Why ‘Call It Love’ Gives Us the Feels
Feel the love and pain that comes with life in the new 16-part Disney+ K-Drama, “Call It Love.” Discover more about the show and its message here!
Korean Sci-fi film ‘Jung_E’ tops Netflix charts
Netflix original film ‘Jung_E’ captures the attention of viewers worldwide. Set in a dystopian future, director Yeon Sang-ho's new film is a certified hit in the vain of similar Korean sci-fi films. Learn more about the film here!
To Binge or not to Binge?
Streaming companies like Disney+ are keying into the viewing habits of customers with their new suite of shows available to stream. These shows will be batched out in waves so viewers can enjoy them as they please while still allowing for anticipation for future releases. Read more here!
Revenge: K-drama exposes school violence
K-drama, The Glory, shows the omnipresent problem that is school bullying. The success of the show has led many fans internationally to begin campaigns to uncover the abuse and end it. Discover more about the movement here!
Woodstock to spread peace and love in Korea
For the first time, legendary music festival Woodstock will be in Korea. While the lineup has not been fully revealed, about 30 performances are expected to occur. Read more about the festival here!
The Little Cellist: 11-year-old prodigy takes First Prize
At the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Russia, 11-year old Korean cellist Kim Jung-a won first prize. There were a total of 128 contestants from 14 countries who participated in the piano, violin, and cello categories this year. Discover more about their achievement here!
BTS reclaims Billboard: And other popular K-pop music
Billboard 200 has a number of K-pop groups topping the charts, but the surprise hit is BTS reentering with a song from 2017. Read more about their unstoppable success and the latest K-pop groups with highly anticipated releases here!
The K-pop Comeback: Returning from Military Service
With mandatory military service stopping many of the top K-pop idol’s activities, members from EXO, SHINee, and others will be finishing their service and coming back to entertainment this year to much excitment and hype. Learn more about when your favorite K-pop stars will be back here!
Top Movies to Watch for Lunar New Year
Here’s a list of the top 16 global movies to keep you busy this Lunar New year. No matter what kind of genre you're interested in, you'll find something you like here! Check this list out to make picking something for movie night easy.
Kkondaes at Work: GenZ and Millennials Battle at the Office
"MZ Office", a new segment on SNL Korea, sheds light on passive aggressive confrontations among millennials and Gen Z in the office. The sketch series uses the term "kkondae" which normally refers to baby boomers. However, it has evolved to include all age groups. Learn more about the show here!
Cursed Bunny and other Popular K-Books
Translated literary works won or were nominated for four awards outside of Korea this year. More than 150 works in 27 languages were published overseas and they showed growing diversification of genres from science fiction to fantasy and mystery. Discover more about the growing popularity of Korean literature here!
Painting With Music: The Visual Pianist
Pianist Kim Su Yeon is the first Asian winner of the Concours Musical International de Montréal. The Salzburg-based pianist will meet local audiences through a five-concert series. Read more about her work and upcoming debut album here!
All-In-One Makeover Photo Studios for Everyone
Photo studios are evolving into one-stop beauty shops offering makeovers and photo shoots. Despite the high cost, makeover photo shoots deliver what young generations want. Learn more about these photo studios here!
Heart of a Moon Jar: Connecting through Art
Follow Korean artist Kang Ik-joong as he explains his creative inspiration for his latest exhibition “The Moon is Rising” and his view on the role of an artist. Learn more about his artwork here!
Shamanism Without Prejudice
Jeong Ho-geun is a 58-year-old veteran actor, who put his acting career on hiatus to pursue the career of a shaman. He is currently fighting the prejudice of shamanism being considered a bad custom that should be eradicated. Discover more about him here!
A Bittersweet End for Disney+
Steaming service Disney+’s reality show, "The Zone: Survival Mission," remained on the Korean top 10 chart since its first entry. This show captured audience attention but failed to leave a mark on international audiences. Read more about the future of Korean streaming here!
Respecting Life on Canvas: Kim Byung-Jong
Kim Byung-jong's paintings are an homage to the preciousness of life. He was drawn to the theme of life in the 1990s following a serious accident that nearly took his life. An exhibition commemorating Kim's artistic career opened at the Namwon Museum. Discover more about Kim here!
K-Drama romance “Ditto” presents the future of first love
"Ditto" is a remake of a 2000's hit romance sci-fi film of the same title. Yeo Jin-goo and Kim Hye-yoon star as university student Yong and Han-sol respectively. While director Yeo Dong-bin felt pressure from the success of the original film, she chose to write and direct the project because of the power of the original source material. Discover more about the film here!
Yang Hae-gue, Korean Contemporary Artist, Internationally Recognized in Art Compass
Korean installation artist Yang Hae-gue ranks 93rd on The Kunstkompass’s annual top 100 artists list. She won the 13th Benesse Prize for her moving sculptures at this year’s Singapore Biennale. Discover more about her and her work here!
Louis Vuitton Fashion House Collabs with Korean Artists
Korean artist Park Seo-bo's seminal Ecriture painting has been turned into one of Louis Vuitton's iconic Capucines bags. Park is the first Korean artist to collaborate with the French luxury brand for the Artycapucines collection. To learn more about this painting, keep reading!
