News

Seoul Auction to feature works of independence activists

2025/04/17 17:00

An intriguing collection of relics belonging to Korea's independence activists will go on auction this spring at an auction house here in Seoul. Our Lee Eun-jin has a glimpse. Revered Korean independence activist of the Japanese colonial era Ahn Jung-geun. As a part of his previously unreleased collection of calligraphic work, left behind in the final days leading up to his execution, this piece titled "Nokjuk", or "Green Bamboo", is presumed to have been created in February of 1910. This piece is different from his usual vertical writing, while his signature handprint is also imprinted horizontally. Han Yong-woon was a Buddhist reformer, poet and independence activist, also known by his penname Manhae. This folding screen contains poetry of his that compares the path of Buddhist practice to the journey of a young monk to find his lost cow. It is a rare 10-panel masterpiece, showcasing Manhae's unique round handwriting. "Manhae believed in the people continuing towards the independence of our country during the Japanese occupation. And through this poem, he wanted to remind us that it is a destination that should not be forgotten." Seoul Auction's spring session will have a large number of such relics containing traces from the independence movement. In addition to the works of Ahn Jung-geun and Han Yong-woon, there will be the first edition of Yun Dong-ju's book of poems titled "Sky, Wind, Star and Poem", showing the passage of time in its worn out cover page, as well as documents like records of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. These items can range in value from tens to hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars. Garnering greater interest due to this year marking the 80th anniversary of Korean independence, the relics will be shown in a free exhibition until April 21st, a day before the auction, on the 22nd. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/04/17 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korea's oldest art market event, the 'Galleries Art Fair,' has officially kicked off at COEX in Seoul. Now in its 43rd edition, this year's fair brings together a record 168 galleries, the largest in the event's history. First launched in 1979 as the 'Korea Galleries Association Exhibition,' the fair has grown into a flagship event of Korea's spring art season and is widely regarded as a barometer that shows the current trends of the country's art market. Running through Sunday, the fair showcases a diverse array of works, including pieces by acclaimed artists from home and abroad, as well as bold, original creations by emerging talents. An exhibition exploring surrealism in Korea's modern art opened today at the Deoksugung branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. While surrealism has often been overlooked in Korean art history, this exhibition sheds light on six artists who resolutely pursued their own surrealist visions, unaffected by contemporary trends. Featured artists include Kim Jong-nam, who lived in Japan under the name Hideo Manabe, and Kim Uk-kyu, originally from the North, who fled to the South, leaving his family behind. The exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the inner worlds of artists profoundly shaped by Korea's colonial history, war, and division. Their works will be on display until July 6. Korea's web novel market saw a roughly 30% increase in size in just two years. According to a recent report from the Culture Ministry, the market was valued at 1.35 trillion won, or around 950 million U.S. dollars, last year, up over 310 billion won, or roughly 220 million dollars, from 2022. Web novels accounted for more than 45% of the total annual revenue from web fiction content, including webtoons. Regarding royalties, around 30% of web novel creators earn between one million and three million won per episode, while only 1% make over 100 million won. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Hallyu_People] Dutch YouTuber explores Seoul's 467 neighborhoods

2025/04/17 14:00

Seoul is the capital of South Korea, a city with a long history and rich culture. Seoul is divided into 25 districts known as “gu” and 467 neighborhoods known as “dong” such as Myeongdong, Insadong, and Seongsudong. Today, we will meet a Dutch YouTuber who has been exploring and documenting the unique sights and stories found in these Seoul neighborhoods from top to bottom. It’s Bart van Genugten, who’s running the channel “iGoBart”. Welcome Bart! 1) We heard you just recently came back from a trip? Why don’t we start with that? 2) You were traveling around the world and you ended up settling in one of the countries you visited, which is South Korea. What was the deciding factor for you to live here? 3) On your YouTube channel “iGoBart” you have a series called “Welcome to My Dong”. Please tell us about it and how it started. 4) (So, why did you choose to introduce all “dongs” and not “gus”?) In which neighborhoods of Seoul have you lived and what would you say describes those neighborhoods? 5) Any fun or memorable episodes while making any of the “Welcome to My Dong” videos? 6) Is there any “dong” you would say is underrated, or too unknown that you would like to mention? 7) Why is Seoul an appealing travel destination? 8) Once you have introduced all 467 neighborhoods, what’s your next plan? Thank you very much for sharing your story with us today Bart can't wait to check out all of your trips around Seoul and beyond. Thank you Bella as always, I'll see you back tomorrow.

