News

[K-Enter] BTS Jimin sets record for longest-charting K-pop solo artist on Billboard Hot 100

2025/03/12 14:00

Now time for a daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. We start off with a hot new record set by a certain BTS member. BTS's Jimin has set a new record as the longest-charting K-pop solo artist on the U.S. Billboard main song chart, the "Hot 100." According to the latest chart released by U.S. music magazine Billboard, the track "Who" from Jimin's second solo album "MUSE" ranked 41st on the "Hot 100," marking its 32nd week on the chart. This surpasses the previous longest-charting K-pop solo record of 31 weeks, set by Psy's "Gangnam Style" in 2012. It also ties the record for the longest-charting K-pop song on the "Hot 100," held by his own group BTS's "Dynamite." This means, Jimin has become the artist with the longest-charting records in both group and solo activities. I'm sure his other group members are very proud of him. Another member will be part of a new variety TV show that we'll be turning our attention to now. Webtoon artist-turned-broadcaster Kian84's Netflix variety show "Kian's Bizarre B&B" will be released next month. "Kian's Bizarre B&B" is a new type of guesthouse variety show set at Ulleungdo Kianjang , a sort of guesthouse according to Kian84's own ideas. The show features Kian84, BTS member Jin, and actress Ji Ye-eun as they interact with guests. BTS's Jin appears as an "all-round employee", actress Ji Ye-eun , who was a member of the variety show 'Running Man', joins as the youngest staff member. "Kian's Bizarre B&B" will be released over three weeks starting April 8, with a total of nine episodes. The first week will premiere three episodes, followed by three more episodes each week. I'll be looking forward to that. Lastly an important documentary about traditional Korean women's music is set to be released. Tell us more. The press conference for the documentary film "Women's Gukgeuk : Enduring on the Edge of Time" was held on Tuesday at Megabox COEX in Seoul. "Women's Gukgeuk " features Master Jo Young-sook , a first-generation actress at the gukgeuk all-female musical theatre and the current holder of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Baltal , "Baltal," meaning "Foot Mask Theatre". Master Jo is known as the real-life inspiration for the popular 2024 drama Jeong-nyeoni or "A Star Is Born" in English. The documentary captures the journey of Master Jo and her disciples as they strive to preserve the legacy of women's gukgeuk . Master Jo remarked, "I have been performing women's gukgeuk since 1951. As the title suggests, women's gukgeuk has been on the edge of disappearance, but it has endured thanks to our relentless efforts to secure its rightful place." She also stated, "Women's gukgeuk is a magnificent and extraordinary cultural heritage of our country." "Women's Gukgeuk : Enduring on the Edge of Time" is set to premiere on March 19th. It definitely is an important part of Korean history and a documentary not to be missed. Thanks for today's K-enter news Walter and stick around. Now we move onto Ari with more culture news.

K-wave AI News

2025/03/12 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 'Seoul Light DDP festival,' which transforms the exterior of Dongdaemun Design Plaza into a massive media art display, has claimed top honors at three of the world's most prestigious design awards. This year, it clinched the main award title at Germany's iF Design Award for "Poetry of Time," a media art reinterpretation of an original work by Kim Whanki, a pioneer of Korean abstract art. In 2023, Seoul Light DDP received the Red Dot Design Award main prize and a bronze prize at the IDEA Design Award. Since 2019, the festival has transformed DDP's façade into a giant canvas, showcasing works by renowned media artists such as Refik Anadol and Quayola. The National Maritime Museum of Korea in Busan has unveiled its newly renovated Children's Museum. The revamped space debuts with "A Journey Through the Sea on a Time Machine" as its first permanent exhibition. It also features the Island Village Playground, an interactive play area designed to support early childhood development through sensory experiences and hands-on activities. Marking its 10th anniversary in 2022, the museum embarked on a comprehensive renovation, introducing extensive upgrades, new exhibits, and immersive experiences to enhance visitor engagement. The '2025 Gaya Culture Festival,' a signature event in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, will take place in April. Under the theme "Gaya, a 2,000-Year-Old Ancient Capital," the four-day festival will kick off with an opening ceremony on April 10 at 7 PM on the main stage at Surungwon. This year, the festival will enhance programs related to the Daeseong-dong Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and expand the Gaya Fantasia program, which received a positive response last year. The King Suro Parade will also be a key highlight. Major events, including kite flying and a media façade display, will be concentrated around the tomb cluster. Gimhae City hopes the festival will unite communities and further fuel the city's future development. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

Chester Zoo shows off baby 'dancing lemur'

2025/03/12 10:00

In the United Kingdom, Chester Zoo is celebrating the birth of a rare Coquerel's sifaka, a species of lemur commonly known as a 'dancing lemur.' The lemur was born on January 20, with the zoo saying every new birth is a "huge cause for celebration." According to the zoo, the 'dancing lemurs' get their nickname as they can stand upright and spring from side to side as if they are dancing. Coquerel's sifakas are an endangered species and can only be found in the northwestern forests of Madagascar.

