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[Hallyu People] Meet Jocelyn Clark, the first foreigner who became a licensed gayageum sanjo player

2025/05/22 14:00

The gayageum is a traditional Korean instrument. It dates back to around the 6th century. It’s old, but its sound mesmerizes to this day. In today’s “Hallyu People” we meet with Dr. Jocelyn Clark or Jo Se-rin , Professor at Pai Chai University, who has been studying and playing gayageum for over 30 years. Recently she has earned herself the title of the first foreign gayageum ‘sanjo’ licencee. What that means and what gayageum means to Professor Clark, we’ll hear now, as she is joining us on the show today. Welcome Professor Clark! Q1) Professor Clark, or Professor Jo! Could you please introduce yourself to 'The Kulture Wave' viewers? Q2) Professor, congratulations for becoming an official gayageum sanjo licencee, or an intangible cultural heritage licencee. Could you please enlighten us on the significance of this designation and how you feel about it? Q3) Tell us about the process please. All we can assume is that it’s not an easy one, even for someone who’s been playing the instrument for over 30 years. Q4) As we have a global audience Professor Clark, could you please explain what kind of instrument the gayageum is and what kind of sounds it makes. and how it makes those sounds? Q5) How can you listen to the gayageum, or where? From traditional performances to K-pop songs that feature the instrument, there are a variety of ways to discover this traditional music aren’t there? Q6) Professor, you’ve been playing instruments your whole life, starting from Western instruments like the violin and piano to other East Asian instruments, why did you choose to master the gayageum? Q7) What were, or are some challenges or difficulties in playing the gayageum? Q8) You not only studied the instrument yourself, you teach in the field of music. I heard even K-pop? Does that involve K-pop collaborations with traditional music? Q9) What’s your ultimate goal Professor? (Are you also aiming to become an official master of gayageum?)

