News

[Kulture Issue] Summer heats up at Korea's box office with hot movie releases

2025/08/08 15:34

The summer movie season is in full swing. With that, we are seeing competition heating up on the big screen among Korean films of various genres, moods, and approaches. Which films are currently capturing the hearts of the audience? Let’s have a chat with our movie expert Jae Soh, professor and filmmaker at Seoul Institute of the Arts. Welcome back Professor Soh! Q1. Let’s start with “My Daughter is a Zombie“ , which surpassed its break-even point in just a week after its release and has been ranking number 1 at the domestic box office, for 9 straight days. What is the film about and why are people loving it? Q2. “My Daughter is a Zombie“ is based on a hit webtoon of the same name and the film has been receiving praise for its resemblance to the original work, including a cat that appears in the story. So, is it a good thing to make an adaptation that's as similar as the original work as possible? Q3. Let’s move on to the webnovel-based movie ”Omniscient Reader“. Over 1 million have watched it by now, and it's also seen success overseas. This was one of the highly anticipated movies of the second half of the year. How is this work appealing to the audience? Q4. Some fans of the original work expressed disappointment with the cinematic adaptation, while others praised it for offering new visual and cinematic elements. What is your assessment, Professor? Q5. Now let’s talk about a movie that’s set to be released next week. “Pretty Crazy” . This one is a mystery comedy film with a totally new script. What is it about and what are your expectations? Q6. Zombies, science fiction, demons we’re looking at a variety of themes in the theaters this summer. But do you see any similarities in these recent works? Q7. The movie makers of these recent productions also seem to be conscious of the overseas market. Do you see any works that have the potential to successfully compete on the global stage? Thank you Professor Soh for your insights! Have a great weekend. Thank you Walter, see you back next week.

Gov't to distribute discount coupons for performances and exhibitions

2025/08/07 18:39

Come Friday the government will begin offering discount coupons for concerts and exhibitions. Seoul's Culture Ministry together with the Korea Arts Management Service and Arts Council Korea will provide five-hundred-thousand coupons that allow for a 10-thousand won reduction in concert tickets and one-point-six million coupons for a three-thousand won discount for tickets to exhibitions. The coupons can be used until September 19th and apply to events held up until November 30th.

40% of American K-pop fans drive strong physical album sales

2025/08/07 18:39

A Billboard survey shows four out of every ten U.S.-based K-pop fans spend over one-hundred U.S. dollars annually on physical copies of K-pop albums. The survey was conducted over a fortnight last August and included one-thousand-four-hundred Billboard readers aged 14 and above. 63 percent of those polled had purchased at least one K-pop CD over the previous year and nearly half said they bought multiple copies of the same album given the diverse packaging and design. But despite the active spending on physical albums only 47 percent had attended a K-pop concert in the past year owing to high ticket costs and long distance.

[Kulture Issue] Song camps become common practice in creating hit K-pop songs

2025/08/07 16:34

All for one, one for all or all for one K-pop song. BLACKPINK Rosé's hit song APT. feat. Bruno Mars took the world by storm back in October last year. Did you know that eleven people contributed to writing and composing this hit song and four producers took part? In the K-pop industry it has become common that a whole group of people collaborate on one single song. Let’s talk about this interesting trend with our K-pop expert Jeff Benjamin, who is now connected with us. Welcome back Jeff! Jeff, before we delve into today’s main topic, could you give us a rundown of the latest K-pop trends based on your recent contribution to Billboard’s 'The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2025 (So Far): Critic’s Picks'. What are some notable K-pop groups or songs so far this year? Now, let’s talk about an interesting way of creating super hits like the ones you just mentioned. It’s become the norm for a group of artists, songwriters, composers and producers to get together for a so-called “song camp” to make a great song. Please, tell us about this process. Major Korean entertainment agencies such as HYBE, SM, JYP, YG and STARSHIP regularly hold song camps. Why is that? What are the benefits? I heard that these song camps create a positive environment for rookie songwriters or composers making their debut. What are your thoughts on this? Can plagiarism be avoided when multiple people are involved in producing a song? It's noticeable that the nationalities of those involved in K-pop production have also become more diverse. Recent efforts have included song makers from the U.S., UK, Japan, Sweden, Norway, and many other countries. Right, but Jeff, do you think that songs created in this way still have enough of a “K-pop feel” to them? What makes K-pop sound like K-pop, even when it’s not entirely made by Koreans? What about K-pop artists who themselves get involved in making the songs, like Rosé for APT.? Is this becoming more common than in the past and what significance does it hold? As the number of songwriters increases, doesn’t it become more difficult to earn income from royalties? There will also be more and more cases where AI is used in songwriting. Based on this, how do you see the future of collaborations in making songs and the future of song camps? Thank you Jeff for your insights and have a great rest of the week. Thank you Bella, we'll see again soon.