AI incorporated into Korean traditional processional court music

2025/03/11 20:00

An unlikely encounter between Korea's traditional court music and artificial intelligence offers audiences the chance to indulge in the lost lyrics of the past. Lee Eun-jin explains. The royal processional music of the Joseon-era kings as they departed from and returned to their palaces will be performed on stage at the Yeakdang Hall of the National Gugak Center in Seoul. The royal processional music of the Joseon Dynasty followed a specific format. Starting with chulgungak, for when the king leaves the palace then haengak, for during the procession. Hwangungak is played upon his return and finally, yeollyeak banquet music is performed after his arrival at the palace. "Under the title 'Haengak and Boheoja: Steps of Heaven and Earth' it's less a restoration, and more a three-dimensional production of the royal family's elegant yet brilliant processional court music." Boheoja -a repertoire of Korean court music -sings of a peaceful reign. But the last of its three parts only survived as an instrumental piece. In this production, AI was used to generate new verses. AI models were trained on 350 of Crown Prince Hyo-myeong's works, one of the most prolific 'hansi' poets of the Joseon era. They were cross-referenced with over 100 poems by scholars Jeong Yak-yong and Kim Jeong-hui for the newly composed lyrics. "The old books of poems written with brushes were digitized. After all the Chinese characters were processed, old Korean translation samples were also collected and input." 'Boheoja' is performed in Korean traditional opera, telling the story of King Sejo, the 7th monarch of the Joseon dynasty, and Prince Anpyeong, who was sacrificed as a victim of King Sejo's lust for power. "27 years after the Gyeyu-Jeongnan coup where did Moosim, the daughter of Anpyeong, go? Perhaps pacing around her father's traces." The fundamental rhythm and scales are based on traditional music, but the complicated sounds in between have been removed, to bring a so-called ballad-style pansori, expected to be more widely received by the audience. "We follow the more simple flow of the traditional sounds, but the complicated sounds in between (haha) that even I can't relate to, have been taken out." Led by young director Kim Jeong, who has been garnering attention in the theater industry, experienced singers will be staging the Life of Remorse, at the National Gugak Center in Seoul on March 13th and 14th. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

AI incorporated into Korean traditional processional court music

2025/03/11 17:00

An unlikely encounter between Korea's traditional court music and artificial intelligence offers audiences the chance to indulge in the lost lyrics of the past. Lee Eun-jin explains. The royal processional music of the Joseon-era kings as they departed from and returned to their palaces will be performed on stage at the Yeakdang Hall of the National Gugak Center in Seoul. The royal processional music of the Joseon Dynasty followed a specific format. Starting with chulgungak, for when the king leaves the palace then haengak, for during the procession. Hwangungak is played upon his return and finally, yeollyeak banquet music is performed after his arrival at the palace. "Under the title 'Haengak and Boheoja: Steps of Heaven and Earth' it's less a restoration, and more a three-dimensional production of the royal family's elegant yet brilliant processional court music." Boheoja -a repertoire of Korean court music -sings of a peaceful reign. But the last of its three parts only survived as an instrumental piece. In this production, AI was used to generate new verses. AI models were trained on 350 of Crown Prince Hyo-myeong's works, one of the most prolific 'hansi' poets of the Joseon era. They were cross-referenced with over 100 poems by scholars Jeong Yak-yong and Kim Jeong-hui for the newly composed lyrics. "The old books of poems written with brushes were digitized. After all the Chinese characters were processed, old Korean translation samples were also collected and input." 'Boheoja' is performed in Korean traditional opera, telling the story of King Sejo, the 7th monarch of the Joseon dynasty, and Prince Anpyeong, who was sacrificed as a victim of King Sejo's lust for power. "27 years after the Gyeyu-Jeongnan coup where did Moosim, the daughter of Anpyeong, go? Perhaps pacing around her father's traces." The fundamental rhythm and scales are based on traditional music, but the complicated sounds in between have been removed, to bring a so-called ballad-style pansori, expected to be more widely received by the audience. "We follow the more simple flow of the traditional sounds, but the complicated sounds in between (haha) that even I can't relate to, have been taken out." Led by young director Kim Jeong, who has been garnering attention in the theater industry, experienced singers will be staging the Life of Remorse, at the National Gugak Center in Seoul on March 13th and 14th. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-wave] AI incorporated into Korean traditional processional court music

