News

[K-enter] ILLIT performs at "ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2025," first for K-pop girl group

2025/05/15 14:00

Bella, we will kick off with K-pop news, happening at a festival in Japan? Girl group ILLIT will appear at Japan's largest music festival "ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2025" a first for a K-pop girl group. According to ILLIT's agency, BELIFT LAB, the group has been listed in the first line-up of the "ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2025" that will be held at Soga Sports Park in Chiba City in September. ILLIT will appear on the second day of the festival, September 14th. The "ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL" is one of Japan's four major rock festivals and attracted a total of 275-thousand people last year. Previously, CNBLUE and ENHYPEN have appeared as Korean artists at the festival. Meanwhile, ILLIT will meet domestic fans at their fan concert in Seoul on June 7th and 8th. Then, they will continue with their fan concert for the first time in Japan on August 10th and 11th in Yokohama and September 3rd and 4th in Osaka. Exciting news for ILLIT fans in Japan. Now, let's move on from K-pop to K-drama. We talked about the upcoming Disney+ series "Nine Puzzles" a few weeks ago on our show. I heard they held a press conference. Were some more pieces of the puzzle put together there? On Wednesday, a press conference for "Nine Puzzles" was held in Dongdaemun, Seoul, where director Yoon Jong-bin and main actors Son Suk-ku, Kim Da-mi, Kim Sung-kyun, and Hyeon Bong-sik attended. The new series is a mystery thriller that delves into the secrets of a serial murder case that restarted with mysterious puzzle pieces. Ina is a profiler and the sole witness of an unsolved case from 10 years ago, and Han-sam is a detective who suspects Ina is behind the murder. Director Yoon introduced the series as a mystery drama at its core, and said that he tried to aim its visual works on the boundary of reality and unreality. The two main actors Son Suk-ku and Kim Da-mi also described the series as unique and odd. The 11-part series is set to premiere exclusively on Disney+ next Wednesday with the release of its first six episodes. Speaking of Korean OTT series, we have another one coming up, but this one on Netflix? Yes, another Korean original Netflix series is coming! This time it's a noir action series, "Mercy for None." The new series is already receiving great attention as it is actor So Ji-sub's first action project in 13 years. "Mercy for None" is based on the popular webtoon series of the same title and portrays the story of Gijun, a former underworld figure who left the scene after cutting off his Achilles tendon, but returning after 11 years to find out the truth behind the death of his younger brother Giseok. Along with So ji-sub, Heo Jun-ho, Gong Myoung, and Choo Young-Woo will also star in the series. "Mercy for None" will be released on Netflix in a total of 8 episodes on June 6th. Thank you Bella for today's stories. There's definitely lots to watch in the next few weeks. Now, if you don't want to be stuck in front of the monitor too much and are looking for maybe more active culture activities, you might find some ideas from Ari, who has the latest culture related issues at hand. Ari, take it away!

K-Wave AI News

2025/05/15 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The first official ceremony marking King Sejong's Birth Anniversary will be held in Seoul today. May 15th was newly designated as a national commemorative day last year to honor the birth and legacy of King Sejong, the creator of the Korean alphabet and one of Korea's most respected leaders of all time. The culture ministry will host the event at 6 PM tonight in front of the Heungnyemun Gate at Gyeongbokgung Palace. The ceremony will feature a range of programs, including royal court dances and award presentations related to Hangeul, celebrating the monarch's compassion for common people and pursuit of practical governance. Seoul has been named the "Best Leisure Destination in Asia." That's according to the 'Leisure Lifestyle Awards,' an annual ranking by prominent U.S. travel magazine Global Traveler. Taipei ranked second, followed by Tokyo, Phuket, and Singapore. Seoul regained the top position this year, after previously clinching the title in 2023. The Seoul Tourism Organization said the award reflects the city's growing appeal in areas such as K-culture, K-cuisine, shopping, and a wide range of festivals. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is hosting a permanent exhibition at its Seoul and Gwacheon branches, showcasing highlights from its collection of over 11,800 works. Among the featured art works are some 50 pieces from the collection of the late Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee, donated in 2021. At the Gwacheon branch, the exhibition traces 100 years of Korea's modern art history. The Seoul branch presents works by 83 artists from the 1960s through the 2010s, organized into thematic categories such as abstraction, experimentation, and conceptual art. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

A new chapter for Korean Opera: World premiere of "The Rising World: Spirit of Water"

