K-Pop |
🎤 The Excitement For Starship’s New Girl Group KiiiKiii Reaches New Heights
Dyllan 🐼A new girl group is set to join the growing list of fifth generation contenders: Starship Entertainment’s very own KiiiKiii. They recently dropped a surprise MV for a pre-debut track, ‘I DO ME’, which has been making its rounds across the K-Pop community worldwide. From their solid vocals and charming visuals, expectations have only grown higher for the girl group. Starship has also implemented an intriguingly different marketing strategy that has piqued netizens’ interests since day one. The stage seems prepped and ready, and now all KiiiKiii needs to do is have their official debut!
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💎 SEVENTEEN's 9th Fan Meeting "Carat Land" Takes Over A Stadium!
Sharmaine 🌸SEVENTEEN's 9th fan meeting, "Carat Land," will take place at Incheon Munhak Stadium on March 20-21. “Carat land” is SEVENTEEN’s fan meeting brand. It is rare for a fan meeting to be in a stadium. However, SEVENTEEN's popularity hit another level, as seen by the 1.5 million attendees at the said event last year. Are you unable to join the event? Live streaming is accessible, so don't worry! Prepare yourself, CARATs—this will go down in history.
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🎶 Enjoy The Voice Of Your Favorite SM Artist
Sharmaine 🌸SM Entertainment is commemorating its 30th anniversary with a nostalgic MP3 player that features their artists' voices! Fans can listen to the voice of their favorite idols at any time. You can choose from 64 available versions, depending on the artist you love. Each set includes wired earphones, a neck strap, a photocard, an ID photo, and stickers—a true collector’s item! Some people think it's a little expensive, even though many fans adore it. Would you buy this?
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K-Drama & K-Movie & K-Variety |
🤝 “Friendly Rivalry” Is Turning Heads And Has Everyone Tuning In
Dyllan 🐼Among the current lineup of K-Dramas, “Friendly Rivalry” is one-of-a-kind and has quickly earned the top spot on Korean streaming service, U+Mobile TV. Even those outside of Korea have grown an interest towards the series. This success is owed mainly in part to the series’ already established fanbase, along with teasers that featured a bathtub kiss set to appear in the drama. These reasons, among many others, convinced viewers to tune right in and has kept them glued to their seats, waiting for every new episode.
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Picture by Kpopmap at Dongdaemun
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K-Beauty |
🍑 “Let’s Go See Peaches At My Home” - Embrace Spring With This Peachy Idol’s Makeup Look
Laure 🌼"Let’s Go See Peaches At My Home", "Can I Call You A Flower?", "Whisper of Spring Coral", and more! These are all phrases from peripera along with these two idols: NCT's DoYoung and JungWoo. They are the models for the makeup brand, bringing their peachy vibes since they are "인간 복숭아" (human peaches). They are promoting a variety of products for the brand, including new and limited-edition spring items. The phrases mentioned are for the All Take Mood Palette.
Their soft and cute visuals perfectly match the early spring season, and some of the products even have a peach scent. Not only are the pictures adorable, but the phrases are witty too. They fit so well with the concept—so cute!
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👖 You Can Now Get Pants At The Convenience Store!
Sharmaine 🌸Are you experiencing a fashion emergency at 3AM? No problem! Thanks to collaboration with Musinsa, GS25—one of Korea's leading convenience store chains —- is now stocking fashion essentials. GS25 Retail began expanding their items to 55,500 outlets across the nation. GS Retail dubbed the partnership “an alliance between No. 1 retail brands.” What do you expect to see beside pants? There will be a jacket, a T-shirt, a belt, underwear, socks, and more! It seems like you can do a last-minute sleepover without needing to pack things. This initiative, which targets younger consumers, makes convenience stores even more convenient. With your late-night munchies, would you get an outfit?
