Literature in Africa, films in Oceania: Hallyu strengths differ by country

K-pop remains the dominant driver of the Korean Wave, but Hallyu has expanded into a broader range of cultural content — including literature, fine dining and regional storytelling — a new government report showed Wednesday. According to the 2025 Global Hallyu Trend Analysis Report released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Culture Information Service, the scale of global engagement has reached unprecedented heights. By analyzing over 1.5 million data points across 30

Feb. 25, 2026

Royal throne hall at Changdeokgung to open for special viewing

The main throne hall of Changdeokgung -- one of the five Joseon-era (1392-1910) palaces in Seoul -- will open to visitors for a limited time next month. The Korea Heritage Service said it will operate a special viewing program from March 4 to 29, allowing visitors inside the royal hall, Injeongjeon, every Wednesday through Sunday. Designated a national treasure in 1985, Injeongjeon, meaning hall of benevolent governance, served as the stage for key royal ceremonies, including coronations, court

Feb. 25, 2026

How 'The Art of Sarah' recalls real-life luxury fraud even 'Squid Game' Lee Jung-jae fell for

Netflix Korea's mystery thriller "The Art of Sarah" has swiftly emerged as a global conversation starter, topping Netflix’s worldwide TV rankings for non-English series. As the show's buzz builds, it has reignited interest in an infamous, real-life fraud case from Korea a decade ago that bears striking similarities to its central premise: counterfeit luxury goods falsely marketed as elite, European-made products, which reaped astronomical profits. "The Art of Sarah" centers on Sarah Kim (Shin Hy

Feb. 25, 2026

Between near and far: 4 artists explore how distance shapes perception

Thaddaeus Ropac Seoul presents "Distancing," a group exhibition featuring works by four Asia-based artists that explore how distance shapes perception across image, material and time. Korean artist Lim No-sik continues drawing memories from his roots, whose father is a farmer in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. While he used to use sanding techniques, resulting canvas surface that feels like pottery, this time Lim used a different way, using oil pastels. Corporeal and botanical forms do not appear in s

Feb. 25, 2026

Tickets for BTS world tour cinema screenings go on sale, sell out fast in Korea

Ticket sales for the cinema broadcast of BTS's upcoming world tour opened Wednesday, with screenings in South Korea selling out in minutes. The live viewings, which beam full-length concerts into movie theaters for audiences to watch in real time, will cover two dates from the group's "Arirang" world tour: the April 11 gig in Goyang, South Korea and the April 18 gig in Tokyo. Both will be broadcast live as the group performs, with some regions receiving a delayed feed to account for time differe

Feb. 25, 2026

OneRepublic turns Seoul into sing-along spectacle during ‘From Asia, With Love’

American pop-rock band OneRepublic returned to Seoul on Monday — a year after their last concert in South Korea — delivering a tightly structured, hit-filled performance at Jamsil Arena in Songpa, southern Seoul, as part of its “From Asia, With Love” tour. Welcomed by roaring applause from roughly 5,400 attendees, OneRepublic’s front man Ryan Tedder made it clear that this was more than another tour stop for the band; it was a place where Tedder and bandmates looked forward to performing. He gre

Feb. 24, 2026

Ryan Tedder calls working BTS’ new album one of the most incredible projects of his career

Ryan Tedder — front man of American pop-rock band OneRepublic and a Grammy-winning producer — revealed during the band's Seoul show on Monday that he participated in BTS' upcoming album "Arirang," set for release on March 20. “Most recently, I did a lot of work on the upcoming BTS album,” Tedder said. “It absolutely blew me away how talented they were, and I think it’s honestly one of the craziest things I’ve worked on in my whole career. I know you’re going to love it.” Tedder has written hits

Feb. 24, 2026

Visiting Seoul for BTS? Don't miss these original Korean 'faction' musicals

Unlike television dramas, where subtitles allow viewers to immerse themselves fully in the narrative, stage productions face inherent language barriers. To overcome this challenge, Korean musical producers are increasingly experimenting with new ways to engage a growing international audience. Two well-crafted musicals rooted in Korean history are introducing smart glasses that provide multilingual subtitles, while another production with a proven overseas track record relies on side-stage scree

Feb. 24, 2026

A show even Blackpink's Jennie can't save?

"The Secret Friends Club," featuring A-listers such as Blackpink's Jennie and Go Youn-jung (recently seen in "Can This Love Be Translated?"), is struggling to gain traction despite coming from one of Korea's most acclaimed variety show creators. The series attempts to introduce more "warmhearted" entertainment programming in a landscape increasingly dominated by dopamine-driven formats, but has posted ratings of around 1.6 percent across its first four episodes. Structured in three parts, the sh

Feb. 24, 2026

Korea's top directors are making microdramas now. Industry is paying attention.

Two of South Korea's top-grossing filmmakers and a major distributor have entered the microdrama market, the latest sign that the country's entertainment establishment is treating the fast-growing short-form format as a serious business rather than a passing novelty. Lee Byeong-heon, the director of "Extreme Job" (2019), which sold 16 million tickets to become the highest-grossing Korean film ever, premiered his first microdrama on Feb. 4. "My Baby Daddy Is My Guy Friend" (working title) was rel

Feb. 24, 2026

Starlux Airlines to launch new routes linking Busan with Taipei, Taichung in June

Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines will enter the South Korean market with the launch of direct routes starting June 1. The new services will connect Busan with Taipei and Taichung, expanding air links between South Korea’s second-largest city and Taiwan’s capital and central cultural hub. Founded in 2018, Starlux operates flights to 31 destinations across Asia and North America, including cities in Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore. The airline has received global recognition for service and safety

Feb. 24, 2026

Fake K-beauty surges overseas as global popularity soars

As K-beauty’s global popularity continues to climb, counterfeit and copycat products targeting Korean cosmetics brands are spreading rapidly overseas, raising concerns over intellectual property violations and consumer safety. South Korea’s cosmetics exports surpassed $11.4 billion last year, ranking the country second worldwide. As brand recognition and consumer trust grow, so does the proliferation of so-called “dupes” seeking to capitalize on the K-beauty boom. The expansion of e-commerce and

Feb. 24, 2026

On the battlefield of sound, Jambinai stands alone

In the epics, battles unfold in waves of iron and fire: metal clashing, dust rising, a roar that shakes the ground. Imagine that ancient clash rendered entirely in sound. A Korean crossover band carving its own singular path invites audiences into that sonic terrain, into the heady rush of combat and its fierce exhilaration. What if a battle could be painted not with images but with distortion and breath, rhythm and silence, an epic not merely narrated but physically felt? On that battlefield of

Feb. 24, 2026

Late actor Kim Sae-ron's last film set for March release

"Everyday We Are," the last completed film featuring Kim Sae-ron, will open in theaters on March 4, the production said Monday. The release comes just over a year after Kim's death on Feb. 16, 2025, at age 24. Adapted from the eponymous web comic, the film follows a group of teenagers finding their way through first love. Kim plays Yeo-ul, a high school girl whose childhood friend Ho-soo (Lee Chae-min) confesses his feelings for her right before their middle school graduation. The movie marks th

Feb. 24, 2026

Korea named Asia hub for Ysaye International Music Competition

The finals of the Ysaye International Music Competition, established in 2018 and named after Belgian violin virtuoso and composer Eugene Ysaye (1858-1931), will take place in South Korea. Competition organizers confirmed that the finals will be held consecutively in South Korea in 2026 and 2027. Beginning in 2028, the final round will be co-hosted on a biennial basis between Belgium and South Korea. The decision reflects a broader geographic recalibration as the competition responds to shifting

Feb. 24, 2026