🇰🇷 Versace On The Floor? No, Gucci At The Airport! ✈️

GAME OF THE WEEK

Find Your Fandom Type & The Celebs You're Most Compatible With

K-Pop

🏟️ Bring Your Lightsticks To K-Pop Concerts’ Newest Stage - The Cinema!

Dyllan 🐼Not every fan will have the opportunity to see their favorite K-Pop group live at a concert. However, with the help of K-Pop concert films, the concert experience can now be felt at fans’ local cinemas! Currently, groups like SEVENTEEN, BLACKPINK, and TXT have films ready to release with performances of their hit songs and heartfelt narrations for their avid supporters. This isn’t a new occurrence, however, in juggling finances, other commitments, and the lack of blockbusters, concert films have come at the perfect time to the joy of K-Pop fans worldwide.

👑 Guess Who’s Back? Back Again…The YG Queens Are Back, Tell Your Friends!

Kay 🥑We didn’t stutter. The YG queens are indeed back. YG Entertainment just announced that not only would world-class artists BLACKPINK be making a comeback and be heading on a global tour in 2025… But also announced that 2NE1, the legendary performance queens, would be reuniting for a global tour that will start in Seoul in October. This tour also serves as a celebration of their 15th debut anniversary. As many disbanded 2nd generation groups have been reuniting, the anticipation following this particular announcement has been through the roof.

🎤 ENHYPEN Brightly Shine Atop The Billboard 200 Charts

Dyllan 🐼Considered as one of the leaders of their generation, ENHYPEN have been on an upward trajectory since their debut. This hasn’t changed in the slightest with their most recent album, “ROMANCE : UNTOLD”, as it debuted at no. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. With this entry, the album has become the group’s highest-charting album yet! The album has received a hot response from the K-Pop community worldwide, cementing ENHYPEN’s foothold at the top of the industry.

🌎 Are K-Pop Fans Ready For Latinx And British K-Pop Groups? JYP And SM Entertainment Have The Answers

Kay 🥑As K-Pop has gained global recognition over the years, entertainment companies have diversified their strategies to appeal to international K-Pop fans. One of these strategies has been localization, in which they create K-Pop groups that are based in their home countries outside of korea (e.g. groups like NiziU in Japan, or VCHA in the United States). It seems like both JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment are aiming to expand this venture globally to Latin America and the United Kingdom, respectively. Would you be interested in stanning these kinds of K-Pop groups?

😍 Kang Daniel May Be Back Sooner Than You Think!

Ishani 🎀We love, adore and respect Kang Daniel in this house but most of all, we miss him! After going through a rough patch with shutting down his company Konnect Entertainment due to embezzlement by a major shareholder, Kang Daniel is moving on towards a bright future with Artistic Round Alliance (ARA), founded by a member of Konnect. Talk about loyalty! This could mean possible comebacks soon as well as other projects. Are we the only ones hoping for his screen comeback? The possibilities are endless and so is Kang Daniel’s talent and potential. We cannot wait to see what he has in store for us next.

K-Drama & K-Movie & K-Variety

🏆 BLACKPINK’s Jennie Officially Has An Emmy Nominated Show In The Bag

Ishani 🎀As much controversy as “The Idol” created at the time of its release, it definitely had an impact. Now, it has even made its way to the Emmys! “The Idol” was nominated for an Emmy in the “Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming” category for ‘World Class Sinner’. One of the most viral scenes from the show was Lily-Rose Depp and BLACKPINK’s Jennie dancing to the song. So, BLINKs have all the bragging rights!

🏠 “Sweet Home 3” Is Right At Home On The Netflix Global Top 10 List

Dyllan 🐼The final chapter to the “Sweet Home” saga was finally released - and to roaring success! “Sweet Home 3” managed to live up to expectations, earning a spot on Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) list. Netizens were overjoyed to see the likes of Song Kang, Lee DoHyun, Go MinSi, and so much more grace their screens for one last time heading into the show’s final season. Data also shows that “Sweet Home” has only risen in popularity with every installment, with season 3 garnering the largest global interest. It’s sad to see such an iconic series end, but fans are happy to have been along for the ride.

