4th week of January

🇰🇷 Hechi Agrees - No Celebration Is Complete Without Cake 🍰

Newsletter By Kpopmap

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Welcome to your one-stop destination for all K-Trends, Weekly Trends Newsletter by Kpopmap🌟

Laure 🌼 In Korea, it is time for Koreans to get ready for the Seollal (Korean New Year) holidays, starting at the moment you receive this letter (if you don’t count the weekend). The government has designated one additional public holiday this year on Monday, so the holidays start earlier and continue until Thursday. Cooking, gifts, and traveling are on everyone's mind as we write this newsletter.

On a weather note, this week is warm, and in 2024, Seoul's Fine Dust Levels hit a record low since monitoring began in 2008. While the city's air quality has improved overall, this week, unfortunately, sees several alerts for very poor and unhealthy air quality. However, that does not dampen the holiday spirit.

The Kpopmap Team would like to wish you a Happy Korean New Year 🐉! We will meet you again with the latest trends from Korea after a short break. But before that, make sure to catch up on last week's trends in this edition.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Picture by Kpopmap at National Museum of Korea - exhibiting the Oegyujanggak Uigwe

📍 Kpopmap Newsletter brings you the news worth paying attention to in the whole K-World selected by Kpopmap’s editors. Get to know all the trends from last week that you don’t want to miss directly from Korea (Seoul, Jeju, and everywhere we travel to).

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K-Pop

💿 K–Pop Groups Dominate US CD Sales In 2024

J 🍿 K-Pop groups, including Stray Kids, ENHYPEN, and ATEEZ, dominated US CD sales in 2024, securing seven spots in the top 10 rankings, according to Luminate's Year-End Music Report. Stray Kids' album "Ate" sold 442,000 copies, ranking second, while ENHYPEN's "Romance: Untold" and ATEEZ's "Golden Hour: Part. 1" followed closely. Tomorrow by Together (TXT) and TWICE also made it to the top 10. In overall sales, Stray Kids and ENHYPEN were the only K-Pop acts to rank in the top 10. Taylor Swift led the charts with her album "Tortured Poets Department," selling 1.51 million copies.

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🏟️ GOT7 Continue Their Comeback Festivities With A Concert

Dyllan 🐼When it was announced that GOT7 were reuniting for a comeback, the entire K-Pop community was abuzz with excitement. And now that they’re back, fans couldn’t be happier as they put their new album, “WINTER HEPTAGON” on repeat. But the good news doesn’t stop there, as they will also be holding a two-day concert, set for February 1st and 2nd. This will mark their first concert together in 6 years, so fans are excited to see how they’ve evolved since, but to also reminisce on the time they’ve spent together.

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📱 SEVENTEEN Called And They Said It’s Time For A New Phone Case

YuJun 🍎World renowned boy group, SEVENTEEN, have partnered with Casetify to release a brand new collection for fans everywhere. Inspired by their mini-album, “SPILL THE FEELS”, there are various phone case designs that netizens can choose from, all equally as stylish and capable of protecting your phone from any damages. Although, with a SEVENTEEN-inspired phone case, you probably won’t be dropping your phone anytime soon. The collection also includes items like a watch band, magnetic wireless charger, and even laptop case. With SEVENTEEN’s popularity, be sure to act fast before you miss out!

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K-Drama & K-Movie & K-Variety

📽️ YG Entertainment Saying Goodbye To Its Actors

YuJun 🍎YG Entertainment is stopping its actor management business to focus on the music division. Famous actors under its management include Lee SooHyuk, Lee SungKyoung, Jang KiYong, Yoo InNa, Jang HyunSung, and more. Yoo SeungHo, whose contract recently ended, is the only one with a confirmed departure date. We can only wonder which agencies these actors will join.

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🎹 A Remake For The Ages - “Secret: Untold Melody” Brings A Modern Twist To A Classic Story

Dyllan 🐼2008 Taiwanese romance film, “Secret”, is engraved into history as an iconic film, and now, has been remade into a Korean production as “Secret: Untold Melody”. Exchanging the fantasy elements for a Korean college setting, the film features a phenomenal cast in EXO’s D.O., Won JinAh, and Shin YeEun. The remake aimed to retain the original’s core structure while adding in the K-Drama flair that the entire world has grown to love. Opening in theaters on January 28th, many are excited to feel a rush of nostalgia and see how the film stacks up to the original.

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💘 Rising In Popularity And Viewership Ratings “Love Scout “ Continues Its Upward Trend

Dyllan 🐼Another K-Drama is topping the watchlists of the K-Drama community - that’s right, we’re talking about “Love Scout”. The SBS drama has reached past its halfway point, showcasing a heartwarming allure that has viewers giddy with excitement. It has seen a large boon in popularity among netizens across the globe. In Korea, the show started off at 5.2%, then with its most recent episode more than doubled that at 11.4%. The heartwarming romance and amazing chemistry between Lee JunHyuk and Han JiMin has kept audiences glued to their seats and yearning for more.

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Picture by Kpopmap at National Museum of Korea - exhibiting the Oegyujanggak Uigwe

K-Food

🥤 Can You Drink Seoul? And Does It Taste Like Citron Plum?

Laure 🌼Discover Seoul's official signature beverages! Yes, you can enjoy the city's official drinks, all with low sugar. Experience the unique flavors of Korea with Citron Plum, Corn Latte, and Tangerine Ade, made using local specialties from Goheung, Hadong, Goesan, Jeongseon, and Jeju. Over 100 cafes in Seoul, along with a few outside the city, are offering these delicious drinks. Make sure to give them a try!

