🇰🇷 Kimchi In Danger? Save The Earth, Save Korean Cabbages 🥬

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K-Pop

🎤 TaeYang Is Back With A BIGBANG At His First Solo Concert In 7 Years

Kay 🥑BIGBANG’s TaeYang proved his legendary status at his concert “THE LIGHT YEAR in Seoul”, named affectionately after the astronomical years reflecting the distance he has traveled with his fans. This was his first solo concert since 2017. Naturally, the concert was sold out and fans’ enthusiasm to see the singer perform live was unmatched. With guest performances and appearances from the likes of Jeon SoMi and BIGBANG’s DaeSung and G-Dragon, the show left an impact that fans have been raging about online ever since.

🎶 A New No. 1 Finds Their Way Onto The Music Charts

Dyllan 🐼Following a new album release, DAY6 have managed to claim the no. 1 spot on Melon and several other music charts with the title track, ‘Melt Down’. This is huge in many ways, as this is the first DAY6 song to do so over the band’s nine year career. Additionally, it was able to overtake aespa’s ‘Supernova’, which dominated at the very top for fifteen weeks, and beat out other leading artists such as NewJeans and (G)I-DLE too. Although the Korean music industry is dominated by idol groups and soloists, DAY6 showcases their artistic strength and ability to create music loved by the entire public.

K-Drama & K-Movie & K-Variety

💘 “No Gain No Love” Comes Out On Top As A Must Watch K-Drama

Dyllan 🐼The current lineup of K-Dramas is incredibly entertaining and has taken the entire world by storm. But one series has come out on top, claiming the no. 1 spot: and that is none other than “No Gain No Love”. Viewers can find the rom-com on Amazon Prime, and according to our Global Top 20 K-Dramas & Films chart, it has taken the top spot, beating out ongoing hit shows like “Love Next Door” and “Romance In The House”. It has a mixture of everything from feel-good romance, a hearty helping of comedic relief, and the eternally entertaining trope of contract marriage. One episode will be all it takes to know why everyone’s hooked on the drama.

🎬 Where Have Moviegoers Gone During Peak Season?

Dyllan 🐼In previous years, August was considered the peak season for Korean cinema, as audiences flocked to theaters in big crowds, bringing success to various films. However, this year that was far from the case as the total number of moviegoers dropped by around 3 million compared to last year. The only saving grace for the Korean box office was the comedy film, “The Pilot”, which has attracted 4.5 million viewers and counting. As data comes in, critics and analysts point to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it changed audience viewing patterns, in addition to online streaming services for the decline of moviegoers.

K-Travel

👝 New Cost-Effective Korean Souvenirs You Must Get

Laure 🌼Are you familiar with the store Daiso? It’s one of the cheapest shops where you can find just about anything—yes, everything! They’ve just launched a new souvenir series filled with various items showing the colors of Korea, traditional designs, and Hangul. Not only are these souvenirs beautiful, but you can also get some of them for 1 USD. If you’re looking for cost-effective Korean souvenirs, keep in mind to visit Daiso.

✨ Time For Dazzling Nights With Fireflies

Laure 🌼The Muju Firefly Festival has started and will run until September 8. This is a perfect opportunity to witness the breathtaking spectacle of fireflies in their natural environment at night. It feels like the fireflies’ path scene from “Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow” has come to life. It’s a magical time for both adults and children to watch them dance in the dark. The city of Muju has also planned other activities during this period to help visitors learn more about the nature and wildlife in the area.

K-Food

🧋 First Pearl Bokki, Now Jjajang Pearl: Gongcha’s Unique Sauce-Infused Tapioca Pearls Break The Internet

Kay 🥑The famous Korean milk tea franchise, Gongcha, broke the internet earlier in the year when they released their special topping option of tapioca pearls drenched in tteokbokki or mala sauce (‘Pearl Bokki’ or ‘Mara Pearl Bokki’). Many had divided opinions about this unexpected food combination, with many insisting that it was a delicious idea and others claiming that this food fusion is something close to a human rights violation. However, Gongcha has done it again. Gongcha has released tapioca pearls with jjajang (black bean) sauce this time around, calling it ‘Jjajang Pearl’. These are all available either as a side topping cup for your milk tea or as a side on its own.