2025/05/14 20:00

On the cultural front. An opera entirely in English planned and produced by the state-run Seoul Arts Center will premiere on May 25th that is NEXT Sunday to offer the audience here a performance that beautifully blends Korean and Western elements. Our Lee Eun-hee has more. This May, SAC will debut its first-ever original opera, "The Rising World: Spirit of Water." Blending traditional Korean themes with a modern twist, the English-language production marks a major milestone, created entirely in-house, from story to music. The opera tells the story of a princess captivated by a water spirit and a female artisan who builds a water clock to save a kingdom plagued by constant water disasters. The cast features internationally acclaimed opera singers, including South Korean soprano Hwang Su-mi, as the princess and mezzo-soprano Kim Jung-mi as the artisan. "I would say that the work portrays a human being, regardless of gender, who engages with nature, particularly through the element we call 'water.' It explores the relationship between humanity and nature." The element of water is expressed in many ways throughout the music. The opera's composer, Australian Mary Finsterer, explains that while you might hear it through electroacoustic sounds or a special instrument called a waterphone, the feeling of water mostly comes through the orchestra's instrumentation and the flowing ornamentation in the vocal lines. The show will have its world premiere at the Seoul Arts Center's Opera House on May 25, followed by performances on May 29 and 31. The creative team boasts international talent, including conductor Steven Osgood, praised for his work at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, leading the Korean National Symphony Orchestra. "It's our window into the imagination of the composer and librettist. I get pages, hundreds of pages of music. But what it is on the page is dots of ink." Those pages, filled with countless notes, are a world the conductor steps into. He waters it and breathes life into it so the music can finally reach our ears. Now, it's the audience's turn to step into that imagined world, and fully experience an opera like a powerful fairytale, one that flows with a message we can all feel. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

A new chapter for Korean Opera: World premiere of "The Rising World: Spirit of Water"

2025/05/14 17:00

On the cultural front. An opera entirely in English planned and produced by the state-run Seoul Arts Center will premiere on May 25th that is NEXT Sunday to offer the audience here a performance that beautifully blends Korean and Western elements. Our Lee Eun-hee has more. This May, SAC will debut its first-ever original opera, "The Rising World: Spirit of Water." Blending traditional Korean themes with a modern twist, the English-language production marks a major milestone, created entirely in-house, from story to music. The opera tells the story of a princess captivated by a water spirit and a female artisan who builds a water clock to save a kingdom plagued by constant water disasters. The cast features internationally acclaimed opera singers, including South Korean soprano Hwang Su-mi, as the princess and mezzo-soprano Kim Jung-mi as the artisan. "I would say that the work portrays a human being, regardless of gender, who engages with nature, particularly through the element we call 'water.' It explores the relationship between humanity and nature." The element of water is expressed in many ways throughout the music. The opera's composer, Australian Mary Finsterer, explains that while you might hear it through electroacoustic sounds or a special instrument called a waterphone, the feeling of water mostly comes through the orchestra's instrumentation and the flowing ornamentation in the vocal lines. The show will have its world premiere at the Seoul Arts Center's Opera House on May 25, followed by performances on May 29 and 31. The creative team boasts international talent, including conductor Steven Osgood, praised for his work at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, leading the Korean National Symphony Orchestra. "It's our window into the imagination of the composer and librettist. I get pages, hundreds of pages of music. But what it is on the page is dots of ink." Those pages, filled with countless notes, are a world the conductor steps into. He waters it and breathes life into it so the music can finally reach our ears. Now, it's the audience's turn to step into that imagined world, and fully experience an opera like a powerful fairytale, one that flows with a message we can all feel. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

KOREAN WAVE, STRONG OR WEAK?

