has her musical solo comeback planned for February 14, a week after her K-drama release. On Monday, Jisoo teased her new solo album through content shared on her agency BLISSOO's official social media channels. This will be her first solo project since her debut single “FLOWER” in March 2023. She sounds like a busy bee, good luck to Jisoo and her packed schedule for February and congratulations to Rosé for making more history. Lastly moving onto a K-movie. The occult K-movie "Exhuma" or "PaMyo" in Korean, which topped the 2024 annual box office, has emerged as the most talked-about film after being nominated in 11 categories at the 18th Asian Film Awards. According to the nominee list announced by the Asian Film Awards Academy last Friday, "Exhuma" received nominations in categories such as Best Picture, Best Director Jang Jae-hyun , Best Actor Choi Min-sik , Best Actress..Kim Go-eun , and Best Newcomer..Lee Do-hyun . It had the most nominations of all the films at the awards. The Asian Film Awards, held annually, are organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy, established by the international film festivals of Busan, Tokyo, and Hong Kong to promote the development of Asian cinema. The awards will be held on March 16 in Hong Kong. Thank you for that news Walter, stick around.

[K-wave] "Blockbuster games" being released throughout 2025

2025/01/14 14:00

In the new year, various gaming companies have made efforts to release their "masterpiece games" of the year. Let's take a look at what's in store from the gaming industry. Lee Eun-jin tells us more. The game "The First Berserker: Khazan" tells the story 800 years before the popular "Dungeon and Fighter." The narrative is a revenge journey of the betrayed captain Khazan, but depending on the game user's choices, the story varies slightly. The exciting battle and 3D-cell animation-style graphics add to the fun. "InZOI" is a life simulation game where the player can create and experience another life. The players can make the virtual people named "Zoi" fulfill certain tasks in various roles. AI technology is integrated into the virtual interactions, allowing people to make families and friends in the game. Both "The First Berserker: Khazan" and "inZOI" will be released on March 28. After six years of waiting, the long-awaited game "Crimson Desert" is expected to be released in the second half of this year. It's an open-world action-adventure game that depicts a mercenary group's journey through the power struggle-plagued continent of Pywel. Depending on the choice made by the player, the reputation of the main character changes, meaning it is a multivariate game, consequently affecting the ending of the story. "A multivariate narrative is a narrative that unfolds in various ways. Results like a prolonged life or increased profitability add to the satisfaction of the player, making them more loyal users." A series of major game projects will be released by each of the gaming companies throughout the year. Anticipation is high among users, but also among the creators as to which will be most popular among gamers. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.