[K-enter] Rosé & NewJeans win awards at the Music Awards Japan 2025

2025/05/22 14:00

So Bella, let's kick off on the K-pop front. K-pop artists made it big at an awards ceremony in Japan. Tell us more! Rosé and NewJeans received awards at Music Awards Japan 2025, held on Wednesday in Kyoto, Japan. Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” won ‘Song of the Year.’ And NewJeans earned the title of ‘Best K-Pop Song’ with their hit song “Ditto.” It’s notable to see that the popularity of NewJeans’ music is enduring as this song was released back in 2022. Music Awards Japan is an awards ceremony that determines its winners by compiling various objective indicators, such as Billboard Japan and Oricon, along with the votes of over 5-thousand music industry professionals. Great to see familiar names there. Now we will continue with NewJeans , but on a different note. There is an update on NewJeans in regards to their legal dispute with ADOR? Please fill us in. While the legal dispute between NewJeans and their agency ADOR continues, NewJeans have registered additional legal representatives before the upcoming second hearing. With this, the group now has a total of 13 lawyers from the law firm Sejong. On the other hand, ADOR also has over 10 lawyers from Kim & Chang. To briefly track you back, NewJeans began pursuing independent activities in February after accusing ADOR of violating the terms of their exclusive contract. However, in March, the court accepted the injunction sought by ADOR, to prevent the five members from independent activities. The second hearing for the validity of their exclusive contract is scheduled for June 5th. Please continue to keep us updated with this issue. Our next story is on an exciting announcement for Seventeen fans, CARATs. Seventeen will hold a solo performance at Jamsu Bridge in Seoul, becoming the first artist to do so. The group’s agency, Pledis Entertainment, announced that the event titled “B-DAY PARTY: BURST STAGE” is scheduled to be held on May 25th at 7:30 p.m. local time for one hour. And for global CARATs, no need to worry too much, the performance will be livestreamed online. What’s also notable is that this event comes just one day before Seventeen’s scheduled 10 year anniversary comeback with their 5th full-length album titled “HAPPY BURSTDAY.” Along with the performance on the 25th, there will also be a large scale pop-up store to celebrate the group’s 10 year anniversary from the 23rd to 25th. So if you’re a CARAT currently in Korea, make sure to visit Jamsu Bridge this weekend. Our last story for today is on a new film that casts an actress for whom this movie was her last one. The late actress Kim Sae-ron’s final film “Guitar Man” is coming out soon in theaters. On Wednesday, a press conference for the new film took place at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul. “Guitar Man” tells the story of a genius guitarist’s loss, love, and journey as he seeks hope through music amid the harsh reality of life. It stars Lee Seon-jeong, who is also the director of the film, and Kim Sae-ron. Lee explained that he pushed forward with the decision to premiere the film to keep a promise he made to Kim. “Guitar Man” is set to premiere in theaters on May 30th. It must be a meaningful film for both the director and Kim Sae-ron, and of course the fans as well.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/22 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Celebrated soprano Sumi Jo will be awarded the Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters, one of France's highest distinctions in the field of culture and the arts. According to the Korean Cultural Center in France, the award will be presented by Fleur Pellerin, the former French Culture Minister, who is of Korean descent, next Monday in Paris. Established in 1957, the Order of Arts and Letters recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the arts and literature or have helped elevate the international prestige of French culture. Since making her debut in 1986, Sumi Jo has received worldwide acclaim and is often praised as possessing "a voice gifted by the gods." Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea national team captain Son Heung-min has claimed the first trophy of his club career, having led his team to victory in the UEFA Europa League. Since joining Spurs a decade ago, Son has played in three major finals, finishing as runner-up on two occasions. The long-awaited triumph comes during a disappointing season in the Premier League. With the Europa League title, the club not only ends its trophy drought but also secures a coveted spot in next season's Champions League. Son described himself as the happiest person in the world, saying his dream had finally come true. The Busan International Performing Arts Festival kicks off tomorrow and runs through June 1, offering audiences a firsthand look at the latest trends in world theater. Under the theme "Regeneration & Balance," this year's festival will showcase 58 productions from 14 countries. The opening show, "The Song of Oedipus" by Sardegna Theatre, will make its Korean debut with a fresh take on the classic Greek tragedy. A wide range of programming will follow, including K-Stage, a competition for local theater groups; BIPAF Rookies, showcasing emerging artists; and invited performances from Korea and abroad. The festival closes with "The Vegetarian," adapted from the novel by Nobel laureate Han Kang and directed by Italy's Daria Deflorian. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

2025 Seoul Plaza Exercising: Seoul plaza transforms into huge workout playground for everyone

2025/05/21 17:00

For those of you here every Thursday evening and sometimes on Tuesdays until the end of June Capital Seoul offers an outdoor workout event aimed at building a broader culture of fitness. Our Choi Soo-hyung was there. As K-pop star Rosé's song 'APT' plays,.. people start copying the dance moves. This is Seoul Plaza, and right now, it's K-pop dance practice time. Following the dancers' lead, everyone enjoys the moves and gets soaked in sweat. "It's really good. I mean, we were not expecting to come here but I've heard the song a lot." "I've heard it on the radio and stuff so it's nice that we can kind of connect to it too especially because it's in English." Taking place in the evening under the clear spring sky, the event is particularly popular among office workers. "I love it! I usually don't have much time with my baby to have fun because of work, but thanks to this event, we are having a great time." The 2025 Seoul Plaza Exercising is held every Thursday and some Tuesdays until June 26th starting at 7 PM. The events offer fun and easy group workout programs for anyone whether they're a complete newbie or they just love to exercise. Each session will feature a different activity such as Zumba, Zumba, yoga class, or cheer-leading, so participants can try something new every time. In one corner of the plaza, visitors can also try sports that are hard to find in everyday life in South Korea, such as lacrosse and padminton, which is similar to badminton, but played with table tennis style paddles. Now in its third year, the event drew around 10-thousand people last year. During the event, a coaching program with fitness experts allows participants to get one-on-one advice on posture correction and diet. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

[K-Correspondent] The Korean wave hits Melbourne with official launch of Koreatown