2025/05/14 17:00

Welcome to Wednesday's edition of Press Perspective. It's May 14th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sun-hee. Today we take a gauge of the Korean Wave in recent times and some of the tasks ahead. For more I have freelance journalist David Lee here in the studio. David it's a pleasure. I also have Marianna Baroli with Italian news magazine Panorama. Marianna it's great to have you on. 1) David, let's start with an article you recently wrote about the power play between K-pop artists and their agencies and its broader impact on the industry as a whole. 2) Marianna, despite the growing presence of K-pop on the international stage, album sales fell for the first time in a decade last year. 3) David, beyond K-pop, K-screen productions have failed to make it onto the list of this year's Cannes Film Festival, which kicked off this past Tuesday. 4) Marianna, some believe the presence of streaming platforms like Netflix has shifted the movie industry's focus to more commercial productions rather than artistic pursuits. 5) David, U.S. President Donald Trump recently spoke about "100% tariffs on movies not made in the U.S." 6) Marianna, K-pop group NCT WISH was recently unable to partake in the SMTOWN LIVE 2025 event in LA owing to visa issues. 7) David, K-pop and K-dramas continue to make headlines, and yet some critics claim the Korean Wave may soon hit a snag. 8) And Marianna, what are your thoughts regarding the concern here about the future of the Korean Wave? All right.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/14 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Cannes Film Festival opened on Tuesday in the iconic southern French city. 21 films have been invited to compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or this year. Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at the festival's closing event on May 24. No Korean feature films were invited for the official selection this year, for the first time since 2013. But director Joung Yu-mi's animated short "Glasses" was selected for the Critics' Week short film competition, while Huh Ga-young's "First Summer" will be shown in the La Cinef student selection. Choi Jeong of SSG has etched his name into KBO League history as the first player to hit 500 career home runs. The veteran slugger reached the milestone on Tuesday with a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth inning during a home game against NC at SSG Landers Field in Incheon. A one-club player, Choi was selected as the number one overall pick by then SK, now SSG, in the 2005 draft and has spent his entire 20-season career with the franchise. His decorated career includes 19 consecutive seasons with double-digit home runs, 3 home run titles, and a Korean Series championship. Korea University is hosting a special exhibition marking its 120th anniversary, showcasing rare artifacts collected by the school's museum and libraries over the decades. The exhibition features 120 items, including National Treasures, iconic paintings by renowned Joseon-era artists, and rare documents with great historical significance. Also on display is KARV-1, Korea's first autonomous vehicle, developed and successfully test-driven by Professor Han Min-hong in the 1990s. The exhibition runs through December 20 at Korea University Museum. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-Correspondent] K-pop dance, vocal competition in Sweden to excite K-pop fans across the Nordics

2025/05/14 14:00

The hallyu craze is seeing significant growth across Europe, including Northern Europe, fueled by the popularity in K-pop, K-dramas and other K-culture content. Even a K-pop cover singing and dancing competition is taking place in Sweden’s capital Stockholm, the “K-POP Nordics Festival”, bringing together competitors from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland. The “K-Correspondents” we connect with today are Vilma Andersson and Julia West, members of a team called “RCHAOS” that have made it through the preliminary round and are getting ready for the main competition. Hello! Q1. First off, please introduce yourself and your team to ‘The Kulture Wave’ viewers and how you feel about being in the main competition for the 2025 K-POP Nordics Festival. Let's start with Vilma! And Julia, would you like to introduce yourself please? Q2-1. What made you participate in this contest? Q2-2. What was your strategy in the preliminaries? Which songs did you perform to and why? (Could you show us a few moves on the spot?) Q3. As dancers, what are some of the characteristics of Korean K-pop dance that you find unique? What are the biggest differences between K-pop dance and other dance genres? Q4. This question goes to both of you. Julia, how did your interest in K-pop begin and who are your favorite K-pop artists? (Also, who are the most popular K-pop stars in Sweden currently?) And Vilma, what about you? Q5. The popularity of K-pop and hallyu in general is on the rise in Sweden and other Nordic countries. How big is it really from your perspective? Q6. So when are you going to be on stage for the main event or final competition? What are your team’s strengths? Q7. Last but not least, any words of encouragement to your team? Vilma? Julia, you want to add anything to that? Thank you very much Julia and Vilma,.. we wish you and your other team members from RCHAOS good luck in the contest and hope you continue to have lots of fun with K-pop! Thank you Walter as always, we'll see you next time.

