News

Two Korean artifacts restored using Korean technology

2025/03/18 17:00

Art restoration plays a crucial part in safeguarding cultural heritage and efforts between private and public sectors as well as those across borders go a long way to better protecting national treasures. Lee Eun-jin has details. The Leeum Museum of Art will be displaying two Korean artifacts from the 19th century following their restoration. The eight-panel screen titled "Welcoming Banquet of the Governor of Pyeongan" illustrates the boat ride crossing the Taedong River and the banquet welcoming the newly appointed governor of Pyeongan Province in 1826, during the Joseon Dynasty. Since 1927, this artifact has been housed in the Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts in the United States. There had been severe wear from leaving its homeland, and over the passage of time, and the eight panels were stored separately, making it difficult to even determine their exact sequence. It took over 16 months for its restoration. "There were parts of the painting missing -from small details to the entire bottom chunks. So we focused on how we could blend those parts without adding new brushstrokes." Accompanying the folding screen is the "hwarot," a traditional wedding robe worn by women during the Joseon era as early as the year 1392. With only about 50 versions of this garment surviving today, the "hwarot" was once reserved for royalty and aristocrats before becoming common among ordinary brides. It took experts in Dankook University roughly 13 months to restore the "hwarot", including research on the fabric and dye of its material, and embroidery techniques. "We stuck to a few rules: don't harm the original form, remove the cause of the damages as much as possible, and contribute to adding to the beauty of the hwarot." The two artifacts that have been restored with Korean technology belong to The Peabody Essex Museum in the United States, which has been buying Korean artifacts since the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two countries in the late 18-hundreds. And in 2003, as a part of the museum's expansion project, its new wing included a gallery devoted entirely to Korean arts. "We are accepting support from various organizations around the world for our conservation program. We had decided that the support needed for the preservation work of the Peabody Essex pieces would come from such programs." So far, the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation has supported 58 projects across 10 different countries, not only ensuring that the Korean cultural heritage overseas is preserved, but also displaying them to a global audience. But this is the first time that a private art museum has taken part in the restoration efforts as a contribution to society. After the special exhibition at Leeum, the Peabody Essex Museum will showcase the two restored Korean objects in May. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/03/18 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on Tuesday that the city of Andong, in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, has been awarded the title of "Culture City of East Asia 2026" for Korea. Promoting its slogan "Andong, where peace resides and minds rest," the Korean culture city will host various events throughout 2026 in collaboration with the other selected cultural cities of China and Japan. Nominating a culture city every year was an initiative jointly launched by Korea, China and Japan, in an effort to encourage deeper mutual understanding and stronger solidarity within the region, and has been a part of cultural exchange and collaborative projects since 2014. Marking a landmark 30th anniversary of the Korean Pavilion's construction at the Venice Biennale, an exhibition will be held to look back on three decades of the pavilion's architecture, focusing on the untold stories of the space that has often been underestimated as merely an exhibition venue. The professional architectural curator collective CAC has been appointed as the curator. The exhibition, under the title "'Little Toad Little Toad: Unbuilding the Pavilion", explores the architectural meaning derived from the establishment process, the relationships with other countries' pavilions, and the sustainability of the Biennale. The exhibition will be held for 6 months, from May 10th to November 23rd. Prominent art galleries in Korea will be gathering at the annual Galleries Art Fair next month. Established in 1979, this fair is not only Korea's first art fair, but also the longest running. Marking the beginning of the year's art fair season, this event also helps gauge the atmosphere of the art market for the year, with member galleries of the Galleries Association of Korea exhibiting and selling their works. This year, 168 member galleries will be participating, including major galleries like Hyundai, Johyun, Kukje, Hakgojae, and Leeahn. Starting with a VIP preview on April 16th, the art fair will run until the 20th, in COEX. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Kulture-Issue] Hallyu keywords that are making trends around the world