[K-enter] "Golden" Tops Apple Music U.S. Daily Top 100

2025/08/07 15:37

And, today's first K-enter story is in fact on a new record, related to the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack? “Golden” claimed the No.1 spot on Apple Music’s U.S. Daily Top 100 chart, the highest ranking ever for a K-pop song on this chart. Unlike Billboard, which accounts for radio, physical sales, and digital downloads, this chart is purely based on streaming data from the U.S. listeners, making it a tough milestone for K-pop artists. Along with “Golden,” two other songs from “KPop Demon Hunters” made it into the top 10 -“Your Idol” at No.8 and “Soda Pop” at No.9. Beyond the U.S., “Golden” also topped Apple Music charts in many countries, including Korea, Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands. “Golden” is still my go-to song. Let’s continue with K-pop and records. Which artist are we talking about next? BTS Jimin has set a major record on the U.S. Spotify chart. According to the latest update from Spotify, Jimin’s second album “MUSE” has surpassed 400 million streams on the U.S. Spotify chart. “Who,” a single released back in July 2024, has also spent 33 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. Jimin was discharged from his military service in June and is set to make a full BTS comeback next spring. Can’t wait for that! And we will now move onto a Netflix series that Bella you recently enjoyed. I'm actually in the middle of it. So, no spoilers! Korean Netflix series “Trigger: Limited Series” is gaining immense popularity in its second week of release. According to Netflix, the series recorded 5 million views last week, ranking 2nd in the Global Top 10 Non-English Shows. It also proved its popularity by securing a spot on the Top 10 lists in 45 countries worldwide, including France, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. “Trigger: Limited Series” is an action thriller set around the appearance of illegal firearms of unknown origin and constant gun incidents in Korea. The series stars Kim Nam-gil and Kim Young-kwang. And we will end today’s K-enter with an unfortunate loss of a Korean artist. Lee Min, a member of the female R&B duo, As One, has died unexpectedly at the age of 46. According to a representative from her agency, Brand New Music, on Wednesday, Lee was found dead at her home on Tuesday afternoon. The agency added that the police are currently investigating on the exact circumstances. Lee Min was a Korean-American who debuted in 1999 with As One’s first album “Day By Day.” The duo gained popularity with their hit songs such as “Desire and Hope,” “I’m Fine” and “Wish You Wouldn’t Know.” Our hearts are with her family and friends. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

K-wave AI News

2025/08/07 15:36

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Global interest in Korean literature has surged following author Han Kang's Nobel Prize win last year. According to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, sales of Korean books translated or supported by the institute reached roughly 1.2 million copies last year, marking a 130% jump from 2023. The average number of copies sold per title surpassed 1,270, the highest since the institute began tracking data. Other Korean authors are also gaining steady international traction, with "Cursed Bunny" by Chung Bo-ra and "Kim jiyoung, born 1982" by Cho Nam-joo both selling over 4,000 copies annually for three consecutive years. The government will begin distributing 2.1 million discount vouchers for performances and exhibitions this Friday as part of efforts to boost Korean citizens' cultural engagement and consumption. The program includes performance coupons offering a 10,000-won discount and exhibition coupons with a 3,000-won discount. The vouchers will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through five online platforms: NOL Interpark, Melon Ticket, Time Ticket, Ticket Link, and YES24. They must be used by September 19 and apply only to performances and exhibitions scheduled before November 30. World-renowned pianist Paik Kun-woo will perform in Korea's southwestern city of Gwangju this fall to mark the release of his first Mozart album. The concert, set to take place at the National Asia Culture Center on October 23, will feature some of Mozart's most beloved works, including Piano Sonatas Nos. 10 and 12, as well as popular pieces such as "Rondo" and "Fantasia." Paik, who marks the 69th anniversary of his debut this year, remains one of Korea's most celebrated pianists, with a distinguished international career and multiple accolades from prestigious global competitions. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

