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Author: 남연재

  • Netflix’s K-pop Demon Hunters Pop-Up Opens in Seoul

    The official Seoul pop-up for Netflix’s animation K-pop Demon Hunters opened on the 3rd in Seongsu-dong, offering an immersive offline experience that expands the show’s universe into a physical space.

    The pop-up spans three entire floors, each connected as one continuous world-building journey.

    On the third-floor showroom, visitors can experience the product concept before the main tour begins. The second floor features themed OST zones such as “How It’s Done” and “Soda Pop,” along with various exhibition and interactive areas that deepen immersion into the full storyline. On the first floor, guests can pick up purchased items, customize keyrings and patches, and conclude their visit at the “Golden Stage,” where they complete “혼문 (Honmun),” the core narrative of the universe.

    The pop-up also includes multiple special events.

    These include a stamp mission where collecting four stamps earns visitors an exclusive “Deopy Balloon” reward, a random draw event for emoji purchasers, and a photo frame zone where fans can take pictures with characters from the animation.

    BeMyFriends, Netflix’s official partner overseeing the pop-up, stated, “Since this is being held in Seoul, the birthplace of K-POP, we prepared meticulously to showcase the essence of K-POP fandom culture.” They added, “This pop-up isn’t just an exhibition, but a fully integrated fan-experience space that combines platform, merchandise, and on-site events. We mobilized all our global fandom business expertise to create a deeper connection between the show and its fans.”

  • Digital Photocard Tickets Rise as the New K-POP Concert Trend

    A new trend is taking hold in the K-culture boom: concert tickets are becoming collectible goods.

    The digital photocard ticket, which merges a photocard-style design with NFC-based digital technology, is rapidly spreading across KPOP concerts, combining convenience, high collectible value, and anti-counterfeiting features into a new ticket culture.

    These tickets contain an encrypted NFC chip that allows entry with a simple tap. Since audience information is verified through a central system, reissuance is possible, solving the limitations of traditional paper tickets. Fans have praised the tickets, saying they are “easy to store,” “valuable as memorabilia,” and “pretty,” acknowledging their appeal as goods.

    The technology is being adopted not only for large-scale concerts featuring BLACKPINK, Stray Kids, and NCT DREAM, but also for fan meetings for various singers and actors, expanding rapidly across the market. Ticket developer Booster Lab Co., Ltd. stated that annual card issuance has increased two to threefold, with adoption expanding into Japanese concerts as well. The company plans to further extend the technology into musicals, exhibitions, and sports events.

    Whether digital photocard tickets will bring new innovation to the performance market is now a key point of interest.

  • New Landmark: Incheon’s Record-Breaking Bridge to Open Soon

    A new route connecting the city and nearby islands is about to be unveiled in Incheon. Set to open early next year, the Incheon 3rd Crossing Bridge is drawing attention not just as a transportation link but as a rare experiential tourism bridge in Korea.

    The bridge offers more than a simple roadway. Its signature feature is a 184.2-meter-high main-tower observatory, already certified by the World Record Committee (WRC) in the United States as the world’s highest observatory on a sea bridge, gaining worldwide attention even before the opening.

    Building on this recognition, the city of Incheon is now seeking official registration with Guinness World Records, raising expectations that the observatory could become a major landmark for both domestic and international visitors.

    Complementing the observatory, a waterfront deck path and nighttime lighting display will create a new scenic route where visitors can enjoy the glow of the city from above the sea. In particular, the sunset-to-night lighting show is expected to deliver an atmosphere never before seen in existing sea bridges.


  • Japanese Idol Group FRUITS ZIPPER Completes Successful Korea Concert

    Japanese girl group FRUITS ZIPPER has successfully completed the Seoul stop of their first-ever Asia tour, marking a meaningful milestone since their debut.

    On the 29th, the group held “FRUITS ZIPPER 1st ASIA TOUR 2025 ‘We are FRUITS ZIPPER’” at Donghae Culture and Arts Center at Kwangwoon University, meeting Korean fans for the first time.