2025/03/18 14:00

Kimchi, soju, buldak, mukbang. Words that anyone interested in Korean culture has probably heard of before. These are also some of the Korean terms that made an increased appearance on global media platforms last year. This, according to data recently released by Korea's culture ministry in its annual "Global Hallyu Trends Analysis". Let's delve deeper into the findings of the trending K-keywords, with David Tizzard, Professor of Korean Studies at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University, who is joining us online. Hello Professor Tizzard! 1) Let's talk about this "Global Hallyu Trends Analysis", which for its latest report looked at 680,000 pieces of data from October 2023 to September 2024 based on foreign news articles, social media discussions and more. What were the top hallyu keywords? (And how were they different by continent/country?) 2) What do you think is the biggest force behind Korean words (or cultural aspects) becoming so widely used abroad now? 3) I can explain kimchi, mukbang, oppa, and hanbok to foreigners. But some words really can only be fully understood in Korean and are difficult to translate. What are some of those? 4) Have you encountered any K-pop fandom slang or newly created Korean words that surprised you by how they are spreading globally? Thank you very much Professor Tizzard for your insights today. Thank you Walter as always.

[K-Enter] Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family sue YouTuber for defamation

2025/03/18 14:00

So, Walter we start off on some news regarding a lawsuit between the family of Kim Sae-ron and a well-known YouTuber. The family of late actress Kim Sae-ron have filed a complaint against YouTuber Lee Jin-ho , on defamation charges. The lawyer representing Kim Sae-ron's family, submitted the complaint against Lee to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Monday afternoon. The charge is defamation due to the spread of false information. The YouTuber had accused Kim Sae-ron of posing as actor Kim Soo-hyun's girlfriend. Lee Jin-ho had posted content on his channel claiming that Kim Sae-ron was spreading false information, calling it a "staged romance." Lee has been a critic of Kim since 2022 when she was involved in a drink driving incident. Kim Sae-ron's legal team claim the accusations put a severe mental toll on her. The lawyer representing Kim Sae-ron's family stated, (quote) "In order to disprove this false information, the family had no choice but to reveal the truth about their relationship and release past photos as evidence." The family are also considering legal action against Kim Soo-hyun. I am sure the Kulture Wave will keep up to date with the this case. Moving onto some news on late singer Wheesung . The family of the legendary singer Wheesung has decided to donate all the condolence money given at his funeral. On Monday, Wheesung's younger brother announced the decision through his agency, saying "all of the condolence money received during the funeral period will be used in places that can have a positive social impact in the name of singer Wheesung." His brother also said "Once again, we deeply thank everyone who remembered and visited Wheesung ." A final cause of death has yet to be determined and the National Forensic Service has said it is expected to take more than two weeks for the detailed examination results to be released. A very kind donation indeed that we hope goes to a worthy cause. Now let's end on a lighter note and move onto the subject of K-pop. We have been seeing this girl group rise through the last few years and they have been gaining a lot of steam especially on social media and 특히 소셜 미디어와 예능 프로그램에서 인기를 얻고 있습니다. Who are you going to talk about? NMIXX released their new fourth mini-album "Fe3O4: FORWARD" along with their title track "KNOW ABOUT ME". This new release follows their second mini-album "Fe3O4: BREAK" and third mini-album "Fe3O4: STICK OUT", marking the final installment of the 'Fe3O4' album series. Meanwhile, NMIXX has been announced as a performer for the "2025 iHeartRadio Wango Tango", a U.S. festival set to take place on May 10 at Huntington City Beach in California. Additionally, as part of their second fan concert tour in April, they will hold performances in Taipei and Hong Kong, both of which are sold out. Great news for them, I know they have been one of the most exciting groups recently. So let's hope to see more of them soon. Now, let's move onto more culture news with Ari, Ari what stories do you have for us today?