'Dive into Gwangbok': Summer splash in the center of Seoul

2025/08/06 22:47

Downtown Seoul has been transformed into a summer playground to offer the public some fun relief from the blistering heat. Ahn Sung-jin has this report. One last splash before the summer ends. The sweltering days of summer will soon come to an end, but Seoul isn't ready to let go of the season just yet, especially here in Gwanghwamun Square. "In this scorching August heat, those that are trying to escape the heat are taking the chance to cool off in the water." From water slides to water buckets, the location has lots of attractions for visitors to enjoy. "I came here with my mom and two aunts. It was hot outside, but once we got into the water, it felt cool and so much fun." As August 15 is Gwangbokjeol, the 80th anniversary of Korean independence, special activities have also been planned around the theme "Let's dive into Gwangbok." Co-hosted with the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the event also holds booths to raise awareness of the country's struggle for independence. "We got to swim and do some hands-on activities. I even wrote a message celebrating the 80th anniversary of Korean independence." By transforming the urban landscape into a summer playground, the 2025 Seoul Summer Beach offers some relief from the heat in downtown Seoul. "We organized this with the idea of creating a summer getaway right in the middle of the city. We started it to add some fun not only for visitors from around the world, but also for locals. We're glad that so many people came to enjoy it in the heart of Seoul." The event runs until this Friday, so before summer is gone, why not take a dip in Gwanghwamun Square. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Overseas sales of translated Korean books surge following Han Kang's Nobel Prize win

2025/08/06 22:46

Sales of translated Korean books at stores overseas have surged following author Han Kang's winning of the Nobel Prize in Literature last year. According to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea sales of literary works that it supported via translation and publication soared some 1-hundred-30-percent on year in 2024 to amount to around 1-point-2 million books. International sales of Han Kang's 19 works rose five-fold to 1-hundred-50-thousand last year compared to 30-thousand in 2023.

Rosé lands eight nominations for 2025 MTV Video Music Awards

2025/08/06 22:36

BLACKPINK member Rosé has been honored with eight nominations at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. Now eight nominations is the highest number ever for a K-pop solo artist. Rosé has been nominated for "Video of the Year" and "Song of the Year" for her duet "APT." with pop star Bruno Mars among others.

Rosé lands eight nominations for 2025 MTV Video Music Awards

2025/08/06 20:40

BLACKPINK member Rosé has been honored with eight nominations at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. Now eight nominations is the highest number ever for a K-pop solo artist. Rosé has been nominated for "Video of the Year" and "Song of the Year" for her duet "APT." with pop star Bruno Mars among others.

'Read, Walk, Write': students growing up through books

2025/08/06 20:40

Beyond the surge in book sales author Han Kang's Nobel Prize acknowledgement has reignited interest in the art of reading especially within the academic arena. Cha Yun-kyung explains. Students in a school class offer reviews on the works of novelist Han Kang, winner of last year's Nobel Prize in Literature. Some students make videos, while some make props that appear in Han Kang's work, reminding themselves of its meaning. "I could feel the pain of our country as novelist Han Kang shared the heartbreaking story of grief. I began to think deeply about creating positive change in our world." The "Read, Walk, Write" program run by the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education is an integrated educational approach incorporating reading and writing to engage closely with real-life issues. Students get to read the work in English afterward to improve their foreign language skills as well as their understanding of general culture. "My biggest concern at school is always to make students read more. I can feel that reading has become one of the cultural movements among teenagers through the 'Read, Walk, Write' program." Teachers who implemented the program gathered together and shared their achievements of the program. The education office is planning to transform Incheon into a city of learning by fostering the growth of students and society through the program. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Overseas sales of translated Korean books surge following Han Kang's Nobel Prize win

2025/08/06 20:40

Sales of translated Korean books at stores overseas have surged following author Han Kang's winning of the Nobel Prize in Literature last year. According to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea sales of literary works that it supported via translation and publication soared some 1-hundred-30-percent on year in 2024 to amount to around 1-point-2 million books. What's more international sales of Han Kang's 19 works rose five-fold to 1-hundred-50-thousand last year compared to 30-thousand in 2023.