    “We are FRUITS ZIPPER” is the group’s first Asia tour since debut, with Seoul serving as the grand finale following performances in Taipei and Shanghai.

    The concert opened with “かがみ”, the title track from their 15th digital single released in January. The members also captured attention by greeting fans with “안녕!” in Korean and even modifying parts of the lyrics for their Korean audience.

    They then performed a series of their major singles, including ‘ぴゅあいんざわーるど’, ‘はちゃめちゃちゃライフ!’, ‘RADIO GALAXY’, ‘We are Frontier’, ‘Re→TRY & FLY’. Notably, their mega-hit “わたしの一番かわいいところ”, which has surpassed 3 billion views on TikTok, and their signature track “NEW KAWAII” drew explosive cheers from fans.

    FRUITS ZIPPER performed a total of 19 songs including two encore tracks. After the show, the group held a farewell session, personally thanking each fan who attended.

  • Olive Young Reveals 2025 Awards Highlighting Key K-Beauty Trends

    Olive Young has released the 2025 Olive Young Awards, a comprehensive summary of this year’s K-beauty and wellness trends based on 1.8 billion annual customer purchase data points.

    The awards analyzed data from July 2024 to June 2025 and selected 166 top products across 40 categories, reaffirming Olive Young’s position as Korea’s leading beauty authority.

    Reflecting rapidly evolving consumer behavior, the award categories were significantly expanded this year. New additions include the Self-Beauty (Home Care) category, the Lifestyle category that captures preference-driven consumption, a newly established Hand Care category in response to rising attention to hand treatments, and an Oral After-Care category focused on post-brushing breath care, showcasing finely segmented customer needs.

    With the global influence of K-beauty continuing to grow, the Global category was also strengthened. Three new subcategories—Best Performer, Rising, and Rookie—were added. The results reflect both domestic offline purchase data and global insights from Olive Young Global Mall, which serves users across 150 countries.

    Winners of the 2025 Awards will be available starting on the 30th through the Olive Young online mall.

  • Jungwoo Unveils Animation-Like Visuals Ahead of ‘SUGAR’ Release

    Jungwoo NCT memberikan hadiah spesial untuk para penggemar menjelang wajib militernya.

    Pada tanggal 28, Jungwoo akan merilis single pertamanya ‘SUGAR’ melalui berbagai platform musik. Dengan jadwal wajib militer pada 8 Desember, ini menjadi single solo pertamanya sejak debut, sehingga menarik perhatian besar. Foto teaser yang dirilis bersamaan langsung mencuri perhatian karena visual Jungwoo disebut mirip “Saja Boys Baby” dari animasi Netflix populer K-pop Demon Hunters. Visualnya yang seolah keluar dari animasi, dipadukan dengan rambut mint, membuat antusiasme untuk lagu baru semakin tinggi.

    Jungwoo juga akan merayakan hari perilisan bersama para penggemar. Pada 28 November pukul 15.00 dan 20.00, ia akan menggelar fanmeeting solo pertamanya, ‘Golden Sugar Time’, di Ticketlink Live Arena (Gymnasium Bola Tangan), Olympic Park, Seoul.

  • Kimchi Probiotics Proven Effective for Joint Health

    The World Institute of Kimchi has transferred its joint-health improvement technology, developed using kimchi-derived probiotics, to ACE Biome, accelerating the development of functional bio-health materials.

    As aging accelerates and high-intensity exercise becomes more common, demand for joint-care solutions is rapidly increasing. This has positioned kimchi-based probiotic ingredients as a high-growth sector in the next-generation functional food market.

    The technology is based on experimental findings showing that Lactobacillus plantarum WiKim0175, isolated from kimchi, suppresses inflammatory responses and alleviates cartilage cell damage. Along with the technology transfer, the institute signed an MOU with ACE Biome for joint research, academic cooperation, and technical consulting, establishing a framework for commercialization. The achievement is regarded as a promising scientific step toward slowing the progression of arthritis.