K-wave AI News

2025/03/17 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Starting April, visitors to the four royal palaces in Seoul will be able to enjoy performances of traditional Korean music, also called gugak. The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service, along with the National Gugak Center, announced that a total of 29 gugak events, including concerts and dance performances, will take place across the months of April, May and September, at Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Deoksu and Changgyeong palaces. The palaces will feature royal court performances from the times of the Korean dynasties, including Queen Sunwon in the 18-hundreds, and King Sejong back in the 14-hundreds. A maximum capacity of 50 spectators can watch each of the performances, and while the performances are free, there is a general admission fee to enter the palace. Invited by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the author of the global bestseller "Sapiens," Yuval Noah Harari, is visiting Korea to give a lecture on the future of humanity in the age of artificial intelligence. Under the theme of "a sustainable tomorrow that we create together", a special talk will be held at the auditorium of Yonsei University on March 20th. This event is organized as a part of a pre-event for the 2025 Gyeongju APEC Summit scheduled for September, and will be broadcast live online through the YouTube channels of both the ministry and the APEC Summit. Spring is just around the corner and Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District Office will be welcoming visitors to one of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots from April 4th to 8th. Under the theme "Garden for All," the 2025 Spring Flower Festival will kick off at 5 PM on April 4th with a walking parade. Various themed gardens will be showcased to include a diverse range of spring flowers and plants, including cherry blossoms, starting with a flower arch photo-zone entrance, an "Art Garden" featuring art displays and performances, a "Gourmet Garden" where various snacks will be available, and a "Rest Garden" created by local gardeners. In preparation for the event, traffic will be restricted along a 1-point-7-kilometer stretch from noon on April 2nd until 2PM on April 9th.

[Short-form] Snow crabs in March– a true culinary treasure from the heart of the sea!

2025/03/17 14:00

Explore the rich flavor of snow crabs in Korea’s eastern coastal regions this spring, home to the country’s finest-tasting variety!

[Kulture Issue] K-pop idols going big on solo activities in March

2025/03/17 14:00

It’s time for a close analysis of the K-pop scene. March has been and is a promising month for K-pop lovers, with lots of exciting releases and comebacks. Especially solo artists, who are stealing the spotlight with their own unique charms that grab the attention of fans worldwide. Let’s delve deeper into the latest K-pop solo action by connecting with Jeff Benjamin, a K-pop expert and contributor to Billboard, Forbes, Rolling Stone and more. Hello Jeff! Q1-1) Jeff, how have you been lately? Q1-2) And how have K-pop solo artists been doing lately? We’ve had some top-tier artists’ releases in the past weeks. Is there a specific reason for this timing? Q2) Let’s look at them in more detail. BTS member j-hope has released his digital single "Sweet Dreams", his first song since his return from mandatory military service. What’s the song like and how is it being received? Q3) Now onto a female artist, BLACKPINK’s Jennie, who has recently released her first solo studio album "Ruby". She made a transformation from her BLACKPINK image with this album and it has been receiving positive reviews overseas? Q4) So, how do you describe Jennie’s new musical style and what’s the new approach we’re seeing in this 15-track album? Also, what’s the most special thing about the album you'd say? Q5) All members of BLACKPINK, not just Jennie, have dropped solo albums in recent weeks and months and are establishing themselves as individual artists. How are they all doing? Q6) It appears like K-pop group-turned solo artists are going more bold in their styling and their music is more targeted at the global market, with English lyrics and collaborations with international stars. What are the implications of these changes for K-pop's global expansion? Q7) It definitely has good sides if lyrics are sung in a universal language, so that more fans can relate to the music, but some domestic fans might be disappointed by this change some argue that K-pop is no longer K-pop. What’s your take on this?

[K-enter] BLACKPI NK Jennie has three songs in the UK Top 100 Singles Chart after release of new album 'Ruby'