[K-enter] IU to return to singing Cha Eun-woo to make special appearance

2025/05/14 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Starting off with news on IU! Superstar IU has announced her return to her main profession, music. On Monday, IU's agency, EDAM Entertainment, stated, "IU is preparing to make a comeback with a new album aimed for release in May", but that's not the only surprise as the agency went onto say, "Cha Eun-woo will be making a special cameo appearance in the music video for her new song." The two previously worked together on a jewellery brand photoshoot, which sparked a connection between them. This upcoming album will be IU's first release in about a year and three months, following her 6th mini-album "The Winning", which came out in February last year. IU recently received much praise for her role in the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines." Well, as a fan I can't wait for her music and I am sure we will cover it here on the Kulture Wave. Next up we have more K-pop news, what do you have for us? Dates for NCT DREAM's fourth tour in 2025 have been officially announced. On Tuesday, a tour poster was unveiled through NCT DREAM's official social media channels, revealing when you can see the boys next for their "The Dream Show 4: Dream the Future" tour. The group will kick off the tour with three concerts from July 10 to 12 at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. The tour will then travel to seven cities: Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei, and Kuala Lumpur. Last year, NCT DREAM successfully completed their third world tour, THE DREAM SHOW 3, which spanned 37 shows in 25 cities across North America, Europe, and Asia. The group is also set to return this July with a brand-new full-length album. Lastly moving onto some K-movie news. Director Hwang Byung-guk's crime thriller "Yadang: The Snitch" has overtaken Bong Joon-ho's Hollywood production "Mickey 17" to become the highest-grossing film of the year domestically. Not only that, on Monday, Yadang became the first R-rated Korean film, or film rated for adults only, to surpass 3 million viewers since "The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil" in 2019. On Tuesday, distributor Plus M Entertainment reported that "Yadang" had drawn approximately 3.015 million viewers in total. This figure edges past "Mickey 17's" final audience count of around 3.013 million, which had previously held the top spot. This is a great accomplishment for "Yadang" which has held its lead despite competition from major titles such as "Minecraft: The Movie", "Thunderbolts*" and "Holy Night: Demon Hunters". Thanks for the K-enter news as always Walter. Stick around as we move on to Ari our AI anchor for more culture news.

[Features-reporter] A new chapter for Korean Opera: World premiere of "The Rising World: Spirit of Water"

2025/05/14 14:00

Eun-Hee I heard you went to the press conference for the new opera, "The Rising World: Spirit of Water." What happens when a Korean princess, a mystical water spirit, and a visionary artisan meet on an opera stage? That’s right, Soa. Doesn't it sound interesting? This English production is Seoul Arts Center’s first-ever original opera and is aiming to captivate the Korean and global audience. It's set to make its world premiere in May, so that's very soon. Let's take a closer look. Something new is coming to the Seoul Arts Center in South Korea. This May, SAC will debut its first-ever original opera, "The Rising World: Spirit of Water." Blending traditional Korean themes with a modern twist, the English-language production marks a major milestone, created entirely in-house, from story to music. Blending Eastern and Western cultures, the opera tells the story of a princess captivated by a water spirit and a female artisan who builds a water clock to save a kingdom plagued by constant water disasters. The cast features internationally acclaimed opera singers, including South Korean soprano Hwang Su-mi, as the princess and mezzo-soprano Kim Jung-mi as the artisan. "I would say that the work portrays a human being, regardless of gender, who engages with nature, particularly through the element we call 'water.' It explores the relationship between humanity and nature." The element of water is expressed in many ways throughout the music. The opera's composer, Australian Mary Finsterer, explains that while you might hear it through electroacoustic sounds or a special instrument called a waterphone, the feeling of water mostly comes through the orchestra’s instrumentation and the flowing ornamentation in the vocal lines. The show will have its world premiere at the Seoul Arts Center's Opera House on May 25, followed by performances on May 29 and 31. The creative team boasts international talent, including conductor Steven Osgood, praised for his work at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, leading the Korean National Symphony Orchestra. "It's our window into the imagination of the composer and librettist. I get pages, hundreds of pages of music. But what it is on the page is dots of ink. And what Mary has done is sit in her studio and imagine a sound world that nobody has heard yet." Those pages, filled with countless notes, are a world the conductor steps into. He waters it and breathes life into it so the music can finally reach our ears. Now, it’s the audience’s turn to step into that imagined world, and fully experience an opera like a powerful fairytale, one that flows with a message we can all feel. It sounds like a fairytale, but with a much deeper message. Could you dive a little deeper for us? Definitely. The opera integrates some elements of Korean culture, though the production team approached this with care, keeping in mind that it's not their own culture. Through their research, they discovered Korea's rich mythology, including how closely attached ghosts and the symbolic power of water are to Korean culture. That led them to settling on water ghost, but they said rather than representing one tradition, they focused on building a universal story, one that explores humanity’s connection with nature and our shared responsibility to protect it. It really sounds like a remarkable production and a bold new chapter for Korean theater. Creating an original opera from scratch is no small feat, especially when everything from the story to the score is built entirely in-house. Are there plans to take it to international audiences as well? Yes, global expansion is very much part of the plan. Representatives from international venues including Taiwan’s National Taichung Theatre, the Sydney Opera House, and Tokyo’s New National Theatre are expected to attend the premiere. Of those, discussions with the Taiwan have already made notable progress and they are aiming for 2027. That's exciting to hear. If the international venues are already showing interest, it really speaks to the production’s potential beyond Korea. Thank you Eun-hee for sharing. Yes thank you Eun-hee for the story. Thank you, it was my pleasure.