2025/05/21 14:00

It’s time for our ‘K-correspondent’ segment, where we get all the latest in K-culture issues from around the world. Today we connect to Melbourne in Australia, where interest in the Korean wave has grown so much, that it led to the opening of a new area where Australian hallyu fans are expected to flock to Our correspondent in Melbourne Farnaz Pirasteh is now connected with us, to tell us what this is. Hello Farnaz! Q1. Farnaz, what have you been up to these days? Q2. Something exciting related to Korea is going on in the heart of Melbourne. Please reveal to us what it is. Q3. It’s quite a landmark event, having a Koreatown in the middle of an Australian city. How is the atmosphere in the area and how has the response by citizens been so far? Q4. Let’s now talk about the Koreatown itself. Please introduce for us in more detail what you can find there and what you were most impressed by. Q5. What do you think fans of hallyu will feel at K-Town in Melbourne?

[K-enter] "Dear Hongrang" enters Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English Shows

2025/05/21 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Bella, today we’ll start with the latest Korean Netflix series, “Dear Hongrang.” How is it doing? “Dear Hongrang” is doing great not only domestically, but globally as well. The new series, released on the 16th, is a mystery romance that tells the story of Hong-rang, the son of the largest trading group in Joseon, returning after a decade-long disappearance with no memory of his childhood, while his half-sister, Jae I, seeks the truth behind Hong-rang’s sudden disappearance. "Dear Hongrang" stars Lee Jae-wook, Cho Bo-ah, Jung Ga-ram, and Uhm Ji-won. Within just 3 days of its release, the series recorded a total of 2.2 million viewers, making it onto Netflix’s Top 10 non-English shows at No.6. It’s currently receiving positive reviews, so if you haven’t seen it yet, make sure to check it out on Netflix. It makes me especially proud to see "sageuk" dramas, or historical K-dramas doing well overseas, the great review of the drama has also raised interest in the novel this series is based on by Jang Da-hye "Tangeum: Swallowing Gold" Up next, let's talk about K-pop artists doing great on the Billboard chart? Rosé continues to make history on the Billboard Hot 100. On Tuesday, Billboard revealed that Rosé and Bruno Mars’ hit song “APT.” is now spending its 30th consecutive week on the Hot 100 at No. 22. With the new record, Rosé is now the first female K-pop artist ever to have a song in the chart for 30 weeks on the Hot 100, and only the 4th overall, including male K-pop artists. Aside from “APT.”, the only other songs by a K-pop act to spend 30 weeks on the Hot 100 are PSY’s “Gangnam Style,” BTS’s “Dynamite,” and BTS Jimin’s “Who.” Another K-pop group doing great on the Billboard chart is P1Harmony. The group’s latest mini album “DUH!” debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 23. This is their 4th time entering Billboard 200 after their previous works, “HARMONY : ALL IN,” “Killin’ It,” and “SAD SONG.” Amazing records by both artists! Let’s stay on the topic of K-pop this time it's a comeback story. Who’s coming back to the K-pop scene? TWICE will make a comeback with their 4th full-length album “THIS IS FOR” on July 11th. The group’s agency, JYP Entertainment, released the news with the intro video on its official SNS. The short video captures nine members in a one-take video, centering on the keyword ‘FOUR.’ Their new full-length album comes 3 years and 8 months after their 3rd full-length album back in 2021. After their new release in July, TWICE will heat up the global stage as they will headline Lollapalooza Chicago on August 2nd. TWICE and summer sound great together! Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