[K-wave] Seoul Auction to feature works of independence activists

2025/04/17 14:00

Leading Korean art auction house, Seoul Auction is attracting attention for its spring auction featuring works of independence activists from the Japanese colonial era. There is greater meaning as this year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea's independence. Lee Eun-jin tells us more. Revered Korean independence activist of the Japanese colonial era Ahn Jung-geun. As a part of his previously unreleased collection of calligraphic work, left behind in the final days leading up to his execution, this piece titled "Nokjuk", or "Green Bamboo", is presumed to have been created in February of 1910. This piece is different from his usual vertical writing, while his signature handprint is also imprinted horizontally. Han Yong-woon was a Buddhist reformer, poet and independence activist, also known by his penname Manhae. This folding screen contains poetry of his that compares the path of Buddhist practice to the journey of a young monk to find his lost cow. It is a rare 10-panel masterpiece, showcasing Manhae's unique round handwriting. "Manhae believed in the people continuing towards the independence of our country during the Japanese occupation. And through this poem, he wanted to remind us that it is a destination that should not be forgotten." Seoul Auction's spring session will have a large number of such relics containing traces from the independence movement. In addition to the works of Ahn Jung-geun and Han Yong-woon, there will be the first edition of Yun Dong-ju's book of poems titled "Sky, Wind, Star and Poem", showing the passage of time in its worn out cover page, as well as documents like records of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. These items can range in value from tens to hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars. Garnering greater interest due to this year marking the 80th anniversary of Korean independence, the relics will be shown in a free exhibition until April 21st, a day before the auction, on the 22nd. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] Rosé named as one of the most influential people of 2025

2025/04/17 14:00

Bella, today we start with some impressive news on BLACKPINK member Rosé. Rosé has been named on TIME magazine’s list of “The 100 Most Influential People of 2025.” On Wednesday, TIME magazine revealed the “2025 TIME 100,” an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Rosé, whom the magazine classified as a “pioneer,” was one of the 100 people to make this year’s list. TIME magazine’s guest contributor, actress Lily Collins, shared the reasons behind Rosé’s selection. She said that Rosé is a dynamic performer and songwriter, and is able to captivate arenas full of people both as a member of the biggest girl group in the world and also as a solo artist. Meanwhile, Rosé’s “APT.,” featuring Bruno Mars, continues to maintain its spot on Billboard Hot 100 for the 25th consecutive week. Another proof for K-pop artists' global influence. Back in 2019, listed among rising stars, BLACKPINK was part of "Time 100 Next". And now THIS milestone. Big congratulations to Rosé! Now on the other side of K-pop, the lawsuit between NewJeans and ADOR is still on-going. Please fill us in with the latest updates. On Wednesday, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed objections filed by NewJeans against an earlier ruling that banned the group from independent activities outside of the agency ADOR. Immediately after the court’s decision, NewJeans appealed, taking the legal battle between the two to the appeals court. The legal representatives of NewJeans said that they will continue to try their best to reveal fact relevance. To give a quick recap, NewJeans began pursuing independent activities in February after accusing ADOR of violating the terms of their exclusive contract. However, ADOR claimed that the contract with the group remains valid until July 2029. Earlier in March, the court accepted the injunction sought by ADOR, to prevent the five members from independently signing advertising contracts and pursuing separate music activities. In response, NewJeans filed an objection against the injunction, but the court rejected it during this Wednesday’s hearing, upholding its previous ruling. Now what’s left is the appeals court’s decision. Meanwhile, a separate trial is ongoing over ADOR’s lawsuit regarding the validity of its exclusive contract with NewJeans and the second hearing for that is set to take place on June 5th. Please keep us updated with the results. For our last story today, we are going to talk about a new Korean Netflix series? Korean Netflix series are doing amazing these days, not only in Korea, but globally, so it’s very exciting to hear that another series is about to be released. This time it’s a mystery romance series, “Dear Hongrang”. It’s from a novel of the same title by writer Jang Da-hye. The story follows a son, Hongrang, who returns after a decade-long disappearance with no memory of his childhood. His half-sister, Jae I, who has been close to him since childhood, seeks the truth behind his sudden disappearance. The new series stars Lee Jae-wook, Cho Bo-ah, Jung Ga-ram, and Uhm Ji-won. “Dear Hongrang” will premiere on Netflix on May 16th. Will add that to my list of things to watch on Netflix. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

