LOS ANGELES, April 11 (Korea Bizwire) — In a bustling Korean barbecue restaurant in Los Angeles, six local American customers recently wrapped grilled short ribs in perilla leaves with garlic and doenjang, the traditional soybean paste. For restaurant owner and Korean food advocate Lim Jong-taek, it was a moment of quiet triumph. “I was so [...]
SEOUL, April 9 (Korea Bizwire) — After a challenging year dominated by Chinese titles, South Korea’s game industry is showing signs of renewed momentum as a string of high-performing new releases finds success across both mobile and PC/console platforms. According to data from Mobile Index, Netmarble’s RF Online Next, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game [...]
SEOUL, April 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Foreigners who have experienced South Korean pop culture associate the country with its popular music, dubbed K-pop, more than any other form of content, a government report showed Monday. The annual report by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliate, the Korean Foundation for International Cultural [...]
SEOUL, April 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Charitable giving by South Korean celebrities has evolved into a defining cultural trend, with major K-pop acts and their fanbases increasingly stepping forward to address social issues and disaster relief. Experts say this growing phenomenon reflects both heightened expectations of public responsibility for entertainers and a maturing fandom that seeks [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — Korean content has maintained its position as the most-watched non-English programming on Netflix for two consecutive years, according to the company’s latest viewership report released on Thursday. In the second half of 2024, Netflix recorded a total of approximately 94 billion viewing hours, reflecting a 5% increase from the same [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Four out of 10 foreigners visiting South Korea for medical treatment said the country’s culture influenced their decision to come here, a survey showed Sunday. More than 41 percent of those surveyed answered positively when asked if the cultural experience in South Korea influenced their decision to receive medical [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s fashion and beauty industries are gaining significant traction in Japan, driven by the global popularity of K-pop and Korean dramas. Industry players are leveraging this momentum with targeted efforts to expand their presence in the Japanese market. Leading the charge, companies like Musinsa, CJ Olive Young, and department [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 9 (Korea Bizwire) – K-pop boy group Seventeen has been honored with a certificate of appreciation from Los Angeles for its contributions to music and youth empowerment within the American city, the group’s agency said Saturday. Pledis Entertainment said Joshua, the LA-born member of the 13-piece group, was invited by the LA City [...]
LONDON, Oct. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – In the United Kingdom, the field of Korean Studies is experiencing a significant upswing, with graduates increasingly finding diverse career paths and contributing to cultural diplomacy. Deborah Smith, the translator who brought Nobel laureate Han Kang’s “The Vegetarian” to international acclaim, exemplifies this trend. Smith, a graduate of the School [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – The Swedish Academy’s announcement on October 10 naming South Korean author Han Kang as the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature has reignited discussions about artistic freedom and political interference in South Korea. The Academy specifically cited Han’s ability to “confront historical trauma” in their decision, notably referencing her [...]