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Global Korean Cultural Centers Celebrate Lunar New Year With ‘Squid Game’ and Traditional Experiences

Global Korean Cultural Centers Celebrate Lunar New Year With ‘Squid Game’ and Traditional Experiences

SEOUL, Jan. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — Overseas Korean Cultural Centers are celebrating the Lunar New Year with events where visitors can experience both traditional and contemporary Korean culture, including opportunities to play children’s games featured in Netflix’s “Squid Game” Season 2. The events, organized by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, are taking [...]

Once a Staple of Youth Culture, PC Cafés in South Korea Face Rapid Decline

Once a Staple of Youth Culture, PC Cafés in South Korea Face Rapid Decline

SEOUL, Jan. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — Once a cornerstone of youth culture in South Korea, PC cafés—known locally as “PC bangs”—are vanishing at an accelerating rate. According to the National Tax Service’s statistical portal, the number of PC cafés nationwide stood at 7,280 as of October 2024, a sharp 7.6% drop from the 7,858 recorded a [...]

Lunar New Year Break Sparks Surge in Pet-Sitting Gigs

Lunar New Year Break Sparks Surge in Pet-Sitting Gigs

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Koreans prepare for what will be an unprecedented nine-day Lunar New Year holiday for some, an unusual employment trend is emerging: a sharp increase in short-term jobs caring for pets, from feeding fish to walking dogs.  According to the online community marketplace Karrot Market, pet-related job postings have [...]

Brandy Melville’s One-Size Policy Sparks Debate in South Korea Amid Body Image Concerns

Brandy Melville’s One-Size Policy Sparks Debate in South Korea Amid Body Image Concerns

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Brandy Melville, a fashion brand known for its “one-size” policy, has ignited intense debate in South Korea following the opening of its first store in Seoul’s Seongdong District. The brand’s exclusive sizing, which caters primarily to petite frames (XS-S), has drawn both fascination and backlash as consumers grapple with its [...]

Korean Bullfighting Excluded from Intangible Cultural Heritage Consideration Amid Animal Welfare Debate

Korean Bullfighting Excluded from Intangible Cultural Heritage Consideration Amid Animal Welfare Debate

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Korea Bizwire) —  The long-standing tradition of bullfighting in South Korea, celebrated as a local cultural event in regions like Cheongdo, will not be designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, following a decision by the Cultural Heritage Administration. The move comes amid heated debate over whether the practice should be preserved as [...]

Rural Education Initiative Flourishes in Gurye County, Setting a National Model

Rural Education Initiative Flourishes in Gurye County, Setting a National Model

GURYE, South Korea, Jan. 25 (Korea Bizwire) —  What began as a local experiment to combat population decline and repurpose abandoned schools has turned Gurye County, a small municipality in South Jeolla Province, into a beacon of rural education. The initiative, known as “Studying in Rural Areas,” has attracted families from across the country seeking a slower [...]

Gender Gap in Teen Dating Costs Highlights Tradition vs Equality

Gender Gap in Teen Dating Costs Highlights Tradition vs Equality

SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — A stark gender divide exists among South Korean teenagers regarding dating expenses, with young women overwhelmingly favoring equal cost-sharing while young men show more traditional views, according to a lifestyle report released by Woori Bank on January 23.  The “Teens’ Diary” report, which surveyed 3,729 teenagers aged 14-18 nationwide, revealed [...]

Korean Webtoons Expand Global Reach with Hollywood Film and Japanese Musical Adaptations

Korean Webtoons Expand Global Reach with Hollywood Film and Japanese Musical Adaptations

SEOUL, Jan. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Korean digital comics, known as webtoons, are breaking new ground across international borders and media formats, with recent adaptations announced for both Hollywood and Japanese stage productions. Webtoon Entertainment, the parent company of Naver Webtoon, announced on January 22 that its horror series “Stagtown” is being developed into a feature film [...]

Over 34 Mln People Expected to Travel during Lunar New Year Holiday Period

Over 34 Mln People Expected to Travel during Lunar New Year Holiday Period

SEOUL, Jan. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — More than 34 million people are expected to travel domestically and internationally during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, according to a state-run institute Tuesday. The Korea Transport Institute said it estimates 34.84 million people to be on the move during the six-day period from Saturday to next Thursday, [...]

Geoje City Emerges as a Hotspot for Film and TV Production

Geoje City Emerges as a Hotspot for Film and TV Production

GEOJE, South Korea,  Jan. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Once known primarily as a shipbuilding hub, Geoje City in South Gyeongsang Province is gaining new recognition as a premier filming location for movies and television dramas. According to city officials, over 120 productions—including dramas, films, and variety shows—have been shot in Geoje since 2017. One of the most [...]