How Fiction Re-Imagines a Royal Mystery
The upcoming thriller "The Owl" adds imagination to historical record about Crown Prince Sohyeon's suspicious death. In the movie, Kyeong-soo, played by Ryu Jun-yeol, is a day-blind acupuncturist in the palace that witnesses the Crown Prince’s death. Read more about the film here!
MetaFashion in Your Digital Wardrobe
South Korean designers are dipping their toes into the world of metafashion, with the government launching its first-ever digital wardrobe. 30 outfits are planned to be completed with model line-up being A-list actress Han Sun-hwa, singer Ravi, and model Jaesi. Read more here!
Unseen Sides of Busan Biennale 2022
Take a train to Busan to see the city’s new art showcase. Based on the natural beauty of Busan, artists from all over will be taking part in this event to celebrate the city. Find out how these artists combine architecture with art in this article!
Poetry Connection: a translation of Seoul into words
Two masterclass poets join together to disuss their interpretations of life and love. Read about Kim Hye-soon and Don Mee Choi’s shared experiences and reflections here.
Seoul-Art where the center of artist expression beats
Internationally renowned art comes together for two of the biggest art fairs in Korea, Frieze Seoul and Korean International Art Fair. At these exhibits, visitors will be able to see the works of Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and many more. Learn about the exhibits here.
Park Dae-sung's ink-and-wash paintings
Korean artist Park Dae-sung's new exhibition, Ink and Soul, has been sweeping the international art community. Check out the traditional ink style reinvented here.
Fashion Beyond Gender how K-pop is expanding fashion expression
Chanel has never officially produced a full menswear collection, but G-Dragon's daring look has proved that Chanel is not limited to a single gender. Learn more about how Korean fashion designers are changing the game!
Moon You: From 2D to 4D
Webtoons are the movies of the future according to Korean tech company CJ 4DPLEX. With innovations in the 4D movie experience, the Korean company wants to introduce a lower cost alternative to the action-packed movies that viewers can already see. Learn more about the future of Korean cinema here!
Artist Ryu Sung-sil Takes on Capitalism in new Interactive Art Exhibit
Ryu Sung-sil's 'The Burning Love Song' lays bare primal desire for wealth prevalent in Korea's neoliberal market economy. The artist saw that such an obsession with an elite upbringing and wealth could speak to one aspect of Korea's particular economic sensibilities, as the country's rapid growth brought equally swift changes to people's financial statuses. Read more to discover how art informs the Korean social discourse.
Korean Animator & Illustrator Brings Music in Color
Seo In-ji talks working for musicians around the world, creating her own style. Seoul-based illustrator and animator Seo In-ji has worked for the likes of Girls’ Generation, Red Velvet and NCT Dream. The Korean artist based in the UK brings a global perspective to her work with non-traditional elements like voluptuous women, cute in bright colors, and having fun. What does her more boy accepting art mean for the SK art scene future as a whole? Read along here.
Illegal Tattoo Artists Gain Global Hype
Insider spoke to seven South Korean tattoo artists about the paradox at the core of their profession, as they build up social-media presences to attract customers but hide their workshops in basements to avoid drawing the scrutiny of the law. South Korean tattoo artist Ilwol Hongdam has inked close to 4,000 people in the last 10 years, many of whom flew into Seoul just to see him. Read more about the controversial body art here.
Hanbok dresses the spirit of Korean history
Clothing is an extension of our self-image. It helps define who we are and where we have been. South Korea Hanbok, have evolved into various styles throughout history. Although once only used traditionally Hanbok continues to influence modern style and art. Learn more about the traditional garb, and it's intrinsic link to Korean culture and couture here.
Game Developers Battle Over International Market
A battle over play-to-earn (P2E) games in South Korea between the government and the industry has yet to show any signs of stopping as authorities continue to ban the game genre for its speculative nature. But does harsher regulation on mobile games like this negatively affect Koreas P2G exports in the global market? Discover more here.
Virtual humans expand territory in real world
Virtual humans are taking an active part in the real world, expanding their influence in various sectors such as advertising, music, commerce, and education. Digital humans are expected to increase their presence as the cost to development continues to reduce. What other applications can AI personas have in our digitally transformed work and living spaces?
'Taekwon, Fly Up!’ presents charm of taekwondo with music and dance
Korean cultural exports continue to expand beyond just pop music and TV dramas. 'Taekwon, Fly Up' is the latest musical winning over hearts and minds. Complete with not only the traditional musical singing and dancing this musical also included taekwondo routines and athletic displays. Could a Korean musical be playing by you soon? Read more here.
Artist Interview ‘Look out for K-crafts’
Over the last few years, Korean products have taken the world by storm. Consuming K-Pop, K-Dramas, and K-Beauty, little is yet known about Korean craft arts outside of Korea. Kim Eun-bi is determined to solve that problem with the opening of Kohip, an e-commerce platform service for promoting and selling traditional craft products with modern designs.