2025/03/11 14:00

The Court Music Orchestra of the National Gugak Center will soon be staging a performance centered on court music from the Joseon Dynasty. There are some special elements to the performance, titled " Haengak and Boheoja: Steps of Heaven and Earth," including the involvement of AI technology in reconstructing some of the lyrics. Lee Eun-jin has the details. The royal processional music of the Joseon-era kings as they departed from and returned to their palaces will be performed on stage at the Yeakdang Hall of the National Gugak Center in Seoul. The royal processional music of the Joseon Dynasty followed a specific format. Starting with chulgungak, for when the king leaves the palace then haengak, for during the procession. Hwangungak is played upon his return and finally, yeollyeak banquet music is performed after his arrival at the palace. "Under the title 'Haengak and Boheoja: Steps of Heaven and Earth' it's less a restoration, and more a three-dimensional production of the royal family's elegant yet brilliant processional court music." Boheoja -a repertoire of Korean court music -sings of a peaceful reign. But the last of its three parts only survived as an instrumental piece. In this production, AI was used to generate new verses. AI models were trained on 350 of Crown Prince Hyo-myeong's works, one of the most prolific 'hansi' poets of the Joseon era. They were cross-referenced with over 100 poems by scholars Jeong Yak-yong and Kim Jeong-hui for the newly composed lyrics. "The old books of poems written with brushes were digitized. After all the Chinese characters were processed, old Korean translation samples were also collected and input." 'Boheoja' is performed in Korean traditional opera, telling the story of King Sejo, the 7th monarch of the Joseon dynasty, and Prince Anpyeong, who was sacrificed as a victim of King Sejo's lust for power. "27 years after the Gyeyu-Jeongnan coup where did Moosim, the daughter of Anpyeong, go? Perhaps pacing around her father's traces." The fundamental rhythm and scales are based on traditional music, but the complicated sounds in between have been removed, to bring a so-called ballad-style pansori, expected to be more widely received by the audience. "We follow the more simple flow of the traditional sounds, but the complicated sounds in between (haha) that even I can't relate to, have been taken out." Led by young director Kim Jeong, who has been garnering attention in the theater industry, experienced singers will be staging the Life of Remorse, at the National Gugak Center in Seoul on March 13th and 14th. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] Singer Wheesung found dead at home... singer's agency expresses heartbreak

2025/03/11 14:00

Wheesung was a big part of my teens and even if you were not a fan, most Koreans in their twenties to forties know at least one of his hit songs. Walter, tell us what we know so far. Yes, early 2000's singer Wheesung , real name Choi Wheesung , has died at the age of 43. He was found at his apartment in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul at roughly 6:29 p.m. on Monday. Some time had passed before the singer was found by his mother who then called the emergency services. According to the police, so far there are no signs of intrusion or crime, and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. Debuting in 2002, Wheesung gained recognition as a ballad and R&B singer with hit songs such as 2002's "Can’t We" , 2003's With Me, and "The Day We Meet Again." . He has also worked with artists such as Ailee and Twice. He was set to perform alongside fellow ballad singer KCM at Exco in Daegu on Saturday. Now we move onto Jennie from Blackpink, it's no surprise that her solo album is doing great. How well has it been doing? Blackpink leader Jennie’s solo album, "Ruby", which was released just last Friday, has risen to the top of iTunes' "Top Albums" charts in 21 countries and regions, including the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. Additionally, it secured the No. 1 spot on the daily digital bestseller charts of China's QQ Music and Kugou Music. The music video for the title track "Like Jennie" also topped YouTube’s trending videos and popular rising videos charts. Jennie also held a showcase in Los Angeles to celebrate the release of "Ruby" stunning audiences with her performances becoming a viral sensation across social media. Like you said, there was no doubt that her album was going to be a success. I have had "Like Jennie" on repeat all week. We are staying on the topic of solos and a first for a fourth generation idol, who are we talking about? Yes, I am super excited about this. I am an ahjay fan of this girl group, I sound so gross. Anyway, I'm talking about Yeji from the girl group ITZY becoming the first member of the group to launch a solo career. On Monday, a press conference was held at a hotel in Seoul to celebrate the release of Yeji’s solo debut album, "AIR". The title track, "Air", is a synth-pop song characterized by its powerful bass sound and addictive hook. Yeji personally participated in writing the lyrics, and legendary producer Park Jin-young, better known as JYP, also contributed to the album, of course he did. The album consists of four tracks: "Air", "Invasion", "Can't Slow Me, No" and "258". Yeji said, “While preparing for this album, I realized once again how much I love being a singer. If I had to rate my effort, I would give myself a perfect score of 100.”