'Dive into Gwangbok': Summer splash in the center of Seoul

2025/08/06 20:39

Downtown Seoul has been transformed into a summer playground to offer the public some fun relief from the blistering heat. Now this is according to my colleague Ahn Sung-jin. Do take a look. One last splash before the summer ends. The sweltering days of summer will soon come to an end, but Seoul isn't ready to let go of the season just yet, especially here in Gwanghwamun Square. "In this scorching August heat, those that are trying to escape the heat are taking the chance to cool off in the water." From water slides to water buckets, the location has lots of attractions for visitors to enjoy. "I came here with my mom and two aunts. It was hot outside, but once we got into the water, it felt cool and so much fun." As August 15 is Gwangbokjeol, the 80th anniversary of Korean independence, special activities have also been planned around the theme "Let's dive into Gwangbok." Co-hosted with the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the event also holds booths to raise awareness of the country's struggle for independence. "We got to swim and do some hands-on activities. I even wrote a message celebrating the 80th anniversary of Korean independence." By transforming the urban landscape into a summer playground, the 2025 Seoul Summer Beach offers some relief from the heat in downtown Seoul. "We organized this with the idea of creating a summer getaway right in the middle of the city. We started it to add some fun not only for visitors from around the world, but also for locals. We're glad that so many people came to enjoy it in the heart of Seoul." The event runs until this Friday, so before summer is gone, why not take a dip in Gwanghwamun Square. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

[K-Correspondent] Tastes of Jeolla, the culinary heartland of Korea, explored in Australia

2025/08/06 16:34

The Jeolla-do region is famous for its rich and diverse cuisine. Not only among locals, but the region is also gaining more and more attention from overseas, with the growing interest in the traditional Korean foods. Today, we go over to Sydney, Australia where a special event took place taking visitors on a culinary journey to Jeolla-do. For more, we now connect to today's K-Correspondent, Kellie Goggins, Marketing Manager of the Korea Tourism Organization Sydney Office. Hello Kellie/ Ms. Goggins! Q1. Kellie, let's start off with a brief introduction of yourself in connection with Korean food and tourism and which event are we talking about today? Q2. Let's go into the details of the event. What was offered there? Q3. Korea is home to many different regional cuisines. Was there a particular reason why you chose the flavors and culture of the Jeolla region as your theme? Q4. The Jeolla region is especially famous for its kimchi, jeotgal (salted/fermented seafood), gochujang (chili paste) and doenjang (soybean paste). How has the response by visitors been to such staple, yet unique Korean tastes? Q5. The Jeolla region, which is made up of Jeollanam-do Province and Jeollabuk-do Province, is not only famous for its cuisine, but also as a tourist destination. So, you also decided to introduce the region itself by combining the elements of food and travel? Q6. Let's now talk a bit about the Korean wave in Sydney. How has the popularity of hallyu taken shape there and which aspects of Korean culture are getting the most attention? Q7. Let's end with some final words on what you hope to achieve through the promotion of the values and charm of the Jeolla-do region. Thank you very much Kellie for taking us and of course the local visitors on this tasty trip to the culinary heartland of Korea. Thank you Bella, we'll have you right back here again tomorrow.