S. Korean music industry leaders named on Billboard's 2025 Global Power Players

2025/05/20 20:00

South Korean music industry leaders have once again earned global recognition for driving global success outside the United States. Billboard's 2025 Global Power Players list, released Monday, featured top names including SM Entertainment co-CEOs Jang Chul-hyuk and Tak Young-jun. The list highlights the agency's global impact from Aespa's successful world tour to the success of British boy band dearALICE, ranking No. 2 on the UK's music chart. HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk also made the list, recognized for his powerhouse lineup of stars including BTS.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/20 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. "We had a loving relationship for 36 years, and then suddenly got married." That's how renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun explained his historic appointment as Music Director of Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. Chung is the first Asian to take on the role at the famed opera house, with his term set to run from 2027 to 2030. Saying that La Scala has been his "closest friend" for decades, Chung emphasized that he will do everything he can to support its musicians. When asked about the theater's future artistic direction, he hinted it will feature quite a few works by Verdi, his favorite opera composer. Chung will make his official debut as La Scala's Music Director on December 7, next year. Lim Yun-chan's live recording album from the final round of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition has achieved gold certification upon release. According to Universal Music, the album, "Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3," sold over 5,000 copies on the day of release, qualifying for gold status. Under Korea's music industry standards, classical albums are certified gold at 5,000 copies sold and platinum at 10,000. Tottenham Hotspur, led by captain Son Heung-min, has been confirmed as the first team invited to the 2025 Coupang Play Series. The English Premier League club returns to Korea to showcase another exciting match for local fans after taking part in last year's series. Hosted, organized, and broadcast by Coupang Play, the series is a preseason football event featuring top European clubs. Executive Director of Tottenham Hotspur Donna-Maria Cullen said Korea holds a very special place for Tottenham, and the team looks forward to continuing its tour tradition by connecting with passionate fans, engaging in charity activities, and experiencing the local culture. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Kulture Issue] What's the latest K-food trending in the U.S.?

2025/05/20 14:00

Bibimbap, bulgogi, fried chicken. Which K-food comes to mind first? Today we want to talk about the latest K-food trend in the U.S. as well as a product that's been enjoying a surge in exports to the country. For that, we are now connected with Robert Ku, Managing Editor of Foundations and Futures: Asian American and Pacific Islander Multimedia Textbook, a major book project at the UCLA Asian American Studies Center. Hello Mr. Koo! 1) K-food exports to the U.S. last year amounted to 1.59 billion dollars, making the U.S. the top export destination for Korean food items. Do you feel this rising interest around you? 2) By item, Korea’s instant noodles, or ramyeon, is the number one K-food export to the U.S. right now. Why do you think we’re seeing this trend? (What’s unique about Korean instant noodles and among which group do you see the biggest popularity?) 3) What are some other rising "K-food stars" in the U.S. right now? 4) Kimbap, jjigae, tteokbokki and quite recently dalgona (famous through Squid Game), are Korean foods that were added to Oxford Dictionary in the past years. In addition to those, which Korean food items do you think deserve to be in English dictionaries? 5) (And maybe these answers will somewhat be equivalent to this next one ) which K-food do you believe could become the next big hit in the U.S.? 6) As a culture expert, could you share some advice for our global viewers on how to enjoy K-food to the fullest?

[K-wave] Ron Mueck's first solo exhibition in Korea at MMCA Seoul

2025/05/20 14:00

Australian artist Ron Mueck presents his first major solo exhibition in Korea. The contemporary sculptor is famous for his hyper-realistic human sculptures. Since its opening on April 11th, more than 150-thousand people have already visited the exhibition, setting a new record for the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul. Lee Eun-jin has the story. The sculpture of a man's sleeping face rests on the floor. Each strand of hair and wrinkle seem all too real, but the back of it is hollow, like a mask. The young couple seem to be clinging to each other but why they have such uncomfortable expressions is hidden behind, in the boy's tight grip. These are the work of sculptor Ron Mueck, born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1958 and based in the United Kingdom since 1986. Even more amazing than the delicate technique of his sculpting is the emotion that is conveyed through each piece, as it draws curiosity and throws visitors into deeper thought. "It goes beyond 'it looks real'. Emotion and presence are expressed more real than reality. Manifesting the most fundamental human emotions about death, loneliness and anxiety, his works are also called psychological portraits." Each sculpture, embodying Mueck's extreme technical skills and sophisticated artistic expression, takes anywhere from several months to many years to complete. The 48-piece collection displayed at this exhibition is the largest gathering of Mueck's works in Asia to date. But the gathering of the sculptures shaped across three decades means visitors will have the chance to experience his sculptural journey. One can imagine the work that went into installing the one hundred monumental skulls of Mueck's project titled 'Mass'. But its journey across the sea was also not easy. "The sculptures were fit into 100 crates. Upon arrival at Busan Port, they went through various security screenings, and were then transported to our museum. It was a long journey." Visitors can feel the intimate yet uncomfortable confrontation of an old man and a chicken across a table There's also an exhausted woman, overwhelmed with her ongoing efforts to survive urban contemporary life. Beyond just showcasing his sculptures, the exhibition also intends to present an overview of Mueck's artistic journey, as he has led the evolution and trend of contemporary sculpture. The Ron Mueck exhibition will be held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art until July 13th. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] I-dle make full transformation from head to toe