Italy's La Scala names Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun as Music Director

2025/05/13 20:00

Staying in Europe. Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun will take the podium of the renowned Italian opera house La Scala next year to become its first Asian musical director in history. Byeon Ye-young covers this upcoming event. On Monday, Italy's world-renowned opera house, Teatro alla Scala, announced on its official website the appointment of a new Music Director. According to reports, 72-year-old Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun was unanimously chosen for the role by the opera house's board of directors in a meeting on the same day. Inaugurated in 1778, this is the first time in La Scala's 247-year history that an Asian person will hold the position. Chung will also be just the second non-Italian to take up the role. "This isn't just about being appointed as a music director of an opera house — first and foremost, it marks a personal milestone for the 72-year-old Chung Myung-whun the peak of his career. Secondly, as the first Asian music director of La Scala, it elevates the global status of Asian, and especially Korean, classical music. It's something that can inspire and give hope to the next generation of Korean conductors." Chung's musical journey began as a pianist, but he stepped onto the conductor's podium in 1978, when he was named Associate Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In the 1980s, he entered the European scene, serving as Music Director of Germany's Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra and later of the Paris Opera. Chung's ties to La Scala run deep. Since 1989, Chung has led nine opera productions across 84 performances and conducted 141 concerts at La Scala, which is more than any other conductor who did not hold the title of Music Director. According to AP News, the opera house praised his "close and productive" relationship with its orchestra, choir, and philharmonic, stating that no other non-director has contributed more to enhancing La Scala's global reputation. Chung will succeed Riccardo Chailly, with his official term beginning late next year and running through early 2030. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

Italy's La Scala names Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun as Music Director

2025/05/13 17:00

Staying in Europe. Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun will take the podium of the renowned Italian opera house La Scala next year to become its first Asian musical director in history. Byeon Ye-young covers this upcoming event. On Monday, Italy's world-renowned opera house, Teatro alla Scala, announced on its official website the appointment of a new Music Director. According to reports, 72-year-old Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun was unanimously chosen for the role by the opera house's board of directors in a meeting on the same day. Inaugurated in 1778, this is the first time in La Scala's 247-year history that an Asian person will hold the position. Chung will also be just the second non-Italian to take up the role. "This isn't just about being appointed as a music director of an opera house — first and foremost, it marks a personal milestone for the 72-year-old Chung Myung-whun the peak of his career. Secondly, as the first Asian music director of La Scala, it elevates the global status of Asian, and especially Korean, classical music. It's something that can inspire and give hope to the next generation of Korean conductors." Chung's musical journey began as a pianist, but he stepped onto the conductor's podium in 1978, when he was named Associate Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In the 1980s, he entered the European scene, serving as Music Director of Germany's Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra and later of the Paris Opera. Chung's ties to La Scala run deep. Since 1989, Chung has led nine opera productions across 84 performances and conducted 141 concerts at La Scala, which is more than any other conductor who did not hold the title of Music Director. According to AP News, the opera house praised his "close and productive" relationship with its orchestra, choir, and philharmonic, stating that no other non-director has contributed more to enhancing La Scala's global reputation. Chung will succeed Riccardo Chailly, with his official term beginning late next year and running through early 2030. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/13 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korea's renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun has been named the new Music Director of Teatro alla Scala in Milan, one of the world's most prestigious opera houses. He is the first Asian to hold the post in the theater's nearly 250-year history. Chung will succeed Riccardo Chailly in 2027 and serve through February 2030, aligning with the term of general manager and artistic director Fortunato Ortombina. Ortombina proposed Chung's appointment to the board, which unanimously approved the decision. Since 1989, Chung has led nine operas in 84 performances and conducted 141 concerts at La Scala, more than any conductor who has not previously served as Music Director. YouTube's most famous star, Baby Shark, has been invited to feature in FOCUS Art Fair New York 2025, a prominent contemporary art fair held annually in the U.S. city. Under the theme, "The Artists of the Future Are Our Children," the exhibition will spotlight 10 years of Baby Shark's remarkable global journey. Pinkfong, the company behind the most popular version of Baby Shark, says the exhibition will open this Thursday for a four-day run, showcasing a range of multimedia displays and interactive content. The Baby Shark video, available in 25 languages across 244 countries, remains the most-watched video on YouTube, with 15.8 billion views to date. Step into the magical world of Pixar at an immersive exhibition now open in Seoul. Hosted at the Seongsu Cultural Arts Center, the exhibition spans 3,300 square meters and features 12 imaginative spaces inspired by iconic Pixar films like Toy Story, Inside Out, and Coco. After successful shows in Europe and Latin America, it has already drawn more than 2.6 million visitors globally. Korea, chosen for its vibrant moviegoing culture and passionate Pixar fanbase, is the first Asian country to host this event. It will run through June 29. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-Enter] MONSTA X's Hyungwon and actor Lee Do-hyun discharged from the military today.