[K-enter] Lee Byung-hun to receive Tribute Award at Toronto Int'l Film Festival

2025/08/06 15:35

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Bella, let's start off with an exciting story on Korean actor Lee Byung-hun. Lee Byung-hun is set to receive a Tribute Award at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (also known as TIFF). The Toronto Film Festival announced on its website the four honourees of the 'TIFF Tribute Awards.' Lee Byung-hun was named alongside Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, Japanese filmmaker HIKARI, and American actress Jodie Foster. Lee was praised as a "global star who has achieved significant success in both Korean and Hollywood films and series." Along with Lee's award, his latest film, "NO OTHER CHOICE," directed by Park Chan-wook, has also been invited to the festival. This year's TIFF will run from September 4th to 14th in Toronto, Canada. Congratulations to Lee Byung-hun! We will now talk about two K-pop groups doing amazing on Billboard charts? First off, TOMORROW X TOGETHER have swept the U.S. Billboard charts with their latest release. According to the latest Billboard charts, the group's fourth full-length album, "The Star Chapter: TOGETHER," has topped three charts -the 'Top Album Sales,' 'Top Current Album Sales,' and 'World Albums' charts. The album also made an impressive debut at No. 3 on the 'Billboard 200.' Meanwhile, TOMORROW X TOGETHER will kick off their fourth world tour "TOMORROW X TOGETHER WORLD TOUR" on August 22nd and 23rd at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. The other group is a girl group doing great on Billboard, with a great "strategy", right? TWICE's "Strategy" has climbed to a new peak of No.74 on the Billboard 'Hot 100.' The song, originally released back in December 2024, debuted at No.92 on the chart last week after being included on the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack. Notably, this achievement broke their own best record on the Billboard 'Hot 100.' Additionally, "Takedown," an original "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack, sung by Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung also rose to No.67 on the 'Hot 100.' Finally, a K-pop artist who's been on Billboard for months, Rosé. BUT today's news is something else? Rosé has secured eight nominations at this year's MTV Video Music Awards (also known as VMAs). According to the list of nominees announced by MTV VMAs on its website, Rosé is up for 'Video of the Year,' 'Song of the Year,' 'Best Collaboration,' 'Best Pop,' 'Best Direction,' 'Best Art Direction' and 'Best Visual Effects' with her hit song "APT." featuring Bruno Mars. She also received a nomination for the 'Best K-pop' category with her solo track "Toxic Till the End." Rosé posted on Instagram saying that she is "beyond shocked" and "absolutely speechless." EIGHT nominations! Please keep us updated with the result as well. Thank you Bella for today's stories. Let's now go over to our AI anchor Ari, for more on the culture front. Ari!

K-wave AI News

2025/08/06 15:34

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Daejeon's iconic summer event, the Daejeon Zero O'Clock Festival kicks off this Friday. This year's event features a time-travel theme linking the city's past, present, and future, with each zone offering programs tailored to its unique character. More than 5,900 artists from across the country are set to perform, with grand parades and mass sing-alongs in store for visitors. To ensure public safety, the city plans to deploy an average of 250 security personnel per day and implement traffic control measures around the venue. A section of the Geomunoreum lava flow path will be temporarily opened for guided tours this month. The Geomunoreum Lava Tube System is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site formed from eruptions that occurred some 300,000 years ago. From August 14 to 18, visitors will be able to walk a 3.5-hour course tracing the historic lava route. Meanwhile, access to the summit section of the Gwaneumsa Trail on Jeju's Hallasan Mountain will be restricted from September 15 to October 31 due to maintenance work. Three of Korea's leading low-voiced opera singers, bass Youn Kwang-chul, bass-baritone Samuel Youn, and baritone Kim Ki-hoon, will join forces for a special concert titled "Sing Low and Soft." The performances will take place at the Seoul Arts Center on August 23 and the Cheongju Arts Center the following day. At a press conference, the singers expressed hope that their collaboration would encourage more bold and creative ventures in Korea's classical music scene, saying their project could serve as a "model case" for the industry. The program will feature iconic arias from classic operas, including Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro," and Verdi's Don Carlos. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[NEWs GEN] Lifelike Baby Dolls: Why reborn dolls have sparked viral craze

2025/08/06 13:33

[NEWs GEN] Lifelike Baby Dolls: Why reborn dolls have sparked viral craze

Ozzy Osbourne died of heart attack, death certificate reveals

2025/08/06 11:39

Heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne died of a heart attack, coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease. That's according to the his death certificate which was obtained by The New York Times on Tuesday. The former Black Sabbath frontman died on July 22 at the age of 76 and was best known for his unique heavy metal voice, outrageous acts and his absurd MTV series "The Osbournes." Osbourne's funeral was held in the city of Birmingham, England on July 30.

