🇰🇷 Hit Me BABY One More Time: The K-Pop Legends Are Back 👶

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K-Pop

🌐 SEVENTEEN Achieve Another ‘First’ Title As UNESCO Ambassadors

Dyllan 🐼SEVENTEEN have garnered many accolades under their belt, but show no signs of slowing down as they achieve another ‘first’ title - this time as UNESCO ambassadors. The boy group were appointed as Goodwill Ambassadors for Youth, making them the first K-Pop act to assume the role. They’ve worked closely with UNESCO in various collaborations over recent years and now, together with the organization, they take on the unique challenge of helping a new generation of young dreamers to overcome modern-day obstacles.

⭐ BLACKPINK’s Jennie Walks For Jacquemus's ‘La Casa’ Cruise Show

Ishani 🎀K-Pop’s resident “it girl” BLACKPINK’s Jennie is making headlines again for her runway debut. The idol/actress closed Jacquemus's ‘La Casa’ cruise show celebrating the brand’s 15-year anniversary. Jennie’s walk was highly lauded by fans and critics alike, proving that Jennie continues to be a multifaceted ace. Jennie was wearing a black crepe sleeveless and backless midi dress paired with a turquoise Le Rond Carré bag and she looked gorgeous, as always.

🏆 Will An Asian Rendition Of The Grammy Awards Be Held In Korea?

Dyllan 🐼The Grammy Awards is a esteemed event that recognizes and awards artists for their exceptional accomplishments in music. An Asian rendition of the event is currently being discussed with Korea as a likely candidate as the host country. The potential for this to be true is high, although concrete details and information has yet to be announced or confirmed. The excitement for this is immense due to the grandeur and prestigious nature of the Grammys.

👶 Hit Me BABY One More Time: The Legends Are Back

Laure 🌼Do the kings of K-Pop include the word “baby” in their fandom names? There are two groups of BABY who will be the happiest with the comeback of their legendary kings. B.A.P are back for their B.A.B.Y (Baby Always Behind You) by announcing a new comeback, and Kim JaeJoong will return at the end of the month with a full-length album to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his debut. His BOSS BABIES can only rejoice.

🤘 It’s Time To Expand Your Playlist - The K-Band Craze Is Hotter Than Ever

Dyllan 🐼While K-Pop is the most well-known genre among the Korean music scene, the K-Band craze is starting to heat up in 2024. Due to Korea’s current festival season, musical lineups have started to include newer bands that add a touch of youthful vigor and are easily able to create fans out of casual listeners. Some artists leading the current K-Band wave include SURL, ONEWE, Lucy, and Silica Gel, among many others.

K-Dramas, Movies & Variety

❤️ “EXchange 2” Couple Lee NaYeon & Nam HeeDoo Revealed To Be Still Going Strong

Ishani 🎀One of the most beloved couples to come out of a Korean dating reality show, Lee NaYeon & Nam HeeDoo from “EXchange 2”, also called “Transit Love 2”, are very much still in love and going strong! NaYeon was seen dining out with HeeDoo in her latest vlog on YouTube, being as adorable as ever. This couple received a lot of love from global fans, who are glad to see that they’re still together. They continue to make headlines in Korea as well, with many fans showering them with adoration.

📈 “Hierarchy” Takes The No. 2 Spot On Netflix Top 10 Non-English TV Shows

Dyllan 🐼Netflix’s newest K-Drama, “Hierarchy”, has premiered to roaring success. The series features a luxurious cast in Roh JeongEui, Lee ChaeMin, Kim JaeWon, Ji HyeWon, and Lee WonJung, among many others. It had a breakout debut weekend, earning it the no. 2 spot on the Netflix Top 10 Non-English TV Shows. With a combination of thrilling mystery and heartfelt romance, it’s easy to see why the drama was able to top the Netflix hierarchy immediately. We’ve even given our own take on some of the highs and lows “Hierarchy” brought to the table.

🎟️ Star-studded Korean Film ”Wonderland” Is A Box Office Hit!

Ishani 🎀“Wonderland” has secured the top spot at the box office on its opening weekend, attracting 460,000 moviegoers. As of now, the movie has a total of 587,958 ticket admissions. “Wonderland” stars some of the top actors of the Korean entertainment industry, such as Park BoGum, Suzy, Gong Yoo, Jung YuMi, Choi WooShik, and the incredible Chinese actress Tang Wei. It is a heart-wrenching philosophical film about artificial intelligence and whether it can recreate the warmth of loved ones.

K-Fashion

🧽 Go KyungPyo Reinvents The Boyfriend Look Serving Scrubbing Sponge Chic

Kay 🥑Everyone and their mother is obsessed with “Frankly Speaking” actor Go KyungPyo’s recent #OOTD’s on Instagram but for different reasons. Recently, Go KyungPyo has been going viral for his reinvention of the boyfriend material look. Rocking his casual but eccentric fashion, he has been creating interesting fashion combinations such as an outfit with a fusion of knits paired with dress shoes that earned his look the term ‘scrubber fashion’ (for resembling a scrubbing sponge). Some netizens are calling him a fashion threat whilst some are loving his creative looks and encouraging him to live his best life. Which side are you on?

K-Beauty

✈️ Lose Weight By Flying Korean Air?

Laure 🌼Korean Air, the number one airline in Korea, will now sell Korea’s leading diet lactobacillus product, Diet Lactobacillus BNRthin S, in their in-flight duty-free shop. This product contains Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17, a probiotic strain that helps maintain a healthy diet and reduces body fat. In-flight shopping is popular because it is convenient, and it seems like many consumers will be looking for this popular product during their travels.