🤝 Will TVING Merge With Wavve To Challenge Netflix Korea?

Ishani 🎀Talks to merge Korea's major streaming services, TVING and Wavve, have been ongoing for seven months without a resolution. Major shareholders remain committed, but detailed agreements, such as the merger ratio, are pending. Initial disputes were settled in April but complex shareholding structures and financial issues complicate the negotiations. Despite these challenges, industry officials anticipate a merger deal before November, as Wavve's content contracts with major broadcasters expire soon, pressuring stakeholders to finalize the agreement to avoid losing bargaining power.

K-Beauty

🧊 Get A Refresh & Lovely Smell In One Swipe? The Popular Item Of The Moment

Laure 🌼With the summer season and the rain in Seoul, it is both humid and hot. We are sweating! One of the most popular products used this summer is the “Super Cooling Powder Sheet.” This sheet gives you a refreshing feeling on your skin while making it smell the scent of your choice. The available options are flowery, soap, or lemongrass, depending on the brand. It is designed to give you a nonsticky feeling. Koreans I spoke with mentioned that they keep them in their handbags and use them when needed. It seems like they might be in my next shopping cart.

K-Fashion

⚡ Power Up!: Get Ahead Of The Trend With NewJeans' Power Ranger Chic As Inspiration

Kay 🥑NewJeans has done it again in terms of trendsetting! This time, they brought ‘Power Ranger chic’ to the forefront. With an emphasis on sportiness and free-spiritedness, the members rocked tracksuits in different colors with bold designs, and struck Power Ranger-esque poses that channeled the impactful dynamic of the superhero group. There’s no doubt that friend groups or even individual fashion enthusiasts will be channeling this look in no time, as typically happens when NewJeans rocks a new fashion look.

✈️ Versace On The Floor? No, Gucci At The Airport!

Ishani 🎀Over the past week, three extremely handsome and incredibly talented K-Pop idols turned heads with their airport fashion and caught our eye. ZEROBASEONE’s Kim JiWoong sported a white sleeveless vest with cream pants and Gucci shades, on his way to KCON LA. He had a blue Gucci overshirt on but took it off (it did cool him down but turned the heat up for fans). Fellow ZB1 member Sung HanBin was spotted in a white Gucci cardigan on his way to KCON LA and he was also carrying a Gucci crossbody bag. The same week, Kang Daniel donned a white Gucci long-sleeved tee on his way to Japan for a scheduled activity. Gucci in white is definitely a fine look on these gentlemen!

K-Travel

🌴 The Rain Is Not Stopping To Go To Jeju Island

Laure 🌼 Jeju Island is a popular local tourist destination in all seasons. Despite the heavy rain of the past few days, it hasn't stopped people from traveling to the island. Visit Jeju has even made special recommendations for tourists visiting during this season. You might wonder, what is there to do in the rain? They suggest exploring beautiful cypress and cedar tree forests, which are filled with a rich scent of phytoncides on rainy days. You can also visit an underground exhibition hall featuring a large media exhibition, relax in a jacuzzi with Korean tea, or enjoy a traditional hanok design cafe. Nothing is stopping you from going to Jeju.

👻 Time For Spooky Ghost Summer With The Ghouls

Dyllan 🐼Some people beat the summer heat with a dip in the water or refreshing treats. Others choose to scare the heat right out of them. If you prefer this method, you’ll be excited to find out that the Korean Folk Village will be launching “Horror Village In The Dead” from July 26th. The village will make its frightening transformation from 16:00 KST ~ 24:00 KST until August 25th. During this time, ghosts will be creeping around every corner, along with various spooky events and participating restaurants that serve spine-chilling dishes like eyeball-topped shaved ice. Are you brave enough to meet these ghouls.

⚱️ Gaja! Gaja! To Learn About Korean History & Culture

Laure 🌼The National Museum of Korea announced that they had an increase in foreign visitors, reaching a record high! They welcomed 94,951 foreign visitors in the first half of the year, which is 34.5% more than last year. However, local visitors decreased during the same period.

