Even in bustling Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Seoul, you can feel a peaceful rural sensibility if you find the right place. Follow narrow and winding alleys and you will find just such a mood at a tiny shop named Kohukku Market. Named "Kohukku," which means "happiness" in Japanese, the store sells character antiques and vintage items related to Japanese animation from the '80s and' 90s. This tiny, one-room shop is filled with a variety of items from dolls, key rings, vintage

Culture June 7, 2024

At first glance, K-pop trio Big Ocean might seem like just another new idol group. But, the trio is anything but ordinary. It has broken through a barrier in the K-pop industry with its debut alone. All three bandmates in Big Ocean — Chanyeon, Hyunjin, and Jiseok — are deaf, and their debut date, April 20, coincides with the Day of Persons with Disabilities in Korea. Wearing hearing aids and cochlear implants, they introduced themselves as Big Ocean in sign language as they sat dow

K-pop June 6, 2024

Several renowned American and British artists of diverse genres will perform in Korea in the latter half of this year. American singer-songwriter Tori Kelly will hold her first concert in Korea, performing at Myunghwa Live Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Aug. 27 as part of her Asia tour "Purple Skies," according to Live Nation Korea. Kelly, winner of two Grammy awards in 2019, is best known in Korea for her collaboration with Le Sserafim's Kim Chaewon on her song "Spruce.&

Performance June 5, 2024

“My Love from the Star” was one of the most successful drama series 2013 -- as was its soundtrack. The series features a magical romance between Do Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun), an alien pretending to be a human for hundreds of years after accidentally falling on Earth, and Chun Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun, also known as Gianna Jun), a top actress who is spirited yet lonely. With its touching romance and well-timed comic scenes, the series garnered die-hard fans beyond Korea, reaching China, Jap

Television June 3, 2024

Jin of BTS will return this month after completing his military duty. Jin, the eldest member of BTS, is due to be discharged from the military on June 12. The singer announced that his first post-military discharge event will be an offline gathering with fans. According to Big Hit Music on Sunday, Jin will attend "2024 Festa" at the Seoul Jamsil Sports Complex on June 13, the day after his discharge, which is also the anniversary of BTS' debut. "Festa" is an annual celeb

K-pop June 2, 2024

Two South Korean rock icons, Jeon In-kwon and Boohwal, will hold a joint concert in June. The two giants of 1980s Korean rock will host "The Age of Rock" on June 15 at the KBS Arena in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The concert was originally scheduled for April, but was postponed to June. After playing with various bands in the 1970s, vocalist Jeon In-kwon formed Deulgukhwa in 1984, a band that became a cornerstone of Korean rock. Known for his unique, almost anguished vocal style, Jeon sang hits

Performance May 29, 2024

RM of BTS has released the music video for "Groin" off the album "Right Place, Wrong Person," which came out Friday. The album marks RM's first release since his solo debut album "Indigo" in December 2022. RM completed the work on this album before beginning his mandatory military service in December last year. In the alternative hip-hop song, RM candidly expresses his thoughts on people who dislike him. In the music video, RM, sporting a short haircut, appears

K-pop May 28, 2024

The Irish pop band Westlife will perform in South Korea for the first time in 13 years. According to Mohegan Inspire Resort on Monday, Westlife will hold "Westlife: The Hits Tour" at Incheon Inspire Arena on July 6-7. Mohegan Inspire Resort’s Inspire Arena located in Yeongjongdo, Incheon, is the first multipurpose arena in South Korea. Westlife will be the second overseas artist to perform in the venue following Maroon 5. Westlife, known for their emotional melodies and rich harm

Performance May 27, 2024

Romance with a divine being is always intriguing, yet never simple or safe -- at least in Korean dramas. "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," aired through tvN from December 2016 to January 2017, is a series that reinterprets beings from Korean folklore into a modern, touching love story. The male protagonist, Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), an immortal being that can be roughly translated as a goblin, is a general wrongfully killed a thousand years ago, who now longs for rest. He meets Ji Eun-t

Television May 27, 2024

Singer Kim Ho-joong, who is accused of committing a hit-and-run accident while driving under the influence, appeared at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, for a court hearing to determine whether to issue his arrest warrant, Friday. Kim arrived at the Seoul Central District Court at around 11 a.m. after the court rejected his request to postpone the hearing on Thursday due to a scheduled concert at the KSPO Dome in Seoul Olympic Park. The show's organizer, Dumir, confirme

Social Affairs May 24, 2024

Girl group NewJeans is releasing a new single amid their label's dispute with its parent company. “How Sweet” was released at 1 p.m. on Friday. It was their first release in 10 months and the single includes the title track “How Sweet,” the pre-released track “Bubble Gum,” and instrumental versions of both songs. The title track is a lively song based on Miami Bass, according to their agency Ador. Miami Bass is a hip-hop subgenre characterized by its fast

K-pop May 24, 2024

Singer and legendary radio DJ Lee Moon-sae is returning to radio. MBC announced on Wednesday that Lee Moon-sae will take on the role of DJ for the new MBC FM4U radio show "Hello, This is Lee Moon-sae," marking his return to radio hosting after 13 years. "Hello, This is Lee Moon-sae" will air daily at 11 a.m. on MBC FM4U, with the first broadcast scheduled for June 3. Lee teased the upcoming radio show on his personal Instagram account with a short post saying, "Hello, th

People May 23, 2024

MCND returned with its 6th mini album, “X10,” with the ambition to continue music as long as possible. MCND, debuted in 2020, proved their international popularity earlier this year by successfully holding their “Odd-Venture” concert tour in seven European countries and six cities in the US. The quintet is also gaining popularity in regions where K-pop stars have not frequently ventured, such as the Middle East and South America. They appeared at the K-Expo in the United

K-pop May 22, 2024

In the globalization of K-pop, TikTok has played a very large role. “People used to listen to music by playing CDs or tuning into the radio, and with the advent of MTV and YouTube, it became the era of watching music through video media such as music video," said You Kyung-cheol, head of TikTok’s artist and label partnership, artist services in Northeast Asia. "Then, TikTok ushered in an era where people don't just consume music passively but actively participate in it

Industry May 21, 2024

Stories about family love, friendship and humanity never grow old and there is no better place to witness them than in hospitals. The tvN series “Hospital Playlist” takes place in a university teaching hospital where fierce battles of life and death take place, depicting the lives of five doctors who have been friends for 20 years and the stories of their patients. The series is renowned for its depiction of the heartwarming struggles of the doctors and its excellent reinterpretation

Television May 20, 2024