2025/05/20 14:00

So, Walter let's start off with a girl group we talked about with our K-pop expert Jeff Benjamin yesterday, but a girl group that decided to put less emphasis on the "girl" part of their name with their return! I-dle, formally (G)I-dle . While with each album cycle a change of style in a K-pop group is common, I-dle have decided to take things up a notch and do a complete transformation including switching out their (G)I-dle name. On Monday, a press conference was held at Josun Palace Seoul Gangnam to celebrate the release of girl group I-DLE’s 8th mini album "We Are". Not everything changed though with I-DLE signalling a fresh start following the full renewal of their contracts with Cube Entertainment BUT a new mindset. "We Are" includes six tracks such as the title song “Good Thing,” the pre-released “Girlfriend,” Yuqi’s self-composed track “Love Tease,” and the ballad “If You Want,” with lyrics written by Shuhua . Good luck to I-dle and their new beginnings! Next up, some K-musical news. The Korean musical "Maybe Happy Ending", which made its way to Broadway, won four awards at this year’s Outer Critics Circle Awards. "Maybe Happy Ending" took home honours for "Outstanding New Broadway Musical", "Outstanding Book of a Musical", "Outstanding Score", and director Michael Arden was awarded "Outstanding Direction of a musical". The Outer Critics Circle is an organisation of writers who review New York theatre productions. "Maybe Happy Ending" is an original musical set in the future, telling the story of Oliver and Claire, robots created to assist humans, who unexpectedly fall in love. After its premiere in Korea in 2016, the musical made its way to Broadway and officially opened at the Belasco Theatre in November last year. The production has also been nominated in 10 categories for next month's Tony Awards. Outstanding indeed. Lastly, taking music from the stage to the big screen, what do you have for us? I have a new movie for watchers of music and romance. "Midnight Sun" is a musical romance that follows the story of Miso and Minjun who can only go on dates in the middle of the night. As they fall in love through music, they also embark on a journey to pursue their dreams together. Cha Hak-yeon makes his big screen debut with "Midnight Sun." He has previously worked on television dramas but is also well-known for debuting as a member of the boy band VIXX back in May 2012 and usually goes by the stage name "N". Cha Hak-yeon shared, “When I first read the script, it felt like I was being gifted a piece of youth. It’s a film beautifully filled with warmth and a refreshing romance,” expressing his deep affection for the project and why he chose to join it. "Midnight Sun" is set to premiere on June 11.

Sand Sculpture festival in Denmark begins May 23

2025/05/20 10:00

Finally, in Denmark, the 14th Hundested Sand Sculpture Festival kicks off on Friday. The annual event will feature sand sculptures crafted by 16 international artists, centered around this year's theme of "Showtime." Visitors can expect to see detailed representations of entertainment icons such as Charlie Chaplin and Miss Piggy, as well as circus clowns. The festival also offers diverse family-friendly activities, including sculpting workshops, sand painting, and treasure hunts. As the festival runs through October 19, the sculptures are made of sand mixed with clay to ensure they last until autumn. The sand is reused each year.