Tourists are interested in learning more about Korean culture and history. The National Museum, which also has a garden, includes paintings, artifacts, statues, celadons, pagodas, and much more from diverse periods of Korean history. It provides a deep look of all the periods while showcasing must-see items such as the Silla gold crown, Pensive Bodhisattva, Ten-Story Pagoda from Gyeongcheonsa Temple, Goryeo celadon incense burner, and more.

K-Food

🍨 I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Yogurt Ice Cream!

Dyllan 🐼This summer we’ve seen Dubai chocolate and crookies rise in popularity, but did you know yogurt ice cream has too? In particular, Yoajung’s yogurt ice cream, served with various toppings, is a hit in the taste and visual department. The treat became viral on social media thanks to uploads from influencers and stars like NMIXX’s HaeWon sharing their favorite toppings. Not only is it a great way to combat rising temperatures, but it also offers some additional health benefits that anyone would love.

K-Society

🐟 Looking For A Gift? Koreans Say “Good Luck Fish”

Laure 🌼Do you know about aekmaki myeongtae (액막이 명태)? It is roughly translated as "good luck fish." You are probably familiar with the dried pollock (명태) that some Koreans dry in their homes. While it is used to cook delicious dishes, it also holds traditional significance as it is believed to protect the house from negative energy. When starting a new business or moving into a new house, it is often gifted or prepared for this purpose.

Although this practice is very traditional, these days the trend is to give "Good Luck Fish" made out of wood, gold, or fabric. These are bought for cars, houses, and more, and come in all colors and sizes. There are an increasing number of options available on the market.

🏳️‍🌈 Love Is Winning Slowly But Surely As Korea Starts Recognizing The Rights Of LGBTQI+ Couples

Kay 🥑South Korea is known for its conservative nature, especially in the face of LGBTQI+ issues. This has lead to a lot of frustration in the queer community as they don’t have equal rights to straight people in many aspects of society. However, recently, Korea took one big step forward into acknowledging said rights. In a landmark ruling, a Korean same-sex couple was granted eligibility for spousal coverage under the National Health Insurance, which they did not have before as same-sex marriages are still not recognized in the country. This goes to show that a win is a win and love always wins!

🐾 More New Dog Moms in Korea Than Paw Papas

Laure 🌼As you may have heard, at the end of 2023, the sales of pet strollers in Korea surpassed those of baby strollers. This trend reflects not only the falling birthrate but also the increasing interest among Koreans in raising dogs. If you take a stroll through the streets in Korea, you can't miss seeing pets in their strollers.

Did you know that women make up a major part of the new pet owners? According to recent data, 60.9% of new pet owners are women, with the majority being in their 40s, followed by those in their 30s. It seems like we'll be seeing more and more "dog moms" on the streets of Korea.

K-Webtoon

🥳 10 Years Of Global Naver Webtoon Goodness And We're Excited For More

Kay 🥑That’s right! It’s been 10 years since Naver Webtoon has expanded their webtoon services to reach a global audience. Thanks to their bold decision, international K-Webtoon fans have had access to some of the best imaginative narratives over the past decade. They are currently hosting offline events, with popular Korean webtoon creators present such as Yaongyi (the author of hit webtoon “True Beauty”), in several countries including Taiwan and the United States to celebrate this great feat.

K-Litterature

📔 “Lovely Runner” Is Now A Book AND A Bestselling One At That!

Ishani 🎀Kim HyeYoon and Byeon WooSeok’s timeless romance in “Lovely Runner” may have come to a close but fans still can’t get enough. The scriptbook of the drama, which was released on July 22, is already topping Korea’s bestseller lists, according to Kyobo Book Centre, known as the nation’s largest bookseller. This marks yet another record for “Lovely Runner” as it has become the first-ever K-Drama scriptbook to become a best-seller. SolJae fans stay winning!

Fan Spotlight of the Week

'BURN IT!' & 'Serious' by FTISLAND

Marie from Indonesia 🎸FTISLAND is back with adreline giving songs. Get energy from their new releases! 'BURN IT!' and 'Serious' are a bop and you don't want to miss them. FTISLAND released their 7th album with double title tracks but also beautiful songs.

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