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K-Travel |
🌳 Seoul's Green Renaissance: Urban Forest Per Capita Surges 11.59%
J 🍿Between 2021 and 2024, Seoul’s total urban forest area increased by 6.53%, with the per-capita urban forest area in living spheres climbing by 11.59%. Embracing its identity as a “Botanical City,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government is spearheading initiatives like vertical greening to create vibrant, accessible green spaces. These projects not only enhance the city's aesthetic with seasonal colors but also mitigate urban heat, reduce particulate matter, and buffer traffic noise, fostering a healthier, more sustainable urban environment.
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✈️ The Best City For Solo Travel Is In Korea
Laure 🌼Seoul has been ranked as the best city for solo travel by Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel platform. The city’s appeal lies in its seamless blend of history and modernity, 24-hour cafes, and efficient public transportation. The Seoul city government credits its tourism infrastructure—designed to ensure solo travelers can explore comfortably and safely—as a key factor in the city's recognition. This achievement is also largely attributed to the 3-3-7-7 Tourism Campaign, launched in 2023. The campaign aims to attract 30 million tourists, with an average spend of ₩3 million per person, a 7-day stay, and a 70% revisit rate by 2026. Ultimately, the goal is to transform Seoul into a premium, high-attraction city where visitors stay longer and are eager to return.
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Picture by Kpopmap by Dongdaemun
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K-Food |
🌸 It’s Time To Enjoy Instagrammable, Beautiful Cherry Blossom Treats
Laure 🌼The spring dessert menu at the Dasique Seongsu Flagship Store café is out! During winter, people lined up just to take pictures with their magnificent trees and aesthetic wintry drinks and desserts. On weekends, the wait was around an hour to get a seat. Now, they’ve just released their Cherry Blossom menu, and their beautifully pink and floral treats look almost too pretty to eat. The store is fully set for cherry blossom photos, and you can also check out their Pink Blossom Collection!
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🍓 Greek Yogurt Meet Popular Bakery For Collab Menus
Laure 🌼Greek yogurt and Greek-style yogurt have been popular in Korea, so it's no surprise that a well-known bakery is collaborating to offer yogurt-based desserts in their store. Artisée Bakery has teamed up with the traditional Greek-style yogurt brand Greek day. Starting in mid-February, they are offering desserts made with Greek day’s fresh yogurt and seasonal strawberries, including: Greek Day Strawberry Yogurt Cake, Greek Day Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie, and Greek Day Strawberry Yogurt Bagel Sandwich. Would you be tempted?
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🍔 Get Your Next Burger At A Buddhist Temple!
Dyllan 🐼When visiting a Buddhist Temple, most people likely expect a time for reflection and peace. But when you visit Hwaeomsa Temple, you can also expect a nice meal of burgers. Teaming up with a vegan food company, Hwaeomsa Temple Burger offers a menu that includes the Paradise Burger, Reincarnation Hot Dog, and Rebirth in the Pure Land Burger Set, among many other options. The temple also has plans to release their own version of bibimbap, gochujang, and so much more.
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K-Society |
⛰️ Making Public Spaces In Seoul More Inclusive, Including Mountain Trails
Laure 🌼In 2025, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will focus on expanding and improving public spaces to make the city more inclusive, ensuring it’s safe and accessible for all, including individuals with mobility challenges. This includes projects such as transforming public restrooms at Gwangjang Market and enhancing accessibility on the Cheonjangsan Trail, among others.
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🍺 The Rising Trend Of Nonalcoholic Beverages In Korea
Joseph 🐶Nonalcoholic drinks are trending among Gen Z in Korea. Top Korean brands like Lotte Chilsung, Oriental Brewery, and Jeju Beer are leading the trend. This trend isn’t just in Korea, “NoLo”(non- or low-alcohol) drinks are gaining traction in Japan, Germany, and the U.S. too! A new law allows restaurants to sell nonalcoholic drinks in Korea, so you can try one at your favorite spot!