2025/05/13 14:00

And staying on the topic of entertainment with our daily dose of K-enter news with you Walter. Fantastic news for MONSTA X fans with one of the boy group's members having completed his mandatory military service? Yes, MONSTA X's Hyungwon was officially discharged from the military on Tuesday, after completing 18 months of service at the Capital Mechanised Infantry Division in Gapyeong. He enlisted back in November 2023 and made headlines for earning an early promotion to corporal thanks to his exemplary service. Hyungwon now becomes the fifth MONSTA X member to complete military duties, just in time to rejoin the group ahead of their 10th anniversary. And an actor was released from the military as well? That's right, actor Lee Do-hyun also wrapped up his service on Tuesday, this time with the Air Force military band. He enlisted in August 2023, and after nearly 1 year and 9 months, he returns to the spotlight with a strong resume, even during his absence. His film "Exhuma" , released during his enlistment, smashed the box office with over 10 million viewers. And in May, Lee showed up to the Baeksang Arts Awards in uniform and walked away with the "Best New Actor award". Many global fans also know him from the Netflix series "The Glory". Congratulations to both men on finishing their service and we can't wait to see them both in action again. Next moving onto some news on one of the biggest k-pop girl groups in Korea quite literally, we are talking about tripleS. Yes, Soa. They might have a massive following but they are on record as the biggest female k-pop idol group in terms of members with 24 in total. TripleS have released their second full-length album "ASSEMBLE25" and to celebrate the release, tripleS held a showcase on Monday in Yongsan district, Seoul. The album includes 10 tracks, including "Wake Up", which was actually selected through fan voting to become the title track. It's an alternative dance track with a message that acknowledges the world isn't always bright, but encourages awakening even within the darkness. Finally moving onto some K-movie news. A press conference for the superhero action film "Hi.5" was held Monday at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Seoul. Director Kang Hyeong-cheol answered questions, along with most of the cast members. "Hi.5" is about five individuals who unexpectedly gain different superpowers through organ transplants, leading to chaotic encounters with those who covet their powers. Cast member Lee Jae-in shared her thoughts by saying, "I've always wanted to try action scenes, and the director kindly gave me that opportunity. I even threw a kick during our very first meeting." "Hi.5" is scheduled for May 30. Thanks for the news Walter, stick around. Time to take a look at what our AI anchor Ari has for us next. Ari take it away!

[Features-reporter] Here's how K-pop fans in Japan are living the dream at KCON JAPAN 2025

2025/05/13 14:00

Over this past weekend over in neighboring Japan a major K-culture festival opened doors to fans and our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin was there to experience the event up close. Let's take a look. The Makuhari Messe, Japan's second-largest convention center, has been transformed into a K-pop arena. Fans scream, sing along, and wave neon-colored lightsticks as their favorite artists take to the stage. The lineup features rising and top-tier acts, like KiiiKiii, QWER, ZEROBASEONE, and HIGHLIGHT. This is KCON JAPAN 2025. "Where I am right now, KCON JAPAN, is one of the world's largest K-culture festivals. Here, you can experience almost everything you need to know about Korean culture." Launched in Los Angeles in 2012, KCON has toured over 10 countries, growing from just 10-thousand attendees to now more than 1-hundred-thousand per event. KCON JAPAN, the festival's first Asian edition, has been held annually since 2015. "Japan isn't just a major music market. It's the biggest overseas consumer of K-content. We're seeing more top-tier artists like G-Dragon, SEVENTEEN, and Stray Kids performing here, which shows K-pop is no longer just a foreign genre. It's now part of Japan's mainstream culture." Beyond the music, KCON offers hands-on experiences related to the broader Korean Wave. Dozens of booths introduce the latest in K-beauty, K-food, dramas, and merchandise. But what truly sets KCON apart is how close fans can get to their favorite stars. "It was amazing. Everything I'd hoped for. The fan service was incredible. They even blew hand kisses. It felt like we were close, like friends." "What really stood out was getting to see the artists up close when they visited the artist booths. Also, at the meet-and-greet, you could see them from a very close distance, something you don't normally get to experience." Having wrapped up its three-day run in Japan, KCON now prepares for its next stop, Los Angeles, this August. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News, Chiba. So this was not just about a K-pop concert but so many elements of the Korean wave can be experienced at KCON. I spotted some popular beauty brands and food brands there as well it's like a "jonghap seonmul set" how you would say in Korean, the full hallyu gift set. And as Yoo-jin mentioned, KCON will be in LA in August. That'll actually be August first to third. And the K-pop lineup is being unveiled in separate announcements. What do we know so far? Fans in LA can look forward to a wonderful lineup, that includes aespa, NCT 127, RIIZE, MEOVV and MONSTA X. Speaking of MONSTA X, that's most likely going to include a specific member we'll talk about now.