[Kulture Issue] Month of May brings joy to K-pop fans with abundance of new releases

2025/05/19 14:00

May seems to be the month of new K-pop releases. From groups to solo artists, mini albums and full-length albums, there's something for every K-pop fan. Let's find out more on the latest in the world of K-pop with our K-pop expert Jeff Benjamin. Jeff, hello! Q1. First off, let's start with BTS' Jin, Walter reported on K-Enter that Jin's latest solo mini album "Echo" was released on Friday. What do you think of it? (How is it being received?) Q2. And today, Monday here in Korea, we have another list of new releases! Please tell us from whom they are and Jeff which one is grabbing your attention the most? Q3. Why are we seeing such a big lineup of new releases in the month of May? Do you see a specific reason? Q4. Are there any interesting or creative approaches we see in the promotion of the latest songs or albums? Q5. Now for girl group i-dle, or some may be more familiar with their former name (G)-I-DLE this return also comes with a change in their name! What can we make of this change? Q6. Let's talk about Seventeen. Marking their 10th anniversary, the boy group will release a full-length album later this month. What can we expect from this one? Q7. Let's wrap up with the rookies. Any notable activities by relatively recently debuted acts? Thank you Jeff, for your insights today, have a great rest of the month of May with all the K-pop releases and talk to you again soon. Thank you Walter, we'll have you back very soon, have a great rest of the day.

[K-enter] BTS Jin's new single 'Echo' gains global popularity

2025/05/19 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Let's kick off with some news on an album's songs that have been echoing around the world since the past few days. BTS's Jin has, of course, received an amazing response from fans around the world following the release of his second mini-album 'Echo' on Friday. According to his agency BigHit Music on Saturday, "Echo" soared to the top of the iTunes "Top Albums" chart in 63 countries by 7 a.m. Korean time the day after its release. The album's title track, "Don't Say You Love Me," also reached No. 1 on the iTunes "Top Songs" chart in 61 countries, and secured the top position on both the "Worldwide iTunes Songs" and "European iTunes Songs" charts. Jin is also scheduled to host his first solo fan concert on June 28 and 29 at the Goyang Sports Complex Auxiliary Stadium in Seoul. Let's stay on the topic of BTS members and talk about Jimin and Jungkook now! Both Jimin and Jungkook have reached another significant milestone in their solo careers. According to the recently announced winners of the 2025 BMI Pop Awards, Jimin's tracks "Like Crazy" and "Who," along with Jungkook's "3D feat. Jack Harlow" and "Standing Next to You," were named among the "Most Performed Songs of the Year." The BMI Pop Awards, hosted annually by Broadcast Music, Inc., a U.S. music rights organisation established in 1939, celebrates exceptional achievements in pop music, honouring both songwriters and music publishers. The "Most Performed Songs of the Year" category recognises the 50 most-played and broadcast songs across U.S. radio, television, live events, and digital platforms throughout the year. This year, 51 songs were selected, with Jimin and Jungkook each having two spots on the list. Let's keep to the theme of K-pop and boy groups and lastly move onto RIIZE. Earlier today, boy group RIIZE made a return on promoting the release of their first full-length album, "Odyssey." To mark the album's release, RIIZE hosted a showcase at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Seoul, boosting tracks such as "Fly Up" and the B-side track "Bag Bad Back." The album serves as a clear statement of the group's identity, showcasing their unique genre, "emotional pop," across a total of 10 tracks. The title track, "Fly Up," is a dance track inspired by the sound of 1950s rock and roll. The full-length album "Odyssey" will be available on major music streaming platforms beginning at 6 p.m. Monday . Thanks for that news Walter, stick around as we now go to our AI anchor Ari for more culture news.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/19 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korean temple food, rooted in Buddhist teachings and philosophy, has been officially designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Passed down through generations in temples, this culinary tradition includes both daily monastic meals and ceremonial offerings such as 'balwoo gongyang.' A key feature of temple cuisine is its strict adherence to a plant-based diet, excluding not only meat and fish but also five pungent vegetables, including garlic and green onions. This reflects Buddhism's core principle of non-violence and the practice of restraint. Korean temple food is now gaining global recognition as a model of healthy and sustainable eating. The Korean musical 'Maybe Happy Ending' is making a strong impression on the U.S. theater scene. Following its Best Musical win from the New York Drama Critics' Circle earlier this month, the production has claimed two major honors at the 91st Drama League Awards—Outstanding Production of a Musical, and Outstanding Direction of a Musical, awarded to director Michael Arden. The Drama League Awards are one of the oldest and most prestigious American theater awards presented annually. Set in the future, 'Maybe Happy Ending' tells the story of Oliver and Claire, robots designed to assist humans who unexpectedly fall in love. The musical landed ten nominations for the upcoming Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Book, and Best Score. The annual Rose Festival is in full bloom at Everland, located in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do Province. The event features three million roses across 720 varieties, drawing in large crowds of visitors. Themed as a month-long royal tea party in the rose garden, the event offers visitors a multi-sensory cultural experience, from aromatic afternoon teas and sweet desserts to themed entertainment and shopping. Marking its 40th anniversary, the festival offers an expanded lineup of captivating displays and programs. Since its launch in 1985, the festival has welcomed over 60 million visitors. The celebration runs through June 15 this year. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