K-wave AI News

2025/03/06 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 24th Gwangyang Maehwa Festival, or Plum Blossom Festival, will kick off this Friday, heralding the arrival of spring in Korea. Maehwa Village in Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do Province is recognized as one of Korea’s top 100 tourist destinations for its picturesque scenery. The festival will offer visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the breathtaking spring spectacle as well as the village’s traditional charms. Various activities, such as yacht rides on the Seomjin River and hot air balloon experiences, are also in store. A Gwangyang city official noted that while an unusual cold snap has made it difficult to predict the peak bloom, the plum blossoms are expected to reach full bloom this weekend and into next week. Renowned pianist Paik Kun-woo has released his third Mozart album, the final installment of his three-part Mozart piano recording project. Often described as a “seeker of truth on the keyboard,” Paik is revered for his meticulous artistry and relentless pursuit of musical depth. The album features “Fantasia in C Minor” as its centerpiece, alongside “Six German Dances,” “Adagio for Glass Harmonica,” and more. To mark the release, Paik will embark on a nationwide Mozart recital tour from this month through October. The tour kicks off in Yeosu this Saturday and will be held across 17 cities, including Seoul, Incheon, Andong, and Miryang. The 'Netmarble Game Museum' has officially opened in Seoul's Guro-gu District. Located at the headquarters of Korea's major game developer, Netmarble, the museum showcases a collection of over 2,000 items, including early console game devices, game software, and other collectibles. The museum's inaugural exhibition focuses on the history of Korean computer games, presenting them through key themes and a chronological timeline. Established by the Netmarble Cultural Foundation, the museum aims to promote the social and cultural value of 게임 while reexamining the gaming industry and its cultural impact. That’s all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-wave] MMCA Exhibition features art by Asian women

2025/03/06 14:00

Developed as part of an Asian art project by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, an exhibition took place in Seoul showcasing around 130 works of post-1960s art by female artists from 11 Asian countries. The art pieces portray the perspective of female bodies. Lee Eun-jin has the story. This painting of a topless woman strutting in the middle of Myeong-dong in the 1970s represents the women who challenged the status quo of society's gender norms. Rough-textured concrete letters and unstructured waste wood pieces express the desire to escape institutional and disciplinary suppression. The elongated fabric rolled out from a structure that embodies a prison symbolizes the solidarity of women fighting for escape. "This installation of paintings expresses women in colonial Philippines the various social and historical stories of the Philippines, from the perspective of a female artist." The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art collected works that independently express the woman's body, and brought a large-scale exhibition of female Asian artists under the title "Connecting Bodies". There are more than 130 pieces by female artists from 11 different Asian countries since the 1960s. This is the first time for some of the works, including the works of Paik Nam-june's wife Kubota Shigeko and Mitsuko Tabe, as well as Chinese artist Guo Peng, to be showcased in Korea. "This exhibition showcases the artwork of Asian women not by defining it as a typology or ideology, but by telling the many stories of society through the lens of the body." Rather than organizing works in chronological order, or by artists or region, the exhibition is made up of six thematic sections, with focus put on the value of communication and connection, expressed through the body. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] Singer Lee Mi-ja announces retirement after 66 years

2025/03/06 14:00

Bella, today we have fully packed stories on Korean singers. Who are we going to talk about first? We are going to start off with singer Lee Mi-ja. Lee Mi-ja has announced her farewell performance as she declared that she will cease all activities after next month’s concert, indicating her intention to retire. On Wednesday, Lee Mi-ja held a press conference to discuss her upcoming concert, “Connecting the Pulse.” She will share the stage with younger traditional Korean music artists, Joo Hyun-mi and Jo Hang-jo, who will carry on her legacy. Lee Mi-ja’s farewell concert will be held on April 26th and 27th at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. Let’s hear what she had to say at the press conference. Next, we have another farewell story from one of the members of Seventeen. Seventeen Wonwoo is set to enlist in the military, becoming the second member of the group to begin his service following Jeonghan. His agency, Pledis Entertainment, announced on Wednesday, that Wonwoo will begin his mandatory military service on April 3rd. As a result, Wonwoo will not be able to participate in scheduled activities after his enlistment, including the “Tecate Pa'l Norte 2025” festival in April and Seventeen’s Japan fan meeting. However, the agency reassured fans by saying that he will take part in the “Carat Land” fan meeting concerts on March 20th and 21st and will also make sure to stay connected with fans through pre-prepared content. And to end off on a happy note, we have some exciting news about singer-songwriter YOUNHA . Singer-songwriter YOUNHA is getting married! YOUNHA announced the news by posting a hand-written letter on her fan cafe on Wednesday. She wrote, “I have found my reliable partner in life and will be getting married.” She added, “I will now support and encourage your life as a stronger and more stable YOUNHA.” Her agency, C9 Entertainment, announced that YOUNHA will hold a private wedding ceremony with family and close friends at the end of this month with a non-celebrity fiancé. YOUNHA debuted in Japan back in 2004, before launching her career in Korea. She released several hit songs, including “Event Horizon” and “Password 486.” Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