2025/03/17 14:00

Now it's time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Let's talk about probably the hottest name in the last couple of weeks in K-pop, Jennie. Since Jennie's album release of "RUBY" on March 7, it has been nothing but success after success for the BLACKPINK member. First the album has three tracks in the UK Top 100 Singles Chart with "Like Jennie" , "Handlebars" and "ExtraL " . Not only that, Jennie has also entered the U.S. Billboard 200 Top 10 with her debut full-length solo album "RUBY". It's absolutely amazing to see that three out of the four BLACKPINK members have seen massive success in the top 10 for their solo careers and that must make fans even more excited to see what they can do when they all come back together in the second half of the year. It can be hard to go from being a great group to being a great solo artist but groups like BTS and BLACKPINK have certainly set the bar for the rest of the genre. Moving onto another massive girl group who I think still has so much to achieve. I love this girl group, and I agree I think they have so much more coming their way in terms of success. On Friday, a media showcase was held at YES24 Live Hall in Seoul to celebrate the release of LE SSERAFIM’s 5th mini album, "HOT". They also performed their title track "HOT" in front of fans and the media. The title track features an emotional melody, showcasing a different side of LE SSERAFIM compared to their previous title tracks. LE SSERAFIM’s "HOT" embodies a passionate attitude toward love. The album itself includes five tracks: the title song "HOT", "Born Fire", "Come Over", "Ash", and "So Cynical (Badum)", blending rock and disco elements into a pop sound. When asked about the album, Japanese member Kazuha said “We tried to find a middle ground where the energy doesn’t feel too bubbly but also doesn’t drop too much,” and member Huh Yunjin explained the song's appeal, saying, "I felt that this song had a dual nature. It feels both cold and hot, burning yet fading away." Yes, an already popular group but one to still look out for in the future because they can only get bigger from here. And we end off with a commemoration of a legendary singer's life. We unfortunately had to report the death of legendary singer Wheesung last week on the Kulture Wave. He was finally laid to rest over the weekend, as his life was mourned and commemorated by family and friends. Around 130 people, including fellow artists, family members, and fans, attended the funeral on Sunday. During the funeral, Wheesung’s younger brother Choi Hyuk-sung , actress Kim Na-un , and the president of his fan club delivered eulogies. Wheesung was laid to rest at Gwangneung Memorial Park. RIP Wheesung. And thank you for those updates Walter.

Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot attend LA 'Snow White' premiere

2025/03/17 10:00

Disney's live-action movie "Snow White" premiered in Los Angeles on Saturday local time with a notably subdued event. The premiere featured limited media presence, with interviews conducted primarily by Disney-affiliated personnel. The film has been surrounded by controversies, including criticism over the casting of Rachel Zegler, a Latina actress, as Snow White and debates regarding the portrayal of the seven dwarfs. Also, the differing political views between Zegler and co-star Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen have fueled further discussions. The film is scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on March 21.

How Yeosu is looking to welcome cruise tourists

2025/03/17 10:00

The southern city of Yeosu is poised to welcome more than seven cruise ships this year alone, as this new way of visiting South Korea grows in popularity allowing visitors to have a look at the country's coastal cities. Our Ahn Sung-jin has this report. A 78,000 ton cruise ship with more than 2,000 passengers glides into port. This cruise has come from Japan and has arrived at its first stop in South Korea, the south coast city of Yeosu. “Yeosu city hall aims to provide a glimpse of Korean culture through such traditional performances and show unique aspects of the city as it looks to brand itself as a new cruise destination.” As soon as visitors finish their customs checks, they are greeted by Korean snacks, jewelry and craftwork, and for those looking to explore the city even further, a shuttle bus takes them around for free. "Every time we pulled into a port like today here in South Korea, we were met with wonderful performances, and we found everyone to be very welcoming and we really appreciate the shuttles and it really helps us to see and navigate easily." From must-visit places such as the Yi Sun-shin Plaza and its replica historical turtle ship, to the beauty of Odongdo Island or the ocean cable car, the city has plenty for tourists to see and do. After the excitement of Yeosu city, these passengers will head to their next stop in Korea. "Well we’re pretty old hats at this we’ve been doing it this is probably our 12th cruise. Just enjoying this area we don't know much about Yeosu but we’re looking forward to Jeju tomorrow." To accommodate all the tourists, the city provides administrative support, including temporary currency exchange and tourism information centers as well as interpreters and tour guides. “With more cruise visitors, whether it's shopping or dining, the local economy of Yeosu is becoming more active. I think this will be an opportunity to improve its brand image and further promote itself which is why we are putting a lot of attention and support into these MICE and cruise businesses.” The city is expecting to welcome another six cruises this year carrying a total of 10,000 tourists as it looks to put itself on the map as a cruise destination. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Yeosu.