Lee Jae-myung, BLACKPINK Rosé named among Time Magazine's 100 most influential people

2025/04/17 10:00

Time magazine has named South Korea's former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and BLACKPINK'S Rosé in its 100 most influential people of 2025. In the list, revealed on Wednesday, Lee was included in the "Leaders" category, along with U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Lee was described as the "clear favorite" to win the upcoming Presidential election. Rosé from K-pop girl group BLACKPINK was also named in the "Pioneers" category. She was recognized as a "dynamic performer and songwriter," praised for captivating massive audiences both as a soloist and a group.

Korean content ranked second place in global viewership on Netflix

2025/04/16 17:00

On the entertainment front. Korean screen productions are the SECOND most-watched content on Netflix worldwide. According to media analytics firm Ampere South Korean content has maintained its number two ranking just behind the U.S. since 2023 accounting for almost 10 percent of the global viewership on this platform. Strong production capabilities and licensing strategies were cited as factors behind the popularity of K-content and shows like Culinary Class Wars and drama series like Squid Game were highlighted as top screen works. Meanwhile the UK and Japan ranked 3rd and 4th respectively.

K-wave AI News

2025/04/16 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korean dramas and films have established themselves as the most popular non-U.S. content on Netflix. According to content market analysis firm Ampere, Korean content has ranked second only to U.S. shows in total viewing time on Netflix since 2023, with a share of 8 to 9%. U.S. content accounts for almost 60%. Ampere also noted that Korean titles make up 85 of the 500 most-watched non-U.S. shows and films on the platform. Standout hits include "Squid Game" Season 2, which amassed nearly 620 million viewing hours in the second half of last year, the romance drama "Love Next Door," and the culinary competition show "Culinary Class Wars." The entire county of Danyang in Chungcheongbuk-do Province has been officially designated a UNESCO Global Geopark, becoming the first in the Chungcheong region to earn the title. The area has drawn international recognition for its iconic karst landscapes, distinctive structural geology, and stunning natural scenery. Home to geological formations spanning 1.3 billion years, Danyang offers valuable insights into paleoclimate through cave formations and bears traces of Earth's mass extinction events. The UNESCO designation honors not only geological value but also aesthetic, cultural, and historical significance, promoting conservation and sustainable development. The 'Haeundae Sand Festival' will take place from May 16 to 19 in Busan. Marking its 20th anniversary, the festival will center on the global expansion of K-culture, showcasing popular Korean culture through some 20 sand sculptures. Artists from Korea, the U.S., Canada, China, and Russia will create stunning works depicting various K-culture scenes, from the Korean alphabet 'Hangeul' to the beloved Baby Shark character. Interactive experiences, including traditional games featured in Squid Game, will also entertain visitors. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-Correspondent] Exhibition "Western Fairy Tales in Hanbok" in Italy promotes Korea's traditional beauty with Western touch