Rise of virtual idols broadens K-pop spectrum

2025/03/05 20:00

On the entertainment front. A virtual idol group is gaining a fan base thanks to advances in technology. Our Park Kun-woo met up with the group and explores what's behind it all. Five K-pop band members who claim to come from outer space. They make up PLAVE, the first virtual idol group to sell over a million albums. As their fan base continues to expand, a special cafe has even been created, offering an exclusive space for fans to enjoy related content. Fans from all over the world gather here daily, proving the popularity of these virtual idols. "I think it was just really refreshing. I didn't really listen to K-pop that much before. I was also interested in the technology behind it." Artists like PLAVE, who use motion capture technology from sensors attached to real artists behind the avatars, tend to be more popular than those created purely with advanced technology without an actual person. As a result, more motion-captured idols are being created, and finding ways to reach a broader audience. "Virtual idol groups aren't just performing but they're connecting with fans just like any real-life idols. Let me show you how they send their love." Virtual idols also have advantages on the production side, especially as they save time and money. "They don't need travel time or large entourages during tours and since they're not real people, the risk of mistakes is minimized. Investment costs are much lower compared to real artists, especially in areas like appearance management." The virtual artist market is growing rapidly and one research firm predicts it will grow tenfold by 2028 compared to 2021. "Virtual idols are based on animation and sub-culture, which makes it somewhat difficult to connect with the mainstream audience at first. But if they continue to share their "humanity" with their own stories included in their music-making efforts, they could gradually break through and become more accepted." He also said virtual idols with "humanity" traits are similar to real K-pop idols in terms of their appeal to the audience, meaning the K-pop scene would be able to continue expanding, breaking beyond reality. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Rise of virtual idols broadens K-pop spectrum

2025/03/05 17:00

On the entertainment front. Virtual idols are doing their part to better promote K-pop amid a growing fan base and greater advances in technology. Our Park Kun-woo met up with one such group. Five K-pop band members who claim to come from outer space. They make up PLAVE, the first virtual idol group to sell over a million albums. As their fan base continues to expand, a special cafe has even been created, offering an exclusive space for fans to enjoy related content. Fans from all over the world gather here daily, proving the popularity of these virtual idols. "I think it was just really refreshing. I didn't really listen to K-pop that much before. I was also interested in the technology behind it." Artists like PLAVE, who use motion capture technology from sensors attached to real artists behind the avatars, tend to be more popular than those created purely with advanced technology without an actual person. As a result, more motion-captured idols are being created, and finding ways to reach a broader audience. "Virtual idol groups aren't just performing but they're connecting with fans just like any real-life idols. Let me show you how they send their love." Virtual idols also have advantages on the production side, especially as they save time and money. "They don't need travel time or large entourages during tours and since they're not real people, the risk of mistakes is minimized. Investment costs are much lower compared to real artists, especially in areas like appearance management." The virtual artist market is growing rapidly and one research firm predicts it will grow tenfold by 2028 compared to 2021. "Virtual idols are based on animation and sub-culture, which makes it somewhat difficult to connect with the mainstream audience at first. But if they continue to share their "humanity" with their own stories included in their music-making efforts, they could gradually break through and become more accepted." He also said virtual idols with "humanity" traits are similar to real K-pop idols in terms of their appeal to the audience, meaning the K-pop scene would be able to continue expanding, breaking beyond reality. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Passion for K-fashion in Australia

2025/03/05 14:00

Once a week we connect live to a correspondent overseas who fills us in on K-culture issues in their country. Today we will talk about K-fashion, which has been expanding its presence in the global fashion market, including in Australia. We are now connected to our K-correspondent, fashion writer Alexandra Feiam in Australia. Hello Alexandra! Q1-1. Alexandra, can you please tell us a little bit about yourself, as well as your interest in Korea? Q1-2. We heard you were quite surprised by Koreans’ passion for fashion? Q2-1. What about Australians? Walter, let me ask YOU first, you're from Australia. Were you into fashion back in Australia, and did things change for you after coming to Korea? Q2-2. Alexandra, in general, are Australians big fashion lovers? Also, where do they do their shopping? (online, offline, what kind of stores, etc.) Q3. As the Korean wave is spreading worldwide, K-fashion is also gradually taking over. As a fashion writer, do you feel this happening? Q4. So, how popular is K-fashion in Australia? And through which routes are Australians exposed to Korean fashion? Q5. How well known are Korean fashion brands and what are some unique features that make them popular? Q6. Many young people in Australia are influenced by K-pop idols’ fashion I hear? Which ones in particular? Q7. We see many Korean idols active as fashion brand ambassadors. How do you assess this trend and how much influence do they have on the fashion industry? Q8. (According to figures released by Seoul city last week, some 6.71 million U.S. dollars were secured from the 2025 F/W Seoul Fashion Week recently, with 100 international buyers having taken part in it.) Do you see any chances that Korea could become a fashion mecca as big as Paris, New York, Milan, London or Tokyo?