K-Travel

🌳 Get The Scent Of Summer At The Olympic Park

Laure 🌼In Korea, a heat wave is striking the country with temperatures ranging from 30-33°C, including in the capital city. The buildings and asphalt make it difficult for Seoulites to find fresh air and peaceful places to rest. The best places to find an oasis of peace during this hot summer are parks. One of the best parks to visit in the summer is Olympic Park. Built in 1988, it features four zones—arts and culture, recreation and sport, environment, and history—providing all the activities you need for a relaxing weekend.

🌔 Take A Relaxing Night Stroll Through The Palace

Dyllan 🐼For fans of Korea’s rich history that transcends time itself, you might want to set your sights on the Gyeonghui Palace Night Tour. Offered as a weekend event from June 21 - 22, the program is the first of its kind since Gyeonghui Palace opened for visitors. Attendees will be able to learn about the palace’s importance and historical background from a well-versed instructor and author.

🌃 Read or Watch A Movie At Night In Seoul’s Best Tourist Spots

Laure 🌼Hot weather calls for night activities! One of the free events organized is the Seoul Outdoor Night Library, held in three must-see tourist spots in Seoul: Seoul Plaza (in front of City Hall), Gwanghwamun Square, and Cheonggyecheon Stream. Here, you can read books and enjoy film screenings. The event is so well-designed that it attracts around 10,000 visitors every day. Would you want to go too?

K-Food

🍭 No Sugar, No Problem? The Zero Sugar Trend In Korea Reaches New Heights

Kay 🥑What started out as switching out popular Western sodas like Coke and Sprite for their zero-sugar versions, turned into Korean brands also producing zero-sugar alternatives for their products, and has now become, “If it’s not zero, I won’t eat/drink it.” This might seem like an exaggeration, but sales stats for zero-sugar beverages have literally quadrupled over the course of two years. It has gone as far as chicken restaurants using zero-sugar sauces, too. Koreans are calling it ‘healthy pleasure’ where the word ‘zero’ automatically allows them to enjoy their favorite foods and beverages.

🍉 Mini & Pre-Cut Watermelons On Rise: Koreans' Early Summer Obsession

Laure 🌼One of the most popular fruits in summer in Korea is the watermelon! You can see it everywhere, and it features in several recipes for Korean desserts. With the early summer, watermelon sales have increased. While large watermelons are selling well, the demand for mini and pre-cut watermelons is high due to the growth of single or two-person households. Korean supermarkets and convenience stores are ensuring they provide these options. The apple watermelon, which weighs around 1 kg and is known for its high sweetness, is a customer favorite. Do you want to try it? I ordered mine already.

🧯 “Can’t Take The Heat? Get Out Of The Kitchen!” Seems Like An Exaggeration As The Danish Get Buldak Ramyeon Recalled For Scientific Reasons

Kay 🥑Samyang Buldak Ramen is famous (or infamous depending on your spice tolerance) for its extra spicy and fiery ramyeon instant noodles. However, whilst the average Korean has a high tolerance for spice, as the K-Food wave spreads overseas, that might not be the case for fans of the noodle dish. Denmark has recalled Buldak ramyeon from its shelves, citing that the capsaicin (the chemical compound in chili that creates a burning sensation) levels in the product are so high that they could potentially give consumers acute poisoning. Samyang has since stated that there is nothing wrong with the ramyeon.

🥓 Ssamjang Selected As The 19th Best Dip In The World: Samgyeopsal Approves This Message

Kay 🥑Taste Atlas has identified Korean ssamjang as the 19th-best dipping sauce in the world. With sauces like guacamole (from Mexico), tzatziki (from Greece), and hummus (from Lebanon) as part of the top ten, ssamjang beats out popular sauces like chutney (from India & South Africa) and tartare sauce (from France) with its spot on the list. A combination of gochujang (red pepper paste) and doenjang (fermented soybean paste), this delicious sauce is the perfect pairing for samgyeopsal (barbequed pork belly). Samgyeopsal wholeheartedly approves this message!

K-Society

🛑 Another NO GO Zone: This Time… No Ahjummas Allowed!

Kay 🥑Korea’s restrictions on how its citizens can enjoy society have been growing slowly over time. What started out with ‘no kids’ zones and ‘no pet’ zones, turned into ‘no foreigner’ zones and ‘no senior’ zones, and has now resulted in a new restriction… ‘No ahjumma’ zones. A gym in Incheon went viral for banning middle-aged women from their facilities whilst citing a number of ways for ahjummas to identify themselves such as ‘those who like free things regardless of age’ and ‘those who sit in the designated pregnant woman seats on public transport’. This raises the question, “Will Korea finally get an anti-discriminatory law?”

K-Lit

📖 “Dune” Director Denis Villeneuve May Be Working On An Adaptation Of A Korean Short Story Next

Ishani 🎀 Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote, directed, and produced the “Dune” movies, is working on his next screenplay, and sources suggest that this might be an adaptation of Korean author Kim BoYoung’s science fiction short story “I Am Waiting For You”. Considering the popularity of Korean literature in recent years, such an adaptation is no surprise but very exciting nonetheless. “I Am Waiting For You” is available to read in English in the collection “I'm Waiting for You: And Other Stories” by Kim BoYoung, translated by Sophie Bowman.

📚 Korean Literature Shines at the Paris Olympics

Ishani 🎀The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea announced a series of events in France to promote Korean books during the 2024 Paris Olympics. A permanent exhibition at the Korean Cultural Center in Paris will feature 110 works, including award-winning picture books, web novels (including Jung KyungYoon's “What's Wrong with Secretary Kim?” and Jeo SooRi's “Semantic Erro”'), and translated Korean literary works. Additionally, workshops and book talks with Korean and French authors will take place at various locations in Paris. The Ministry aims to showcase the charm of 'K-books' to European readers, leveraging the Paris Olympics as a cultural platform.