2025/04/16 14:00

If you tuned in from the beginning of the program, you might have wondered why I mentioned Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella wearing hanbok. These are featured in an exhibition promoting the traditional beauty of Korea currently running in Italy along with a Western touch. This beauty, captured by delicate brushstrokes, is attracting the attention of local visitors. We connect with our "K-correspondent" Claudia Gambino to learn more about this exhibition. Hello Claudia! Q1-1. Please introduce yourself to our viewers as well as the exhibition that's being held right now. What is it about and what role do you play in it? Q1-2. What's behind the idea of hosting such an event? Q2. Could you introduce us to one representative masterpiece you'd like to recommend to visitors? Q3. How has the response been from local visitors especially seeing these Western fairy tales in hanbok? Q4. Are there any services available that make the exhibition easier to understand or more fun? Q5. Claudia, is there anything new you've learned about Korea's culture through this exhibition? Q6. Let's now talk a little bit about the general public in Italy and their interest in Korean culture or hallyu. What or who is popular these days? Q7. So, for those who want to check out the exhibition, until when can we enjoy it and what other K-culture events are planned for later this year? Thank you very much Claudia for connecting with us today and introducing us to the "Western Fairy Tales in Hanbok" exhibition and more. Hope we keep in touch. Thank you Walter as always. We'll have you back next week.

[K-Enter] BTS's Jin to release second mini-album

2025/04/16 14:00

Starting off with news on a new mini album! Who is it from? (who is it from? who is it from?) (That's the hint to what the album is called ) BTS's Jin has revealed the promotion for his second mini-album "Echo" through BTS's official social media. He actually dropped the promotion at midnight local time, which was too late for me! The album is set to be released on May 16. It captures how the various moments in life spread like different forms of "echoes." This comes roughly six months after his first solo album "Happy" in November last year. His decision for making a quick return was that he wanted to stay connected to his fan base. Jin is also busy these days featuring on Netflix's reality show "Kian's bizarre B&B". "Echo" will be released worldwide on May 16 at 1 p.m. Korean local time. I am sure that this will be another album that won't disappoint. Now, we move on to hanbok and Park Bo-gum news, that we hinted on before I mean, he has starred in dramas that required him to wear hanbok but what's the news about? Actor Park Bo-gum , who recently starred alongside IU in the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," has been selected as a Korean cultural arts ambassador to promote the beauty of Korea's traditional hanbok clothing to the world for the "2025 Hanbok Wave" program according to The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Now in its sixth year, Hanbok Wave is a project where hanbok companies with potential and technical skill collaborate with Korean cultural artists to develop hanbok-related products. In 2022, former superstar figure skater Kim Yuna participated in the project, followed by K-pop girl group Miss-A member and actress Suzy and actress Kim Tae-ri . Park Bo-gum is the first male model to be selected for this role. Park will collaborate with four domestic hanbok brands to promote the elegance and dignity of hanbok. I like the name of the program "2025 Hanbok Wave", well we'd be welcoming him with open arms on "The Kulture Wave" to showcase the beauty of hanbok to the world. Lastly we have updates on the Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun case? Since allegations of actor Kim Soo-hyun's romantic relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was underage surfaced from a YouTube channel, Kim Soo-hyun has been met with constant malicious comments. On Tuesday, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, issued an official statement revealing that they had filed legal complaints against individuals posting malicious content. The agency stated: "Recently, malicious posts, comments, and false information targeting Kim Soo-hyun have been recklessly spread online. Based on active reports from fans and our internal monitoring, we submitted a complaint on April 14 to investigative authorities for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act and insult under the Criminal Act." On March 31, Kim Soo-hyun held an emergency press conference, where he denied all allegations and announced his intent to pursue legal action against the YouTube channel responsible for leaking said allegations and also Kim Sae-ron's parents. Thank you for that news Walter, don't go anywhere as we now move onto more culture news with our AI anchor Ari. Take it away Ari.