🍴 Fig Season Is Open!

Laure 🌼 Every week, we like to highlight seasonal fruits, as they’re trending with new desserts and coffee shops promoting their latest delicacies. With the weather finally cooling down, mangoes and watermelons will no longer be the stars of the dessert world. It’s time for figs in bingsu and various other desserts made with this fruit. Would you be tempted?

🍜 No Chewing Needed - A Brand New Way To Eat Naengmyeon

Dyllan 🐼Do you like enjoying a refreshing bowl of pyongyang naengmyeon? Well, you’re in luck, because GS25 has made it possible to take the naengmyeon out of the bowl and has packaged it into beverage form - and the best part? There’s no chewing required. Launched at the end of June, it has already sold 250,000 units and continues to remain a highly sought after product, especially due to the lingering summer heat. GS25 are not alone in turning naengmyeon broth into a beverage, as other restaurants like Apgujeong Myeonok and Bongmila have their own versions, showcasing the rising popularity of pyongyang naengmyeon across all age groups.

K-Society

🪖 Yay For Extra Public Holidays! Armed Forces Day Designated As A Temporary Holiday

Kay 🥑The Korean government has designated an extra public holiday on October 1st. Whilst Armed Forces Day has been observed annually, this year, Koreans and foreigners living in Korea will be able to take the day off of work in commemoration. This decision was taken to emphasize the importance of military defense and the existence of the troops. It is also to increase public awareness about security issues and boost the economy by encouraging spending on the day.

🥬 Kimchi In Danger? Save The Earth, Save Korean Cabbages

Laure 🌼 Climate change is bringing about many changes, and one of its latest victims is napa cabbage, the main ingredient in Korea’s famous and everyday dish, kimchi. This cabbage requires a cool climate, but with rising temperatures, it is becoming increasingly difficult to grow in Korea, especially during the summer. Cabbage farming has already decreased, with the amount of land dedicated to it being half of what it was 20 years ago. As a result, the price of Korean kimchi is rising, and some restaurants are serving kimchi made in China. According to studies, by 2090, no cabbage will be grown in the Korean highlands.

🙅🏻 Chuseok Woes: Korean Thanksgiving Gifts Are Making Koreans Say “No Thanks” Due To Rising Inflation

Kay 🥑As Chuseok (Korea’s Thanksgiving) rolls around, many Koreans are preparing for the long holiday which often involves visiting and buying gifts for their family. These gifts usually include items like vitamin supplement sets, canned food sets, fruit sets, and other specifically designed gift sets that will appeal particularly to elder members of the family. However, whilst it is a tradition to give these gifts annually, the price of them has become a huge turn-off for the general population. This is despite efforts from companies to make these gift sets more affordable but still profitable for themselves.

Intern Diaries From SK

Bethany 🌌This week I visited the Leeum Museum in Itaewon which I thought had a nice balance of ancient relics as well as contemporary artworks and displays. There is also a spiral staircase famous for being a popular Instagram photo spot! At the weekend I also decided to visit some cup-sleeve events for BTS’ JungKook’s birthday as he is my favorite idol. I was super nervous because I had never been to one before and I was also by myself but when I arrived the hosts were very welcoming and I was so happy to receive so many fan-made goodies for free! I also seem to have a lot of luck when it comes to the lucky draws because I came home with so many prizes! If you visit South Korea and are a fan of K-Pop you should definitely make time to visit one of these events, it's a really good opportunity to support your favorite artist as well as make friends with people that have the same interests as you!

Readers' Questions Corner

LaylaI’m curious what each of the editors’ favorite Korean food is!

Dyllan 🐼Galbi jjim! This was the first authentic Korean dish that I had ever tried, so on top of being tasty, it also holds some great memories for me

Kay 🥑 I personally like anything spicy, so a good bowl of gukbap, tteokbokki, or bibim naengmyeon does the trick!

Laure 🌼I’m going to recommend you my new obsession: Pyeonbaek Jjim. It is healthy and delicious.

Do you want to ask us questions? DM or email us!