How Yeosu is looking to welcome cruise tourists

2025/03/14 20:00

Meanwhile, the southern city of Yeosu is poised to welcome more than seven cruise ships this year alone, --quite a different scene from the past, at the height of the global pandemic. Our Ahn Sung-jin was at the port. A 78,000 ton cruise ship with more than 2,000 passengers glides into port. This cruise has come from Japan and has arrived at its first stop in South Korea, the south coast city of Yeosu. "Yeosu city hall aims to provide a glimpse of Korean culture through such traditional performances and show unique aspects of the city as it looks to brand itself as a new cruise destination." As soon as visitors finish their customs checks, they are greeted by Korean snacks, jewelry and craftwork, and for those looking to explore the city even further, a shuttle bus takes them around for free. "Every time we pulled into a port like today here in South Korea, we were met with wonderful performances, and we found everyone to be very welcoming and we really appreciate the shuttles and it really helps us to see and navigate easily." From must-visit places such as the Yi Sun-shin Plaza and its replica historical turtle ship, to the beauty of Odongdo Island or the ocean cable car, the city has plenty for tourists to see and do. After the excitement of Yeosu city, these passengers will head to their next stop in Korea. "Well we're pretty old hats at this we've been doing it this is probably our 12th cruise. Just enjoying this area we don't know much about Yeosu but we're looking forward to Jeju tomorrow." To accommodate all the tourists, the city provides administrative support, including temporary currency exchange and tourism information centers as well as interpreters and tour guides. "With more cruise visitors, whether it's shopping or dining, the local economy of Yeosu is becoming more active. I think this will be an opportunity to improve its brand image and further promote itself which is why we are putting a lot of attention and support into these MICE and cruise businesses." The city is expecting to welcome another six cruises this year carrying a total of 10,000 tourists as it looks to put itself on the map as a cruise destination. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Yeosu.

How Yeosu is looking to welcome cruise tourists

2025/03/14 17:00

Korea's southern city of Yeosu is poised to welcome more than seven cruise ships at its dedicated cruise terminal this year a remarkable number especially following the previous fallout amid the global pandemic. Our Ahn Sung-jin was at the port. A 78,000 ton cruise ship with more than 2,000 passengers glides into port. This cruise has come from Japan and has arrived at its first stop in South Korea, the south coast city of Yeosu. "Yeosu city hall aims to provide a glimpse of Korean culture through such traditional performances and show unique aspects of the city as it looks to brand itself as a new cruise destination." As soon as visitors finish their customs checks, they are greeted by Korean snacks, jewelry and craftwork, and for those looking to explore the city even further, a shuttle bus takes them around for free. "Every time we pulled into a port like today here in South Korea, we were met with wonderful performances, and we found everyone to be very welcoming and we really appreciate the shuttles and it really helps us to see and navigate easily." From must-visit places such as the Yi Sun-shin Plaza and its replica historical turtle ship, to the beauty of Odongdo Island or the ocean cable car, the city has plenty for tourists to see and do. After the excitement of Yeosu city, these passengers will head to their next stop in Korea. "Well we're pretty old hats at this we've been doing it this is probably our 12th cruise. Just enjoying this area we don't know much about Yeosu but we're looking forward to Jeju tomorrow." To accommodate all the tourists, the city provides administrative support, including temporary currency exchange and tourism information centers as well as interpreters and tour guides. "With more cruise visitors, whether it's shopping or dining, the local economy of Yeosu is becoming more active. I think this will be an opportunity to improve its brand image and further promote itself which is why we are putting a lot of attention and support into these MICE and cruise businesses." The city is expecting to welcome another six cruises this year carrying a total of 10,000 tourists as it looks to put itself on the map as a cruise destination. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Yeosu.