[K-Travel] Where to travel in Korea this summer? Part 5: Jeonju Hanok Village

2025/08/05 16:34

For the past month, we have been introducing you to some of the most popular places to visit during summer in Korea. In our fifth and final K-Travel segment for this season, we go down to Jeollabuk-do Province’s city of Jeonju, home to the largest traditional hanok village in Korea, “Jeonju Hanok Village”. To tell us more about this place, we connect to Mai, a Youtuber and Jeonju guide! Hello Mai! Q1. Mai, for people who might have missed your appearance on the show back in May, please introduce yourself briefly and tell us what you’ve been up to as the first non-Korean who got the Miss Chunhyang title, at this year's Global Miss Chunhyang contest! Q2-1. Let’s now talk about today’s K-Travel destination, “Jeonju Hanok Village”. The village has some 700 traditional Korean houses called hanok. First off, for our foreign viewers, could you briefly explain what hanok refers to? Q2-2. Please tell us about your very first visit to the Jeonju Hanok Village. How is the place different from other places in Korea and what impressed you the most? Q3. If you had to recommend must-see spots to (foreign) tourists visiting the village, where would you pick? Q4. People visiting Jeonju in summer might be a little concerned about the hot weather. Where would be some places to enjoy the city or the hanok village and cool off at the same time? Q5. Mai, you love to wear the traditional Korean hanbok clothing (like the ones you wore during the Miss Chunhyang beauty pageant contest and on our show the last time). There is a strong association between Jeonju and hanbok. Do you have any tips on how to enjoy wearing hanbok in Jeonju and the hanok village? Q6-1. Jeonju is renowned for its delicious food. The city is often dubbed Korea’s “culinary capital”. Jeonju bibimbap is the most iconic dish, as you can already hear from the name, but there is so much more. Mai, what are some of the most popular foods there? Q6-2. And what would you recommend to eat during the summer specifically? Q7. If you’d had to plan a one-day trip for a foreign friend to Jeonju in summer, what would that day look like? How can one fully experience the charm of Jeonju? Thank you very much Mai for taking us to the beautiful city of Jeonju and its hanok village. Thank you Walter, we'll see you back soon.

[K-Enter] Jung Woo-sung reportedly registers marriage with long-term partner

2025/08/05 15:37

Starting off with interesting news on actor Jung Woo-sung. According to local news outlet MyDaily, actor Jung Woo-sung has registered his marriage to his long-time non-celebrity partner. Jung Woo-sung faced public scrutiny last year after it was revealed that the actor had a child out of wedlock with model Moon Ga-bi , also announcing that he does not have plans to marry Moon. During the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Jung publicly addressed the matter, saying, "I deeply apologise for the concern and disappointment caused to those who have supported and believed in me." Jung Woo-sung has made no statement on this current matter, and his agency, Artist Company, said on Tuesday "We kindly ask for restraint regarding excessive attention and speculation about his personal affairs." Next up, an update on a story we covered recently on BoA. Celebrating 25 years since her debut, "Queen of K-pop" BoA released her 11th full-length album "Crazier" on Monday. BoA's agency SM Entertainment described the album as "a meaningful project commemorating BoA's 25th anniversary," calling it "a reflection of her musical journey and a bridge that connects the emotions and stories shared with her longtime fans, 'Jumping BoA.'" The album includes 11 tracks, featuring the title song "Crazier" as well as "Clockwise," a special fan song dedicated to those who have supported her throughout her career. Reflecting on her milestone, BoA shared, "It doesn't feel drastically different, but there are moments when I think, 'Wow, has it really been 25 years?'" She added, "This is my first studio album in five years since "Better," and I wanted to try different things to show fans new sides of me and a wider range of vocal tones. I really hope they like it." Let's end off with a release of another album. and I have to say, for this one, the music video has been making quite the headlines? Singer 10CM has unveiled the music video for his fifth studio album "5.0", featuring a distinctive and creative concept. The 47 minute video seamlessly connects all 12 tracks from the album, including the double title songs " / CDEFG" which translates to "Love has six strings" and "Monday Is Coming," into one continuous visual narrative. Aiming to create what he calls "convenience store-style music," 10CM envisioned a playlist that's easy to access and enjoy anytime, much like a 24-hour convenience store. 10CM is also set to hold a solo concert titled "5.0" in Seoul on August 9. I have to say I love the idea, especially in a world where everything is becoming shorter and shorter, Thanks for that news Walter. Now let's move over to our AI anchor Ari for more on the culture front. Ari!