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🍰 Hechi Agrees - No Celebration Is Complete Without Cake

Dyllan 🐼By now, millions will have seen Seoul’s loveable pink mascot, Hechi. As the face of the capital city, Hechi can be found practically everywhere - from special events to video promotions, and now, even on cake. To continue to wish citizens a Hechi New Year, Seoul’s mascot has been transformed into a cake form. The cake is currently available at Paris Baguette. Those who purchase a Hechi cake can expect a rich chocolate sponge paired with berry cream, a taste that will satisfy any sweet tooth.

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🍔 Taste Culinary Perfection Between Two Burger Buns

YuJun 🍎The popularity of “Culinary Class Wars” has yet to die down, as chefs Napoli Matfia and Edward Lee have joined in on yet another collaboration. This time, they bring their culinary skills to the world of burgers. Both provide their talents to two big franchises; Napoli Matfia to Lotteria and Edward Lee to Mom’s Touch. At Lotteria consumers can try two kinds of specially made mozzarella cheeseburgers, while Mom’s Touch offers burgers that use bourbon sauce and bacon jam as its signature ingredients. Just hearing about it will have you salivating and craving for a burger right this instant.

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Picture by Kpopmap of Tteokguk

K-Travel

🆓 Seollal’s Gift Is Here! Free Entry To Palaces!

Laure 🌼While you can enter the palaces in Seoul for free if you wear a Hanbok, there is another way to enjoy free admission. To celebrate Seollal, the capital city’s main palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and royal tombs will be open for free during the holidays from January 25th to 30th. This is the perfect time to visit!

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🛍️ 2025 Korea Grand Sale, A Festival Of Shopping And Cultural Experiences!

Joseph 🐶The 2025 Korea Grand Sale has begun, offering various discounts and promotions for foreign tourists. With over 1,680 companies participating, you can enjoy up to 94% off on airlines, accommodations, and shopping, and more. Various cultural experiences and tourist activities are also available in Seoul, Busan, and other cities across the country. The event runs until February 28th, so don’t miss out!

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Picture by Kpopmap at Seongsu next to "Squid Game 2" doll

K-Society

🎉 Seollal Holidays Will Be Happier With One More Day

YuJun 🍎The Korean government has designated Monday, January 27, as a temporary holiday. This adds to the Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday combo that was already public holidays. Now, Koreans can rest from the previous Saturday, creating a six-day break. Some lucky workers who get Friday as a holiday from their company or choose to use an additional day off will enjoy a nine-day break, lasting until February 2nd.

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🎁 Seollal 2025 Gifts: From Supermarket Tuna To High-End Premium Hanwoo Sets At Hotels

Laure 🌼Exchanging gifts during Seollal is a must-do tradition in Korea, and shops are ready to serve customers eager to find the perfect gift for the occasion. This year, there are modern updates to traditional gifts available in supermarkets—for example, tuna cans with water instead of oil for lower-calorie options. There are also premium goods, such as gifts from the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul made with premium Korean beef like the Andong Hanwoo set. According to a survey, most Koreans will be spending around 190,000 KRW (approximately 132 USD) on gifts this year.

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📅 This Is The Golden Week for Koreans in 2025

Laure 🌼January is here, and we all like to plan holidays ahead of time. When you work in Korea, you have very few holidays, which means public holidays are the perfect time to plan long vacations. The Korean Herald analyzed all of Korea's public holidays for this year and concluded that October’s "Golden Week" is the highlight of 2025. Combining National Foundation Day (Oct. 3), the three-day Chuseok holiday (Oct. 6-8), and Hangeul Day (Oct. 9) into a seven-day stretch. Those taking annual leave on Oct. 10 (Friday) can extend this into a 10-day vacation by combining it with the following weekend (Oct. 11–12).

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Picture by Kpopmap of Janchi-guksu

Intern Diaries From SK

Theresa 👻Living in Seoul means adjusting to chilly winters, but the recent stretch of heavy pollution has been unusual for this time of year. The air felt thick, and visibility was low, so I decided to keep things low-key and avoid spending too much time outdoors. Instead of my usual weekend explorations, I opted for a cozy café nearby. Sipping on an iced americano—like a true Korean—while watching the hazy city outside felt like the perfect way to escape the smog. It’s rare for the air to be this bad during winter, but on days like these, taking it slow and sticking to indoor spots feels like the best way to make the most of the city while staying safe. A mask is essential if you do head out!

Q&A Corner

❔ Question: What are Koreans doing during the Seollal holidays?:

💬During Seollal, most Koreans visit relatives to eat, exchange gifts, and play together. Since the holidays are extended, many also travel and enjoy some rest. Traditionally, they eat tteokguk (rice cake soup), which symbolizes gaining one more year in age and brings good luck for the upcoming year.

❔ Question: What is still open for travelers during the Seollal holiday?

💬Seollal is typically a time for rest and relaxation for the whole nation. And although various shops might take some time off to visit family, there are still many other activities to do throughout the holiday. This includes visiting temples and palaces, spending the day at a theme park, taking a relaxing hike, spending the afternoon at an aquarium, and touring the Korean Folk Village. The options are still endless for travelers, even when visiting during the Seollal holidays.

QUIZ OF THE WEEK 💗

QUIZ: Which Male K-Pop Idol Will Surprise Visit You During Seollal?

Find out which idol will visit you during Seollal.

Take the quiz
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