BTS Jin drops second solo EP 'Echo'

2025/05/16 17:00

BTS 진, 두 번째 솔로 앨범 발매.

[Short-form] The secret to K-Food’s rich flavors and aromas

2025/05/16 14:00

Discover the secret to K-Food’s rich flavors and Koreans’ passion for diverse spices

[K-enter] Korean stars shine on Forbes '30 Under 30 Asia 2025'

2025/05/16 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Let’s kick off with an impressive story on Korean stars making it onto this year’s Forbes list! On Wednesday, American magazine Forbes announced the list of ‘30 Under 30 Asia 2025’ and number of Korean stars were selected on the list under the Entertainment & Sports category, including Stray Kids. Forbes noted that Stray Kids are the third K-pop group to top the Billboard main album chart ‘Billboard 200.’ It also stated that Stray Kids gained worldwide popularity by creating rock hits that follow their instincts. Along with Stray Kids, actors Go Min-si and Ha Ye-rin, boy group Big Ocean, and chef Kwon Seong-jun, the winner of Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars” Season 1, also made it onto the list. ‘30 Under 30 Asia’ is a list where Forbes select 30 leaders under the age of 30 each year in 10 different sectors, such as finance, art, entertainment and sports, across the Asia-Pacific region. Great to see some familiar names on the list! For our next story, we move onto a collaboration between K-pop and classics? SM Classics, a classic and jazz label under SM Entertainment, announced that it will hold a K-pop orchestra concert in collaboration with the world-renowned symphony orchestra Vienna Symphony. This performance is a special project included in the regular concert lineup of Vienna Symphony for the 2025/26 season. It is set to take place on February 16th of next year at Vienna Concert House. This collaboration is significant as it combines SM Classics, which captures the essence of K-pop through classical reinterpretation, with the world-class performance of the Vienna Symphony, providing a highly immersive experience. Not only that, it’s the very first attempt to bring K-pop to the European classical stage in a standalone concert format. Meanwhile, SM Classics plans to actively pursue the performance and score intellectual property(IP) licensing business, aiming to spread its original IP worldwide. They will meet with domestic audiences at a concert in Seoul in August. Wow, excited to see how the two sound together. Bella yesterday, you introduced two upcoming Korean streaming series and both were on the genre of thriller and crime. We have another series coming up of the same genre? The upcoming series “Hunter with a Scalpel” has revealed its teaser poster. The newly released poster immediately grabs attention with the intense visuals of Park Ju-hyun, Park Yong-woo, and Kang-hoon, setting a thrilling tone. The new series is a psychological crime thriller that follows the story of Se-hyun, a brilliant yet troubled forensic pathologist. While conducting an autopsy, Se-hyun uncovers evidence linking her father to a murder. To protect her dark past from being revealed, Se-hyun embarks on a race against time to catch her father before the police. “Hunter with a Scalpel” is set to be released on U+tv, U+mobile tv, and Disney+ on June 16th. Excited to see these "series" of thriller series in the coming weeks. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