K-wave AI News

2025/03/14 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Blooming season has arrived for spring flowers in South Korea. The late cold snap delayed the spring bloom, which resulted in disappointing flower festivals earlier this month. But with daytime temperatures rising to between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius this week, plum flower buds have started to bloom. Yangsan and Gimhae Cities of South Gyeongsang Province say their plum blossoms are expected to be in full bloom starting Friday, and expect many visitors to celebrate the arrival of spring along the Nakdong River. The Cheong Wa Dae Foundation announced on Thursday that it will launch this year's "Cheongwadae Week," which refers to a series of weekend events and performance programs organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization to promote the Cheongwadae area and its cultural heritage. The first in the lineup of performances set to run from March to September, is the "gukgeuk", or the traditional Korean all-female theater, titled "Princess Seonhwa", which tells the love story of Prince Seodong of Baekje and Princess Seonhwa of Silla. On weekdays when there are no performances, there will also be an exhibition to further explore the background of "gukgeuk." Expo Chicago is set to host more than 170 galleries from 36 countries from April 24th to 27th. Since its acquisition by Frieze in 2023, it will be the first time for Expo Chicago to partner with the Galleries Association of Korea in an initiative supported by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Korea Arts Management Service. Its 2025 edition will feature 20 Korean galleries in the main sector, including Seoul-based galleries BHAK, Gallery Baton, and Keumsan Gallery. Korea's 20 galleries will bring together 300 artworks by 90 artists, of which 80 percent are Korean artists. According to the Galleries Association of Korea, the funding to participate in the fair is partly supported by the Korea Arts Management Service. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Short-form] Spring mugwort: Natural health booster for the season!

2025/03/14 14:00

Discover K-style ways to enjoy the tender leaves of mugwort at its peak flavor this spring!

[K-enter] Kim Soo-hyun's agency addresses Kim Sae-ron relationship allegations

2025/03/14 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Bella, today we start with the controversy surrounding actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress Kim Sae-ron. Please fill us in with the latest updates. This week, there has been some controversy surrounding relationship allegations between actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress Kim Sae-ron, who reportedly committed suicide last month. With the growing controversy, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, initially announced it would issue a formal statement next week, but Kim Soo-hyun showed severe symptoms of psychological instability, so they urgently decided to make the statement today. The statement said that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were in a relationship for one year, from the summer of 2019 to fall of 2020. This would mean that Kim Sae-ron was not a minor at the time of their relationship, different from the claim that Kim Sae-ron’s family made through YouTube channel “Hover Lab.” They said the two were in a relationship since 2015, when Kim Sae-ron was a minor, for six years. As public sentiment continued to sour, several brands featuring Kim Soo-hyun as a commercial model have begun adjusting their marketing strategies or closely monitoring the situation. Please keep us updated. Now moving onto the next story, we have a K-pop group that's set a great achievement. ENHYPEN have achieved their first “triple-million-seller” album since their debut. According to the circle chart on Thursday, the group’s second full-length album “Romance: UNTOLD,” released in July of last year, sold over 3 million copies as of February of this year. It sold more than 2.34 million copies in its first week alone, marking the highest initial sales of ENHYPEN. “Romance: UNTOLD” is also doing very well on the global charts. The album ranked the highest among K-pop artists in the International Association of the Recording Industry (IFPI) at No. 2 and No. 4 respectively on the “2024 Global Album Sales Chart” and the “2024 Global Album Chart.” The album also ranked 9th in the album rankings and 10th in the combined album rankings of Japan’s “Oricon Annual Ranking 2024.” Based on the explosive popularity of “Romance: Untold,” ENHYPEN, recorded 5.45 million cumulative album sales last year alone. This is very impressive as only three K-pop artists, Seventeen, Stray Kids and ENHYPEN, have exceeded 5 million cumulative annual sales in 2024. Very impressive achievements! Lastly, we have a story on an animation film. What is it Bella? We are going to talk about an animation film “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning.” On Thursday, it surpassed 400-thousand viewers. The film, released on February 21st, is an occult blockbuster, depicting the beginning of an epic battle between exorcists with supernatural abilities and an ultimate evil. It's main target is adult, but the film is for 12 years and older. The film is based on the novel of the same title, which was first published in 1993 and has since sold over 10 million copies. “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning” is a unique combination of a horror film and an animation, so this has intrigued audiences, who are responding with great enthusiasm. With the enthusiasm from the viewers, the film is expected to rank No.1 among 2025 Korean animations. Let’s see if it can make it to the top of the rankings. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

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

2025/03/14 14:00

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

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

2025/03/13 17:00

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

K-wave AI News

2025/03/13 14:00

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

[K-enter] Stray Kids earn ninth gold certification

2025/03/13 14:00

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

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

2025/03/12 20:00

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