    Both organizations plan to pursue step-by-step commercialization, including product development, functionality evaluation, human clinical trials, and official health functional food certification. Human trials, in particular, are essential for ingredient approval, and scientifically verified results are expected to lead to highly reliable joint-health products entering the market.

  • “Grandma Vests” Become the New Winter Trend Among MZ Generation

    The “Kimjang vest,” also known as the “grandma vest,” is rising as a major winter fashion trend, becoming a popular item among people in their teens and twenties. With a warm, nostalgic charm blended with retro aesthetics, the item evokes childhood memories and emotional comfort. Its rapid spread aligns with the growing “Halmenial” trend that reinterprets old-fashioned style through a modern emotional lens.

    According to the search platform Black Kiwi, searches for “Kimjang vest” and “grandma vest” surged over the past month, recording 54,500 and 30,790 searches respectively. Notably, users in their teens and twenties accounted for 24.9 percent and those in their thirties 21 percent, highlighting the strong interest among younger generations. Celebrity influence has also played a major role. When BLACKPINK’s Jennie and aespa’s Karina were seen wearing retro floral vests on social media, fan communities responded with explosive enthusiasm.

    Experts say this trend is more than a simple revival of retro fashion. It reflects a societal desire for familiarity and warmth, along with a broader movement to reinterpret old styles with contemporary sentiment. As a result, the Kimjang vest has firmly established itself as a fashion piece that carries a symbolic “warmth of the heart.”

  • WOWPASS K-POP Payment Card Becomes a Must-Have for Foreign Tourists

    The K-POP payment card launched by WOWPASS, a payment platform designed for foreign visitors, is gaining explosive popularity among global travelers coming to Korea. More than a simple payment tool, the card offers the joy of “carrying your favorite idol in your wallet,” adding emotional excitement to the travel experience.

    Orange Square, the operator of WOWPASS, stated that its K-POP card created in collaboration with JYP Entertainment is receiving strong responses from foreign tourists. Although shaped like a photocards, it functions as an all-in-one prepaid payment card with built-in currency exchange and transportation features, making it a meaningful collectible on its own. Versions featuring JYP artists such as DAY6, TWICE, Stray Kids, ITZY, Xdinary Heroes, and NMIXX have been released, quickly becoming a “must-have travel item” for fans worldwide.

    On social media, reviews such as “I’m happy every time I pay with my favorite idol’s picture” and “It feels like I’m closer to them” continue to spread. As advance purchase requests from fans increased ahead of their trips to Korea, WOWPASS introduced the nation’s first ‘payment-type photocard international delivery system’. This not only meets the needs of global travelers but also gives fans an early sense of excitement for their upcoming K-POP pilgrimage, contributing to inbound tourism growth.

    Orange Square plans to continue offering collaborations that blend K-POP emotion with travel experiences, aiming to provide visiting global fans with an even more special journey in Korea.

  • PLAVE Mesmerizes 18,500 Fans With Cinematic Stage Effects

    Virtual idol group PLAVE captivated 18,500 fans at their “DASH: Quantum Leap” encore concert held at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome on the 21st, delivering cinematic stage transitions and highly immersive performances.

    In their debut year, PLAVE achieved one million first-week album sales and topped Japan’s Oricon chart, marking strong global success. Beginning in August, the group launched their first Asia tour across six cities including Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Jakarta, with the Gocheok Dome performance serving as the grand finale.

    Debuting in 2023, PLAVE is a five-member virtual idol group whose performances are created through real singers and dancers working offstage, while their characters express the movements in real time.

    During the concert, they energized the venue with hit songs like “Watch Me Woo!,” “Virtual Idol,” and “RIZZ,” and connected with fans through piano performances, a live band, and extended stage interactions. Their cover of TVXQ’s “MIROTIC” and individual solo stages also drew strong reactions.

    In the later part of the show, they wrapped up the night with “Pump up the volume,” “I’ll Wait,” their new single “BBUU!,” and “Bongsunga.”

    Fans waved light sticks and filled the dome with photos, while PLAVE expressed gratitude to their fandom PLY, saying, “This stage is a new beginning.”