[K-enter] Jennie enters Billboard's 'Hot 100' for the fourth time

2025/03/05 14:00

Now it's time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Walter, today we are starting off with news on Blackpink's Jennie. I told you we have nothing but 100% of the best entertainment news for you today and starting off with Queen J for Jennie and her recent release "ExtraL" . This marks the fourth time Jennie has had a solo track enter Billboard’s main singles chart, the ‘Hot 100.’ This comes as we count down to the release of "RUBY" which is Jennie’s first solo album since her debut as a Blackpink member. There are only two more days left until we get the full album as it will be released worldwide on March 7. In this album, Jennie plans to showcase a diverse range of music that reflects her identity, collaborating with renowned musicians, and with her releases so far such as "Mantra" and "Love Hangover," we are definitely seeing that range. But she is not the only one in the 'Hot 100' is she? That's correct. According to Billboard, my boy Jimin and his title track "WHO" from his second solo album "MUSE" ranked No. 33 on the ‘Hot 100’ climbing 11 spots from last week’s No. 44. "WHO" has now spent 31 weeks on the chart, tying the record set by PSY’s 2012 global hit "Gangnam Style." The only K-pop song to chart longer than "WHO" and "Gangnam Style" on the ‘Hot 100’ is you've guessed it BTS’s "Dynamite" with 32 weeks. Congratulations to both Jennie and Jimin and for keeping our theme of 100 alive for today. Staying with K-pop and moving onto a boy group that is set to entertain stages in Japan and around the world. That's right. Boy group ENHYPEN will hold four concerts for their "ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR 'WALK THE LINE' IN JAPAN -SUMMER EDITION"-at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium on July 5 and July 6 and Osaka’s Yanmar Stadium Nagai on August 2 and August 3. From November 2024 to January 2025, ENHYPEN successfully completed a three-city dome tour in Japan, performing at Belluna Dome in Saitama, Fukuoka PayPay Dome, and Kyocera Dome Osaka. In June, ENHYPEN will take the stage at Rajamangala National Stadium, Thailand’s largest concert venue. In April, the group will perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the largest music festival in the U.S. Sounds like a busy but exciting schedule for the group and good luck to them. Lastly, let's delve into Korean animation. Korean animation "Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning" which was released on February 21, had surpassed 300,000 viewers as of the morning of Tuesday, March 4. The animated prequel "Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning" explores the origins of its protagonists, taking a different path from the original storyline. It unveils how the disgraced ex-priest Father Park, vengeance-driven martial artist Hyeon-am , and gifted young shaman Joon-hoo unite to form an unlikely team. It is based on the fantasy novel of the same name, which has sold over 10 million copies and amassed 230 million online views.