Korean content ranked second place in global viewership on Netflix

2025/04/16 10:00

Movies and dramas from South Korea are the second most-watched content on Netflix worldwide. According to global media analytics firm Ampere on Tuesday, Korean content has maintained the number two position behind the U.S. since 2023, accounting for nearly 10 percent of global viewership on the platform. The report said strong content production capabilities and licensing strategies were key factors behind the success. It also cited shows, including Squid Game and Culinary Class Wars, as standout examples. The UK and Japan followed in 3rd and 4th place on the list.

World News: All-female crew on Blue Origin rocket successfully return to Earth

2025/04/15 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Starting with the historic spaceflight in the United States, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin New Shepard rocket, developed for space tourism, completed its first all-female crewed mission in over six decades. The launch vehicle successfully returned to Earth on Monday with an all-women crew of six, including pop star Katy Perry and five other accomplished women, after an approximately 10-minute flight to space. The crew took off from Blue Origin's launch site in West Texas at 9:31 AM on Monday. The six-person crew included pop star Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and pilot Lauren Sanchez. The flight lasted about 10 minutes and 21 seconds, reaching the Karman line, the recognized boundary of space, where the crew experienced moments of weightlessness before safely returning to Earth. The mission marked the first all-female spaceflight since Valentina Tereshkova's solo journey into space in 1963. U.S. President Donald Trump hosted El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, reinforcing their alliance on immigration enforcement amid controversy over deportations. In a meeting at the Oval Office on Monday local time, President Trump and President Bukele discussed their ongoing cooperation on immigration policies. The discussions came in the wake of a Maryland resident mistakenly being deported to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center despite a U.S. court order preventing his removal. Both leaders have declined to facilitate his return, with Bukele stating he lacks the authority to "smuggle a terrorist" back into the United States, and Trump officials asserting that the responsibility lies with El Salvador. Also during the meeting, President Trump praised President Bukele's efforts in combating gang violence and suggested the possibility of expanding deportations to include U.S. citizens with criminal backgrounds. The United States and Iran are set to hold a second round of nuclear negotiations in Rome on Saturday to follow discussions in Oman, which both sides described as "positive" and "constructive." Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, confirmed on Monday that Rome will host the upcoming negotiations, after requests from both parties and mediator Oman. The first round of talks in Muscat, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, marked the first direct discussions after years of indirect communication between the two states. A landmark antitrust trial against U.S. tech giant Meta Platforms kicked off on Monday in Washington, D.C. The Federal Trade Commission is seeking to force the tech giant to break Instagram and WhatsApp off from Meta. It alleges that the tech giant bought the platforms in a strategic move to eliminate competition and establish a monopoly in the social networking market. CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the company's actions, saying the acquisitions enhanced consumer experience, citing competition from platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The trial is expected to span approximately eight weeks and could result in potential structural changes for Meta. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/04/15 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The opening ceremony for the "2025–2026 Korea-China-Japan Year of Cultural Exchange" has taken place in Tokyo, marking the start of an initiative aimed at deepening cultural cooperation between the three neighboring countries. Korea's First Vice Culture Minister Yong Ho-seong pledged to expand trilateral cultural exchanges and work toward establishing East Asia as a global cultural hub. His Japanese counterpart, Atsushi Nonaka, highlighted that the initiative is important not only for cultural collaboration but also for strengthening broader Korea-China-Japan relations. Korea will lead several key exchange programs, including joint musical performances, a friendly Go tournament, and a youth artist exchange exhibition. The Ulsan 'Taehwagang Maduhee Festival,' known as Korea's first major summer festival, has been rescheduled to June 13 to 15. That's to avoid overlapping with early voting for the snap presidential election, set for May 29 and 30. Held under the tagline "Escape the Ordinary, Dive into Taehwagang," the festival will take place in Ulsan's downtown and along the Taehwagang River. More than 40 programs are planned, including a large-scale tug-of-war, diverse river activities, a marketplace, and a reenactment of a traditional parade. This year's festival will offer expanded river-centered attractions, including hydro-flying water shows and other aerial aquatic performances. Jeju Island has unveiled its cruise industry promotion plan for this year. The plan aims to boost the island's cruise tourism sector by capitalizing on the increased number of cruise calls and a new semi-homeport operation set to be launched in May. Gangjeong Port in Jeju is set to become Korea's first semi-home port for cruise ships starting next month. The plan outlines detailed measures to induce longer stays and greater spending by cruise passengers as part of efforts to revamp the domestic economy. A total of 6.8 billion won, or around 4.8 million US dollars, will be invested across five key projects to support the initiative. Jeju Island's cruise market has shown steady growth, with more than 300 cruise calls and up to 800,000 visitors expected this year. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Short-form] Korean rice cakes making waves in Japan