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📱 Feeling Nostalgic? MZ Generation Says It’s Time To Embrace The Dual-Phone Trend
Dyllan 🐼Previously, the MZ Generation brought back the use of digital cameras, and now they’re set to bring back decade-old iPhones. Many have stated that taking pictures with an older iPhone feels like using a vintage film camera. It gives photos a sense of nostalgia, making it feel exciting and fresh. Because of this, older iPhone models such as the SE and 6S are hotly sought-after and can fall anywhere between 100,000 - 200,000 won. Would you want to try this dual-phone trend?
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😊 Your Face Has Genuine Value In Korea
Sharmaine 🌸Forget wallets—all you need to do is show your face at the counter to pay! This month, CU, one of the largest chains of convenience stores in South Korea, introduced Face Pay, a cutting-edge technology. With an astounding 99.99% accuracy rate, they began testing at CU branch near their Gangnam office branch. The next step is a comprehensive debut in Gangnam's 30 CU outlets the following month. Targeting teenagers and young adults in their 20s and 30s, CU collaborated with online payment tech company, Viva Republica - Toss, to make this futuristic shopping experience a reality. Would you rely on your face to pay for it?
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Intern Diaries From SK |
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Mansata 🧚🏽Spring is coming!
It feels like a long-held breath finally released. Though the air is still icy, the sun lingers longer, casting warm hues on faces. I haven’t explored much yet, but I savor the slow, gentle rhythm of Seoul. People move unhurried, their drinks, keychains, and phone cases revealing little stories. I may not have seen many landmarks, but I let the child in me enjoy K-Pop playing on every corner, a dream once out of reach in France. What was once rare now fills every street, and like spring, new interests, new groups, and new songs bloom within me again.
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Picture by Kpopmap by Dongdaemun
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Q&A Corner |
❔ Question: How likely is it to come across a filming location while in Seoul?
💬Quite high! According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul has become an increasingly popular filming destination. In 2024 alone, 181 TV and film productions were shot in the city—the highest number since records began in 2013.
The top filming hotspot is Cheonggyecheon Stream, featured in 80 productions, followed closely by Seoul Children’s Grand Park with 72. Other frequently used locations include Gocheok Sky Dome, Gangnam Station Underground Shopping Center, Mapoyusuji Public Parking Lot, and Cheonho Public Parking Lot. Now that you know where to go, what about when? Spring and fall are the busiest seasons for filming. So if you're hoping to stumble upon a shoot, those are your best bets!
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❔ Question: What are the top hotels for travelers to stay at in Seoul?
💬From the recently released Forbes Travel Guide Awards, two hotels in Seoul currently hold 5-star ratings. One is the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. It is described as “Old World Seoul in a modern glass tower”. It is meant to bring its visitors into an ancient Korean palace, while also providing a modern, 21st century twist. The second hotel to receive a 5-star rating is The Shilla Seoul as the capital’s “luxury powerhouse”. It holds the title as Seoul’s oldest luxury hotel, but continues to remain up-to-date, situated right in the heart of the city. There are also many 4-star hotel options as well, which include the Art Paradiso Boutique Hotel, Conrad Seoul, and Paradise Hotel & Resort, among many others. Whichever you choose, you can be certain that these highly rated hotels will offer the best service and make your stay in Seoul unforgettable.
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❔ Question: Why Do Koreans Celebrate Mint Choco Day?
💬Several stores released a mint chocolate flavor on February 19. But is it really to celebrate Min Choco Day? Actually, in honor of the establishment of the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSCO) in 1951, Korea observes National Mint Day on February 19. KOMSCO creates currency and security paper. However, some mint chocolate lovers have jokingly connected it to their preferred flavor! Some Koreans joke that they celebrate Mint Choco on the same day since the word "mint" is in the name, expressing their love for the divisive flavor. This unofficial link gives the day a playful twist, especially considering Korea's intense mint choco fans vs. anti-mint choco debate!
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QUIZ OF THE WEEK 💗 |
QUIZ: Which Handsome Male K-Pop Idol Will Ask You To Watch The Sunset With Him?
Find out which idols will ask you to watch sunset with him.
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