🇰🇷 Heart Signals At The Han River: Korean Dating Programs Take Things Off-Screen 💘

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K-Pop

🍫 Pepero Here! Pepero There! Covered With NewJeans Pictures

Laure 🌼The big star of Pepero Day this year is none other than NewJeans and its members. Most of the Pepero boxes are covered with their cute faces, featuring group or individual pictures because they are model for the brand. If you're familiar with this day, you'll know that every convenience store has a big display in front dedicated to Pepero and chocolates. With the number of convenience stores in Seoul, you can practically see the members every five-minute walk!

🏆 LE SSERAFIM, First K-Pop Girl Group To Perform And Win 'Best Push' At MTV EMA

Sara 🌊LE SSERAFIM made history at this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards as the first K-Pop girl group to perform and win! Nominated in three categories, they wowed the crowd with their voguing routine to "Chasing Lightning" with 20 dancers, taking home the 'Best Push' award and becoming the first K-Pop girl group to earn this honor. They dedicated the win to their fans with heartfelt thanks. This follows their 'PUSH Performance of the Year' win at the MTV VMAs in September—another record-breaking moment!

🫢 Kim JaeJoong And Kim JunSu Together Again—What's Next For JX?

Max 🪐K-Pop artists Kim JaeJoong and Kim JunSu, performing as JX, celebrated their 20th debut anniversary with the "JX 2024 CONCERT [Identity]" at Seoul’s Olympic Park KSPO Dome, selling out all 30,000 seats over three days. The concert marked their return to the stage together, showcasing powerful performances and revisiting iconic hits that thrilled fans. Supported by a full band, dancers, and vocalists, JX delivered an unforgettable show that highlighted their years of artistry, deeply moving fans and igniting anticipation for their future journey!

K-Drama & K-Movie & K-Variety

☔ There’s Going To Be A ‘Sudden Shower” Of Happy Tears As Byeon WooSeok Is Set To Perform At MAMA 2024

Kay 🥑It has been announced that top actor Byeon WooSeok who saw a spike in popularity thanks to his role as SeonJae in “Lovely Runner” will be performing the song ‘Sudden Shower’ which he performed in the drama at the upcoming 2024 MAMA Awards in Japan. Many fans are anticipating the return of the beloved character SeonJae to the stage, as well as Byeon WooSeok’s live performance and the quality of the performance.

📺 “Mr. Plankton” Enters Netflix Korea’s List Of Top 10 TV Shows

Dyllan 🐼In a week of highly anticipated show releases, “Mr. Plankton” manages to rise above and beyond, placing among the Top 10 TV Shows list for Netflix Korea. What makes this even more impressive is the fact that it placed higher than “Arcane: Season 2”, a show that millions had been long waiting for. This showcases the drama’s massive appeal among Korean citizens and how it topped watchlists across the nation. Have you watched “Mr. Plankton” yet?

🏊 “Hear Me: Our Summer” – A Heartfelt Journey Through First Love And Finding Dreams

J 🍿Released two weeks ago on Wednesday, "Hear Me: Our Summer" offers a refreshing take on the coming-of-age genre, capturing the delicate journey of young adults discovering love and life’s purpose. This Korean remake of the Taiwanese hit Hear Me follows YongJun and YeoReum’s budding romance, with YeoReum’s deaf sister GaEul playing a vital role in their story. Much of the film unfolds in sign language, enhancing its emotional impact through sounds like water and wind. With authentic performances by Hong Kyung and Roh YoonSeo, this cinematic experience is perfect for those seeking a nostalgic yet poignant movie this autumn.

K-Beauty

🦪 The Key To Eyeshadow Pearlfection: Pearl Makeup Has Entered The K-Beauty Chat

Kay 🥑A shiny beam of pearl-like shimmer across the eyes, known as ‘pearl makeup’, has entered the K-Beauty chat. Using pink or silver shimmer eyeshadow that has a galaxy-like finish to it, K-Pop idols such as Red Velvet’s Irene, aespa’s NingNing, and (G)I-DLE’s Minnie have been adding emphasis to their eyes in a captivating way. Will you be trying this makeup look out soon?