2025/04/15 14:00

“K-tteok” is the new hit in Japan with competitive pricing, diverse varieties, and everyday convenience. Now, it’s setting its sights on the global stage!

[K-Enter] BLACKPINK's Jennie: "It's like a dream"

2025/04/15 14:00

So Walter, we've got more Coachella news today! Who would've thought years ago that we would have this much of a K-pop presence on the Coachella stage. Yesterday, we talked about BLACKPINK'S Lisa and ENHYPEN's performance there, now it's time to talk about BLACKPINK's Jennie. How did she go? Yes, Jennie took the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California. On Sunday evening, local time, Jennie appeared at Coachella’s Outdoor Theatre wearing a stylish Western-style hat and sunglasses, and began her performance with her solo song “Filter.” She went on to perform her pre-release track “Mantra” from her first solo album, along with songs like "Handlebars,” “ZEN,” “F.T.S.,” and “Like JENNIE.” Of course, she put on an amazing performance filled with great choreography, showing how she's a not just a member of a girl group but a fantastic solo performer. Jennie shared her thoughts, saying, "I didn't expect this many people to show up. It really looks like a huge crowd. Thank you for coming to my Coachella stage." Jennie is scheduled to perform once more at Coachella on April 20. We didn't expect anything less than amazing from Jennie, I am sure her second crowd will be just as big. Moving on to news about NCT WISH. On Monday, NCT sub-unit boy group NCT WISH released their second mini album “poppop”. NCT WISH is a multinational boy group based in Japan that debuted in February 2024. Among the six members, four are Japanese, and two are Korean. They are also the “youngest” unit among SM’s various NCT sub-groups, following predecessors like NCT U and NCT 127. Their second mini album includes a total of six tracks: the title song “poppop”, “Melt Inside My Pocket”, “Design”, “1000”, “Silly Dance”, and “Still 3PM”. The title track “poppop” is a dance-pop song that blends a bouncy melody with NCT WISH’s bright and refreshing vibe. The new album surpassed 1.21 million pre-orders, significantly exceeding the 800,000 pre-orders of their first mini-album. Great to see their popularity grow with each new release. Finally we move onto a new film set to be released next month, who is it from? I believe this might be a good year for Korean director Hong Sang-soo. First, with the recent news of his child with actress Kim Min-hee and now a film to follow. It was confirmed on Monday that director Hong Sang-soo’s new film “What Does That Nature Say to You” is set to be released on May 14, making it Hong’s 33rd feature-length film. Partner Kim Min-hee also took part as the production manager. The film follows the story of Dong-hwa , a poet in his 30s, who makes an unexpected visit to the home of his lover Jun-hee . The film was selected for the competition section at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival held in February 2025, but did not win any awards.