[Features reporter] Rise of virtual idols broadens K-pop spectrum

2025/03/05 14:00

Kun-woo, I heard you had the chance to dive deeper into the K-pop scene. What do you have for us this week? That's right. I had the amazing opportunity to speak with the members of a virtual idol group and also see how fans are following these virtual artists. But before I tell you more, follow me into the "virtual world." Five K-pop band members who claim to come from outer space. They make up PLAVE, the first virtual idol group to sell over a million albums. As their fan base continues to expand, a special cafe has even been created, offering an exclusive space for fans to enjoy related content. Fans from all over the world gather here daily, proving the popularity of these virtual idols. "I think it was just really refreshing. I didn't really listen to K-pop that much before. I was also interested in the technology behind it." Artists like PLAVE, who use motion capture technology from sensors attached to real artists behind the avatars, tend to be more popular than those created purely with advanced technology without an actual person. As a result, more motion-captured idols are being created, and finding ways to reach a broader audience. "Virtual idol groups aren’t just performing but they’re connecting with fans just like any real-life idols. Let me show you how they send their love." Virtual idols also have advantages on the production side, especially as they save time and money. "They don't need travel time or large entourages during tours and since they're not real people, the risk of mistakes is minimized. Investment costs are much lower compared to real artists, especially in areas like appearance management." The virtual artist market is growing rapidly and one research firm predicts it will grow tenfold by 2028 compared to 2021. "Virtual idols are based on animation and sub-culture, which makes it somewhat difficult to connect with the mainstream audience at first. But if they continue to share their "humanity" with their own stories included in their music-making efforts, they could gradually break through and more accepted." He also said virtual idols with "humanity" traits are similar to real K-pop idols in terms of their appeal to the audience, meaning the K-pop scene would be able to continue expanding, breaking beyond reality. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News. These idol groups may be virtual, but their popularity is "real" for real. And the numbers show that too I remember PLAVE recently entered the Billboard Global 200 chart, as the first virtual artists to do so. Your coverage is making me want to fanboy over some of them! So, can you tell us more about these virtual idol groups? Yes, so if you're interested in following some virtual idols, PLAVE is definitely one of the good choices. The fan culture I witnessed at the "PLAVE cafe," looked so much fun with fans sharing merchandise and information. And as you might expect, their concerts are incredibly popular as the tickets were sold out in just 10 minutes. But as I'm sure you're all familiar with PLAVE now, I'd like to introduce some other groups. The first one is Priz-V whom I had the chance to speak with. And I brought a special message for our viewers from them. First, take a listen. "Hello Arirang TV viewers! This is Priz-V! We've got a lot of exciting things coming up, so stay tuned and please show us your love and support. I truly appreciate it. Thank you! ! " So that was a lovely message from Priz-V who are preparing for their new release this April. Also, there's a boy band called AEONIT that will be releasing a new digital single next week. And I'm now wondering won't the rise of virtual idols be a threat to human K-pop trainees? As it's known that there are over a million K-pop trainees these days, it's quite interesting to think about that. I've been talking about it with my trainee friends as well. One expert I spoke to said this can actually be a new opportunity for the trainees. "The K-pop idol market is dominated by appearance and the endless pursuit of youth, constantly seeking replacements. So, if the idol trainees are tired of the system or can't express their strong musical philosophy due to various practical constraints, becoming a virtual artist can certainly be an opportunity." He also said that the fusion of technology and humans will continue in the future, and he hopes that whether as a virtual artist or a human artist, it's crucial to establish one's own music philosophy and style to succeed in the industry. Let's hope for a healthy coexistence of virtual and human K-pop artists. Alright Kun-woo, thanks for all of that. We'll see you next time. Thank you Kun-woo.

K-wave AI News

2025/03/05 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 95th Chunhyang Festival will kick off next month in Namwon City, Jeollabuk-do Province. Rooted in the Tale of Chunhyang, a Joseon-era story of love and devotion, the festival has been one of Korea's most iconic traditional cultural celebrations since its inception in 1931. This year's festival will feature 100 programs symbolizing its century-long legacy, blending tradition with modern trends. Highlights include Korea's oldest beauty contest, the Miss Chunhyang Pageant, along with dance and music performances and a food fair featuring local specialties. Last year, the festival drew over 1.2 million visitors. The National Theater of Korea in Seoul will host a special concert next Friday to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Pavarotti's birth and the Korea-Italy Year of Cultural Exchange. The late Pavarotti was one of Italy's most celebrated opera singers of all time. The event will feature performances by renowned young opera singers from around the world, accompanied by Maestro Paolo Andreoli, who served as Pavarotti's accompanist until his passing. Since last year, Korea and Italy have been actively engaging in cultural exchanges as part of the 2024–2025 Year of Mutual Cultural Exchange. A large-scale underground bunker in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province, originally built for emergencies like war, has been transformed into a vibrant media art space. The bunker, which had been abandoned for nearly 20 years, is now emerging as a popular experiential tourist attraction under the name "Wansan Bunker The Space." Stretching over 280 meters, the space connects 10 media art rooms, including the signature "The Dimension Gate" made of LED lights and mirrors. Jeonju City says the bunker attracted over 31,000 visitors in the past month. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

Runners in London race with frying pans for pancake day

2025/03/05 10:00

Runners with frying pans filled with pancakes took to the streets of central London to celebrate "Shrove Tuesday", also known as "Pancake Day." Hundreds of spectators gathered at Guildhall Yard, cheering on participants in the annual "Inter-Livery Pancake Race." This event is one of many held across the UK to mark the day before the start of Lent, the 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and repentance leading up to Easter. In the "Inter-Livery Race," teams representing traditional London guilds with nearly 1,000 years of history competed in costumes. The winners received a trophy and a frying pan as their prize.

BTS J-Hope to perform new track 'Sweet Dreams' on The Tonight Show

2025/03/04 17:00

On the K-pop front. BTS member J-Hope will perform his new track "Sweet Dreams" on the popular American talk show "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." According to his agency BigHit Music on this Tuesday J-Hope will be on the show next Monday for the first time as a solo artist. Meanwhile his new track features global R&B star Miguel and will be released worldwide this Friday at 2 PM Korean time. Exclusive previews of the track can be found on J-Hope's official TikTok account.