💄 Newer K-Beauty Brands Shake Up The Cosmetic Industry

Dyllan 🐼Long gone are the days where large corporations have a hold of over 90% of the K-Beauty market. Now, small to medium-sized companies have seized the momentum and account for around 68.7% of cosmetic exports. This is due to an indie brand’s ability to sell their products at stores like Olive Young and viral social media marketing that helps introduce themselves to foreign consumers. Now, newer brands like Biodance and d’Alba can stand head to head against big corporations like Amorepacific, without paying the rental fees of their very own store.

K-Fashion

🕶️ Trendy Streetwear Meets Polished Polo Ralph Lauren

Dyllan 🐼 Korea is home to some of the hottest fashion brands and styles in the entire world. But it seems leading street fashion platform, Kasina, has decided to join hands with world-renowned Polo Ralph Lauren. Together, they’ve worked to create the “Taeguk Capsule”, a collection that reinterprets Polo Ralph Lauren’s iconic designs, adding Korean elements to make it unique and one-of-a-kind. With the incorporation of Taeguk patterns, the collection will feature multiple articles of clothing and is exclusively available in Korea from November 11th. So if you’re going to Korea in the near future, you might want to put the “Taeguk Capsule” on your purchase list.

🧢 Kang DongWon’s Stylish New Venture: Step Into His Fashion World, NONYMOUSAA

Joseph 🐶Actor Kang DongWon has taken on an exciting new role by launching his own fashion brand, NONYMOUSAA. Known for his iconic style, Kang DongWon brings his fashion philosophy to life in this brand, where he’s deeply involved as the creative director and even models the latest designs. NONYMOUSAA emphasizes a minimalist, premium aesthetic, featuring carefully crafted headwear, outerwear, and knitwear that blend timeless elegance with modern simplicity.

When you visit the NONYMOUSAA website, not only will you discover Kang DongWon’s new fashion line, but you’ll also get a front-row seat to his stunning photoshoots! As the brand’s creative director and model, he showcases each piece like a pro, making it feel like you’re flipping through a personal fashion magazine. Check out the collection and enjoy a double treat: browsing stylish designs and seeing Kang DongWon in full top-model mode!

K-Travel

💍 Hanbok Lovers? Customed Norigae Is Trendy

Laure 🌼Norigae are Korean traditional accessories used with Hanboks, but these days, you can see them everywhere—on bags, skirts, etc.! Did you know there are stores in Seoul where you can make your own Norigae and have it fully customized to your taste? It seems to be a trendy activity to do while traveling as well.

♨️ When It's Chilly, A Hot Outdoor Bath!

A$AP 15 💸With the recent sudden cold weather, you can feel that winter is just around the corner. When the cold wind blows, you need time to relieve the fatigue accumulated in your body and mind during the past season in warm water. Enjoying time in a hot spring pool while appreciating the natural scenery between fall and winter will help you to face the coming winter more leisurely.

🎪 TOP 4 Unique Fall Festivals You'll Regret Missing

A$AP15 💸 There are various driving courses with mountains, seas, lakes, and cityscapes in the vicinity of Seoul, so you can plan a date according to your taste. How about getting away from the busy city and enjoying a romantic moment with your loved one in a place with a wide open view and beautiful lights?

⛰️ What’s Next On The Itinerary? Hiking In Seoul!

Dyllan 🐼If you know anything about Korean culture, you might know a thing or two about the country’s enthusiasm for hiking. And while some travelers might draw the line at the hilly roads, other foreigners will actually seek out a hiking trail in and around Seoul! It’s been reported that out of 40,000 visitors to Seoul Hiking Tourism Centers, 17,600 are international tourists. To put it into perspective, 1 out of 3 people is a foreign visitor! Group tours, companies, and travel agencies geared towards hiking experiences have been on the rise, so you can expect more foreign travelers on hiking trails really soon!

K-Food

🍰 “Culinary Class Wars” Dishes Available At Convenient Stores?