K-wave AI News

2025/04/14 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo has kicked off, marking the start of its six-month journey. The Korean pavilion was unveiled on Sunday, boasting the largest scale among all international pavilions. It features three distinct exhibition zones designed to bridge tradition and modernity, people and technology, and Korea and the world. A striking media facade showcases Korea's cultural heritage alongside AI-powered media art, K-pop artist visuals, and more. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper named the Korean pavilion one of the event's "noteworthy exhibition halls." The night sky over the Hangang River will once again be illuminated with a spectacular light display this year as Seoul City presents the 2025 Hangang Drone Light Show at Ttukseom Hangang Park from April 19 to May 25. This year's drone show will return with 200 additional drones, bringing the total to 1,200, adorning the sky with a breathtaking light display. Various cultural performances, including magic shows and Taekwondo demonstrations, will entertain spectators before and after the main event. On opening night, a special performance featuring 2,000 drones will take place, portraying drones that transcend the boundaries of time and space. A solo exhibition by Ron Mueck, the acclaimed Australian sculptor known for his hyperrealistic, large-scale human figures, is now open at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul. Marking his first solo show in Asia, the retrospective features ten major works from across his 30-year career. Highlights include "Mask II," a self-portrait roughly four times life-size, "In Bed," a larger-than-life sculpture that draws viewers into the subject's emotional state, and "Mass," a haunting installation that adapts to each exhibition space. Exploring themes of life, death, and the human condition, the exhibition runs through July 13. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Kulture Issue] The "featuring effect" in the global K-pop industry

2025/04/14 14:00

It went from "Some" by Soyou and Junggigo featuring Lil Boi of Geeks or Zico's "Soulmate" featuring IU to BTS's "Idol" featuring Nicki Minaj and JENNIE's "Handlebars" featuring Dua Lipa. It's not that sensational anymore to have global super stars collaborate with K-pop stars, as Korean artists are now too the global stars. Today, we want to delve into the "featuring effect" and K-pop's influence in the global music market. For that, we are now on the line with Stephanie Choi, postdoctoral researcher at the Asia Research Institute at State University of New York at Buffalo. Hello Stephanie / Dr. Choi! Q1. We see more and more vibrant collaborations between K-pop artists and foreign artists in the music scene compared to the past. Please tell us about this trend. Q2. Having well-known pop stars featured in K-pop songs seemed like a strategy to expand overseas, (or is it still?) but nowadays that doesn’t seem to be the priority. What do you say? Is it a more “natural” thing to see these international collaborations? Q3. (We reported on this on our program just recently) BTS’s Jungkook, with his solo single “Seven” featuring American rapper Latto, has been ranked number one on the “Best K-Pop and Rap Collaborations of All Time” by Complex magazine. Why do you think the song gained so much love? Q4. So, seeing the success of these partnerships, how are they benefitting the K-pop industry? Q5. I think there are benefits for both sides. Let’s take the BLACKPINK members as an example. LISA feat. Doja Cat & RAYE (Born Again), JENNIE feat. Dua Lipa (Handlebars), and of course ROSE feat. Bruno Mars (APT.) have all made it onto the Billboard charts. Big names in the western pop world are probably welcoming these collaborations and also make the first move for them? Q6. It also seems like featuring for a song goes beyond singing a few lines, it’s about producing music together and mixing styles. Is it fair to say that we are seeing a deeper cooperation in the way songs are featured? Q7. What are the prospects of these collaborations, or what could be done better in the future?