[Hallyu People] Meet "Goong-ee Doong-ee" who guide you through K-Royal Culture Festival

2025/05/15 14:00

The K-Royal Culture Festival, the largest cultural heritage festival in Korea is held twice a year in spring and autumn at cultural heritage sites in the heart of Seoul, including the city’s five major royal palaces and Jongmyo Shrine. We recently had our News Features reporter cover the event at the site and today we have invited two people who were part of the whole event, as each of them played the role of a “Goong-ee Doong-ee”, who interact with visitors and guide them through the festival. They are Jesse Lee and Kylie Mavelle. Welcome! 1-1) Please introduce yourself to our viewers and tell us what a “Goong-ee Doong-ee” is. Jesse, let's start with you. And next, Kylie please! 1-2) So, what is a "Goong-ee Doong-ee" precisely? 2) What you are wearing right now is the costume you wore during the festival. You look like you just popped out of a historical K-drama scene. Kylie, could you tell us about this attire? 3) Kylie, how was the experience as a Goong-ee Doong-ee and what made you apply for this role? 4) And Jesse, it’s already the second time that you've participated as a Goong-ee Doong-ee. How come? 5) Gyeongbokgung , Changdeokgung , Deoksugung , Changgyeonggung , and Gyeonghuigung are the five major palaces in Seoul, which are some of the venues for the K-Royal Culture Festival. Jesse, what do you think is the charm of these Joseon dynasty palaces? 6) Any fun episodes you want to share about your experience as a Goong-ee Doong-ee? 7) Jesse, by now you probably know the venues inside-out. What are some attractions you’d like to share with visitors to the palaces? 8) Any tips or etiquette you’d like to share with our viewers who might have gotten interested in the festival and may make a visit to the next ‘K-Royal Culture Festival’? 9) Kylie, what does a typical day of a Goong-ee Doong-ee look like? 10) Last but not least, what are the requirements to become a Goong-ee Doong-ee? Thank you very much Kylie and Jesse for joining us today and for having contributed to making the K-Royal Culture Festival an unforgettable experience for the visitors.

[Features-reporter] Prominence of Korean content on Neflix hampers domestic production platforms

2025/05/15 14:00

Streaming juggernaut Netflix is enjoying a growing population of Korean viewers. and content from Korea is becoming more prominent on the OTT service. With growing numbers of Korean original series released on the global platform, there is the positive effect of consistently spreading Hallyu content, but what does this mean for local production and distribution platforms? Lee Eun-jin tells us more. From the Emmy-winning series "Squid Game" and 2022's "The Glory," to the most recent popular series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" When Netflix first launched in Korea back in 2016, it was unimaginable that in just 10 years, Hallyu would be actively promoted globally through so many Korean original series and films on the platform. According to a report released by London-based analytics firm Ampere Analysis, their analysis of Netflix viewing data showed South Korean content to be consistently among the most widely consumed content globally, and since 2023, it has been the second-most watched, behind US content. The report also said that of the 500 most popular non-English titles on Netflix, 85, or 17 percent, were Korean. And more than half of the top 100 Korean titles were Netflix originals. The report projects that Netflix's 2-point-5 billion U.S. dollars commitment to South Korean content from 2024 to 2028 will help maintain this content boom. However, this isn't all good news, particularly for the domestic production ecosystem, including local OTT platforms. For example, "Weak Hero Class 1" was produced as a Wavve original, on a domestic online streaming platform. But for its second season, Netflix stepped in for the production of "Weak Hero Class 2", which premiered on April 25th. "I'm very happy to be able to show the second season of 'Weak Hero' to a global audience." Concern is rising in the industry that Netflix is sucking in the market like a black hole. There is growing active support for production from major domestic public broadcasters, but this may not be enough to prevent diminishing competitiveness in the industry. As Netflix becomes a more prominent platform for the spread of Hallyu, worries are growing as to whether existing domestic production platforms can co-exist. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.