K-wave AI News

2025/03/04 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Leeum Museum of Art, one of Korea's most prominent museums, has launched this year's exhibition program with works by French artist Pierre Huyghe. Huyghe has long explored the relationship between human and non-human entities, integrating artificial intelligence technology and living organisms into video, sculpture, installation, and performance art. The exhibition runs until July 6. Marking the 60th anniversary of the Samsung Foundation of Culture, Leeum's operator, the museum is also presenting its contemporary art collection. It features 44 works by 35 artists, including "The Burghers of Calais" by French sculptor Auguste Rodin and "Tall Figure III" by Alberto Giacometti, one of Leeum's signature holdings. It will be showcased for an indefinite period of time. A volume of Samguk Sagi, a crucial historical text for the study of Korea's three kingdoms period, has been put up for auction. Kobay Auction will hold an online auction on Wednesday featuring more than 600 items, including the volume of Samguk Sagi. As the oldest surviving historical record in Korea, Samguk Sagi is widely regarded as the foundation of Korean historical research, offering a detailed account of the rise and fall of Silla, Goguryeo, and Baekje. The starting bid is set at 150 million won, or roughly 103 thousand U.S. dollars. The auction will also include a reprint of "Hyeol-ui Nu," or "Tears of Blood," a novel by Lee In-jik that set the highest bid record for modern Korean literature at a domestic auction last year. The "2025 Taean World Tulip Festival" will open on April 8 on Anmyeondo Island, Chungcheongnam-do Province. Held at Korea Flower Park near Kkotji Beach, the festival is a major local event that received a prestigious award at the World Tulip Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, last year. Under the theme "Spring in My Hometown," the festival will showcase over 2.7 million tulips and 1.4 million flowers of various species, welcoming visitors through May 6. Guests can also enjoy the stunning sunset at Kkotji Beach, renowned for its Halmi and Harabi Rocks, which is one of Korea's top three sunset spots on the West Coast. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-Enter] BLACKPINK's Lisa receives standing ovation at the Academy Awards

2025/03/04 14:00

Now it's time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Starting off with some news from the Academy Awards. History was made for K-pop when BLACKPINK's Lisa became the first K-pop singer to perform at the Academy Awards. On Sunday local time, Lisa took the stage at the 97th Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. She was then followed by performances by Doja Cat and RAYE. Lisa performed "Live and Let Die", Doja Cat sang "Diamonds Are Forever", and RAYE performed "Skyfall", all hit songs from the James Bond franchise. Originally, the three were supposed to sing Lisa's latest release "Born Again," which features Doja Cat and RAYE, but this was changed. After the performances, the three artists greeted the audience together, receiving a standing ovation. Although Lisa wasn't able to perform her own song, I imagine it was fulfilling to sing at such a prestigious award ceremony. Moving onto movies now, you have some figures on how Bong Joon-ho's latest movie "Mickey 17" has been doing. Korean director Bong Joon-ho's latest film "Mickey 17" has surpassed 1 million moviegoers domestically within four days of its release, making it a perfect movie for the long weekend. As of Monday morning, "Mickey 17" had accumulated over 1.11 million viewers. The film was released last Friday, and as of Tuesday morning, the total audience count had reached approximately 1.3 million. To put this into context, "Mickey 17" reached 1 million moviegoers in a shorter time than Christopher Nolan's 2023 film "Oppenheimer." The movie is based on "Mickey 7," a novel by American author Edward Ashton. "Mickey 17" is Bong Joon-ho's first film in six years since the Academy Award winning "Parasite." The film stars Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. The production of "Mickey 17" cost around 118 million U.S. dollars, approximately 170 billion Korean won. It is the most expensive film ever made by a Korean director. It was a movie that many had high expectations and it seems that "Mickey 17" is living up to them. Now even though Squid Game season 2 has been out for a while, the fever has not slowed down Tell us what news you have on the series. Welcome to the "Squid Game: The Experience"! What is it you may ask? Well it is an immersive attraction where visitors can directly engage with the thrills and excitement unique to the massive Netflix series "Squid Game". First launched in New York in October last year, it has since expanded to major cities such as Madrid and Sydney and it opened in Seoul last Friday. What can you do at this place located in the hip area of Seongsu? Well, a variety of games. Participants can take on six unique challenges inspired by the series, including marbles, a treasure hunt, memory steps, red light, green light, tug-of-war, and round and round. Also visitors can eat food from the show, snap tonnes of memories in the photo zones, and purchase exclusive merchandise. "Squid Game: The Experience" has been running from February 28 and will until June 25. Sounds like a whole lot of fun! Thanks for the entertainment news Walter. Thank you. Now time to go over to our AI anchor Ari, for other culture related news. Ari, take it away!