Laure 🌼Yes, yes! “Culinary Class Wars” was such a sensation in Korea that it made its way to convenience stores. If you have watched the show, you can’t help but be tempted to try these dishes, which is why these restaurants have so many customers these days in Korea. Everyone wants to try them. CU, the convenience store chain, noticed the popularity and decided to make the Chestnut Tiramisu from Chef Napoli Mafia available for 4,900 KRW (approximately 3.55 USD). The reviews of the product are not all positive, so they are working on an improved recipe.

🍌 Banana Milk Might Just Be A National Treasure Soon. Well, The Bottle At Least…

Kay 🥑That’s right, you read that correctly. The iconic banana milk bottle is in the running to become a national treasure or, more precisely, a cultural heritage item. Binggrae, the drink’s manufacturer, is hoping for the jar-shaped bottle (inspired by the Korean moon jar dating back to the Joseon Dynasty) to be given this prestigious title and commemorate its 50-year legacy.

K-Society

📈 Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, American: What Do They Have In Common?

YuJun 🍎The data is out! Multicultural marriages in Korea rose by 17.2% in 2023, increasing from 17,428 in 2022 to 20,431 in 2023. Of these, 69.8% involved Korean men marrying foreign women. So, who are the foreign spouses of Koreans? Among the wives, 27.9% are Vietnamese, 17.4% are Chinese, and 9.9% are Thai. For husbands, 6.9% are Chinese, 6.9% are American, 3.9% are Vietnamese, and 1.4% are Canadian. More detailed numbers can be found in the article.

💘 Heart Signals At The Han River: Korean Dating Programs Take Things Off-Screen

Kay 🥑The city of Seoul is taking the romantic matters of its citizens into its own hands. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has created a matchmaking program that will bring 100 unmarried men and women together to find their match at the Han River at the end of November. The program will include romantic settings such as cocktail dates and boat tours, along with other incentives for the participants.

Intern Diaries From SK

Eleni 💌The last of the autumn foliage has made it worth going out on recent cold but sunny days! My highlight was going to the Namsan Tower Cable Car and Viewpoint. The view going up is beautiful, and there was still a surprising amount of autumn red and orange leaves to be seen. My tip is probably going to seem lazy, but definitely do the cable car instead of walking up from the start, unless you’re keen for some serious uphill trekking. I like hiking as much as the next person, but if you want to look cute in photos with the view, I wouldn’t recommend the hike up! This was proven by the many crimson red, panting faces I saw while coolly stepping out of the cable car at the top. The highlights were the tower viewpoint, market, traditional martial arts and folk show (3:00 PM daily except Mondays), fortune-telling stations, and adding my lock to the bridge. Definitely worth a visit!

Readers' Questions Corner

MarkLover 🍫What pepero did you eat on Pepero Day?

Laure 🌼I ate the classic flavor, the plain chocolate one. But this year, there was an unexpected twist! My boyfriend added my favorite celebrity’s picture to the boxes he got me as a surprise. Hehe. Prettier box, better taste—that’s all I will say. I guess I’ve complained too much that it’s a shame my bias not on cookie boxes anymore.

Kay 🥑I didn’t have a particular brand of Pepero. Some bakeries sell handmade versions and you can even do cooking classes in Korea where you can learn how to make your own. I was gifted some handmade ones (they’re quite a bit bigger than the regular ones) and they seem to be mixed between original and almond flavors but don’t have a particular brand.

Joseph 🐶I made and ate stick cookies dipped in chocolate with my nephew. I put Home Run Ball chocolate (Chocolate Choux) on a stick, and then drew pictures with a chocolate pen. I also melted yellow chocolate to make little chick shapes and decorated wafer cookies with drawings. It was a fun and delicious way to celebrate!

Dyllan 🐼So I actually had two kinds of Pepero: the regular chocolate and white cookie flavors. I’m not that big of a sweets person, but I will make an exception for Pepero. I made sure to buy extra, so there’s still a box or two just waiting to be opened.

YuJun 🍎One of our colleagues brought two huge Pepero boxes, one classic flavor and one almond. They were delicious, and everyone was very thankful.

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