Usher gives commencement speech at Emory University

2025/05/13 10:00

Finally, in the U.S., Grammy Award-winning R&B artist and philanthropist Usher Raymond IV delivered the keynote address at Emory University's 180th Commencement ceremony in Atlanta on Monday, local time. He also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the university. In his speech, Usher encouraged graduates to "be a dreamer" and shared personal experiences, including the challenges he faced in his early education. He said while a diploma still matters, "it's not the paper that gives the power" and that "You create the value behind that degree." Usher's nonprofit organization, Usher's New Look, has supported over 55-thousand under-resourced young people in collaboration with Emory's Business School.

Here's how K-pop fans in Japan are living the dream at KCON JAPAN 2025

2025/05/13 10:00

This past weekend was an especially exciting one for those K-culture lovers over in Japan, with one of the world's largest K-culture festivals, KCON JAPAN, having taken place there. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin was there. The Makuhari Messe, Japan's second-largest convention center, has been transformed into a K-pop arena. Fans scream, sing along, and wave neon-colored lightsticks as their favorite artists take to the stage. The lineup features rising and top-tier acts, like KiiiKiii, QWER, ZEROBASEONE, and HIGHLIGHT. This is KCON JAPAN 2025. "Where I am right now, KCON JAPAN, is one of the world's largest K-culture festivals. Here, you can experience almost everything you need to know about Korean culture." Launched in Los Angeles in 2012, KCON has toured over 10 countries, growing from just 10-thousand attendees to now more than 1-hundred-thousand per event. KCON JAPAN, the festival's first Asian edition, has been held annually since 2015. "Japan isn't just a major music market. It's the biggest overseas consumer of K-content. We're seeing more top-tier artists like G-Dragon, SEVENTEEN, and Stray Kids performing here, which shows K-pop is no longer just a foreign genre. It's now part of Japan's mainstream culture." Beyond the music, KCON offers hands-on experiences related to the broader Korean Wave. Dozens of booths introduce the latest in K-beauty, K-food, dramas, and merchandise. But what truly sets KCON apart is how close fans can get to their favorite stars. "It was amazing. Everything I'd hoped for. The fan service was incredible. They even blew hand kisses. It felt like we were close, like friends." "What really stood out was getting to see the artists up close when they visited the artist booths. Also, at the meet-and-greet, you could see them from a very close distance, something you don't normally get to experience." Having wrapped up its three-day run in Japan, KCON now prepares for its next stop, Los Angeles, this August. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News, Chiba.

Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun named new musical director at Italy's La-Scala

2025/05/13 10:00

South Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun has been appointed as the new music director of Italy's Teatro alla Scala. According to the Associated Press on Monday, the 72-year-old becomes the first Asian to be given the role at the famed opera house in Milan. He will succeed Riccardo Chailly at the end of next year, and will remain as the music director until February 2030. A famed pianist, Chung has been a conductor for a number of renowned orchestras, including the Tokyo Philharmonics.