[K-Enter] Lisa kills it at Coachella

2025/04/14 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Let's start with some news on the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Coachella, the largest music festival in the U.S. is underway and on Friday local time, BLACKPINK's Lisa was the first to represent the K-pop genre, performing at the Sahara Stage. Lisa performed tracks from her solo collection such as "Thunder", "Rockstar", "New Woman" and "Lalisa". Lisa’s performance received praise for her costume changes and choreography. She is set to perform again on the 18th. And on Saturday, boy group ENHYPEN became the first K-pop boy group to perform at the world famous music festival. ENHYPEN were backed by a live band and delivered a total of 13 songs. They will return on the 19th for the second performance. I believe BLACKPINK's Jennie also performed only a couple of hours ago as well, so I look forward to hearing how she went. Let's stay on the topic of K-pop and move on to some news on boy group ATEEZ . If you live in North America and didn’t get a chance to grab tickets to ATEEZ's 2025 WORLD TOUR 'IN YOUR FANTASY', well, you may be in luck, as on Saturday, ATEEZ's agency KQ Entertainment announced additional North American stops for their upcoming tour. The Orlando concert, originally scheduled for July 22, has added an additional show on the 21st, making it a two-day event. The Los Angeles concert, initially set for August 8, will also be held over two days with an additional show on the 9th. ATEEZ will now perform a total of 14 shows across 12 cities including New York, Orlando, Chicago, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Mexico City. The 2025 WORLD TOUR is set to kick off on July 5 and 6 at Inspire Arena in Yeongjongdo , Incheon. Great news for the fans and it must feel great for ATEEZ to feel the love from their North American fans. Lastly let's finish off with a K-movie, that's already showing its popularity before it's out? Yes, "Yadang: The Snitch" has topped the overall reservation rankings ahead of its release on April 16. On Monday, the film announced that it had maintained the number one spot in overall ticket reservations for three consecutive days since reaching the top on the Saturday. Starring Kang Ha-neul , Yoo Hae-jin , and Park Hae-joon , "Yadang: The Snitch" is a crime action film that follows a broker who runs South Korea’s drug trade, an ambitious, power-hungry prosecutor, and a detective who puts everything on the line to crack down on drug crimes. Again, "Yadang: The Snitch" is set to be released on April 16.

Meet the artist who's putting Korea on the map

2025/04/14 10:00

We often hear about how Korean culture is putting Korea on the map. But here is a story of an illustrator who's quite literally putting Korea on a map. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin tells us more. You know Gwanghwamun Gate, but you've never seen it quite like this. This is how UK-based map artist Jenni Sparks reimagined one of Seoul's most iconic landmarks. For over a decade, her hand-drawn maps have covered major cities across the West, such as London, New York, Paris, and Berlin. Now, she's turning her creative compass toward Asia, starting with Seoul. "The traditional architecture is extremely different from all the cities that I've done before. I think, also like the actual geography of the place, it's got like it's very like mountainous, including actually in like the middle of the city." This idea sparked when Seol Jae-woo, who runs a local tour business in Seoul, reached out to Sparks a few years ago. "Maps are usually seen as just information, useful in the moment but often forgotten after. Jenni Sparks' map, however, felt like a work of art. So I thought, what if we could create a map people would treasure, one that tells a story of the place they live?" That question led to Sparks creating a map of Seoul's Seochon neighborhood before setting her sights on the entire city. It's halfway done, but already, you can see what makes her maps so unique. It's not just the pop art-style design or the bold use of color but the sheer level of detail, including hidden gems like Tongin Market in Jongno-gu District. That insight comes from her rigorous research, her first and most important step, through books and videos. She then sketches out the bones of the city, rivers, mountains, parks, and metro lines before layering in Seoul's soul. "I will usually ask people from that city and say, 'Is this right?' or 'Take a look at this.' Is there anything you're like, 'This is absolutely wrong, like no, what you've forgotten this building is this is a really famous cafe, this is a really famous restaurant.' And then right at the end, it's just kind of just drawing like lots of residential buildings." It's a challenging process that takes months, but the map, in the end, becomes something more than directions. It becomes a story, one you can hold in your hands and revisit. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

Bangkok celebrates Thai New Year with Songkran splash

2025/04/14 10:00

Finally, Bangkok has officially kicked off the 2025 Songkran Festival, Thailand's traditional New Year celebration, known for major water fights. The festival, which runs from April 13 to 16 and involves the world's biggest water fight, symbolizes renewal and cleansing. Participants engage in spirited water battles across the city during the period. Key locations such as Silom Road, Khao San Road, and Siam Square have become epicenters of activity, and an 8% increase in foreign visitors during the celebration week is anticipated. The festival marks the end of the dry season and the start of a new agricultural cycle.