Here's how K-pop fans in Japan are living the dream at KCON JAPAN 2025

2025/05/12 20:00

This past weekend, a major K-culture festival opened doors to fans over in Japan and our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin was there to bring us this report. The Makuhari Messe, Japan's second-largest convention center, has been transformed into a K-pop arena. Fans scream, sing along, and wave neon-colored lightsticks as their favorite artists take to the stage. The lineup features rising and top-tier acts, like KiiiKiii, QWER, ZEROBASEONE, and HIGHLIGHT. This is KCON JAPAN 2025. "Where I am right now, KCON JAPAN, is one of the world's largest K-culture festivals. Here, you can experience almost everything you need to know about Korean culture." Launched in Los Angeles in 2012, KCON has toured over 10 countries, growing from just 10-thousand attendees to now more than 1-hundred-thousand per event. KCON JAPAN, the festival's first Asian edition, has been held annually since 2015. "Japan isn't just a major music market. It's the biggest overseas consumer of K-content. We're seeing more top-tier artists like G-Dragon, SEVENTEEN, and Stray Kids performing here, which shows K-pop is no longer just a foreign genre. It's now part of Japan's mainstream culture." Beyond the music, KCON offers hands-on experiences related to the broader Korean Wave. Dozens of booths introduce the latest in K-beauty, K-food, dramas, and merchandise. But what truly sets KCON apart is how close fans can get to their favorite stars. "It was amazing. Everything I'd hoped for. The fan service was incredible. They even blew hand kisses. It felt like we were close, like friends." "What really stood out was getting to see the artists up close when they visited the artist booths. Also, at the meet-and-greet, you could see them from a very close distance, something you don't normally get to experience." Having wrapped up its three-day run in Japan, KCON now prepares for its next stop, Los Angeles, this August. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News, Chiba.

Here's how K-pop fans in Japan are living the dream at KCON JAPAN 2025

2025/05/12 17:00

Also this past weekend over in Japan a major K-culture festival opened doors to fans in the neighboring country and our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin was there to bring us this report. The Makuhari Messe, Japan's second-largest convention center, has been transformed into a K-pop arena. Fans scream, sing along, and wave neon-colored lightsticks as their favorite artists take to the stage. The lineup features rising and top-tier acts, like KiiiKiii, QWER, ZEROBASEONE, and HIGHLIGHT. This is KCON JAPAN 2025. "Where I am right now, KCON JAPAN, is one of the world's largest K-culture festivals. Here, you can experience almost everything you need to know about Korean culture." Launched in Los Angeles in 2012, KCON has toured over 10 countries, growing from just 10-thousand attendees to now more than 1-hundred-thousand per event. KCON JAPAN, the festival's first Asian edition, has been held annually since 2015. "Japan isn't just a major music market. It's the biggest overseas consumer of K-content. We're seeing more top-tier artists like G-Dragon, SEVENTEEN, and Stray Kids performing here, which shows K-pop is no longer just a foreign genre. It's now part of Japan's mainstream culture." Beyond the music, KCON offers hands-on experiences related to the broader Korean Wave. Dozens of booths introduce the latest in K-beauty, K-food, dramas, and merchandise. But what truly sets KCON apart is how close fans can get to their favorite stars. "It was amazing. Everything I'd hoped for. The fan service was incredible. They even blew hand kisses. It felt like we were close, like friends." "What really stood out was getting to see the artists up close when they visited the artist booths. Also, at the meet-and-greet, you could see them from a very close distance, something you don't normally get to experience." Having wrapped up its three-day run in Japan, KCON now prepares for its next stop, Los Angeles, this August. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News, Chiba.

[Kulture Issue] Year 1995 and the evolution of K-culture content

2025/05/12 14:00

Did you know that 1995, or 30 years ago was a turning point for Korean pop culture? It's said that the current Korean wave or hallyu has its roots in that year. Let's find out why in today's 'Kulture Issue' segment. For that, we're joined by culture critic, Professor Chie Hye-won at Kyung Hee University. Welcome Professor Chie! Q1. Let's travel back in time to 1995. What's significant about that year in terms of the K-culture industry, that's now loved around the world? Q2. It's impressive to hear that SM Entertainment and CJ ENM, two of the biggest names in K-pop and K-content, both started off in 1995. How have they revolutionized Korea's culture industry? Q3. Also, that year was the first year of cable TV in Korea, which opened up a wide variety of channels. (Riding on that trend, Arirang TV was also launched a couple years later.) How did this change affect the media/content consumption culture? Q4. Let's talk about Hongdae which not only is a famous art district in Seoul, but the indie music scene began to take root at clubs in Hongdae, which through to this day is a very hip place for young people. How have these scenes added diversity to Korean music? Q5. Online communities were also starting to take off around then. What was their impact like and were those clubs the foundation of the fandom community culture we see today? Q6. Anything else notable from a cultural aspect about the year 1995? Q7. There's been a resurgence of interest in 1990s culture lately. Why do you think that is? Thank you Professor Chie for your insights on this interesting topic. See you next time. Thank you Walter, we'll see you tomorrow.