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  • Gyeongbokgung Opens Geoncheonggung and Hyangwonjeong to Public

    For the first time in years, the interiors of Geoncheonggung and Hyangwonjeong at Gyeongbokgung Palace—normally off-limits to the public—will be open for special tours starting October 15.

    The Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office under the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 1st that it will operate a program titled “Light and Shadow of Joseon: A Special Stroll at Geoncheonggung and Hyangwonjeong” every Wednesday to Friday from October 15 to 31.

    Built in 1873, Geoncheonggung is historically significant as the site where Korea’s first electric lights were installed in 1887. King Gojong and Queen Myeongseong resided here during the late Joseon Dynasty. The complex consists of Jangandang, the king’s quarters, and Gonnyeonghap, the queen’s residence.

    Hyangwonjeong, constructed atop a pond, was a royal retreat renowned for its architectural beauty in the late Joseon era. Visitors who join the special program will be guided by professional docents through the interiors of both Geoncheonggung and Hyangwonjeong. Reservations open at 2 p.m. on October 2 via Nol Ticket (https://nol.interpark.com). Each session is limited to 20 people (maximum two tickets per person), with an admission fee of 10,000 KRW (including palace entry).

  • Park Bo-gum Brings Korean Tradition to Global Landmarks

    The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation announced that actor Park Bo-gum will present a special hanbok pictorial as part of the “2025 Hanbok Wave” project.

    “Hanbok Wave” is an annual initiative where hanbok designers and Hallyu stars collaborate to reinterpret traditional attire in modern styles and present them on the global stage. This year, Park Bo-gum was chosen as the sole model to highlight the elegance of men’s hanbok.

    The pictorial features four designs: a scholar-style hanbok embroidered with hibiscus patterns, a reinterpretation of Goguryeo clothing, designs inspired by the jeogori and cheollik, and a piece expressing vitality through traditional landscape paintings.

    The pictorial video will be screened on Chuseok (October 6) at New York’s Times Square, Milan’s Piazza del Duomo, and Tokyo’s Shinjuku billboards, followed by releases in Paris and Seoul’s Myeongdong.

    Additional photos and interview footage will be shared via the ministry and KCDF’s official SNS, while a printed photo book will be published as a special edition of Harper’s Bazaar Korea on October 10.

  • Xdinary Heroes Announce Comeback with New Mini Album ‘LXVE to DEATH’

    JYP Entertainment’s boy band Xdinary Heroes (XH) will make their comeback on October 24 with a brand-new release.

    On October 1 at noon, JYP unveiled a comeback poster on its official SNS channels, announcing that Xdinary Heroes will drop their new mini album “LXVE to DEATH” on October 24.

    This year, the band showcased a variety of performances, from their world tour “Beautiful Mind” to their July concert “Xdinary Heroes Summer Special〈The Xcape〉” at Seoul’s Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, where they spent a memorable summer night with fans. Riding this momentum, the group also made their first appearance at the global music festival “Lollapalooza Chicago” held at Grant Park, Illinois.

    The new mini album “LXVE to DEATH” will be released on October 24 at 1 p.m. KST across major music platforms.

  • Real Barrier Unveils Limited Pogon Village Collaboration

    Real Barrier has released three limited-edition products in collaboration with Pogon Village.

    The packaging follows the “Happy Barrier Day!” concept, featuring the characters Ddakjwi and Fairy Mouse celebrating the brand’s 10th anniversary, enhancing its collectible appeal. The lineup includes: △ Extreme Cream Original △ Extreme Cream Light △ Cera Hydrating Barrier Sun Cream. The flagship Extreme Cream Original is a certified functional product for skin barrier recovery and a bestseller with over 2.5 million units sold. The Light version offers lightweight, refreshing hydration, while the sun cream provides 12-hour UV protection and moisture retention.

    It will also be available as an Olive Young exclusive set, with buyers receiving Pogon Village-themed gifts such as a keyring, scrunchie, and sticker.

    This partnership highlights the brand’s expertise while adding a fun touch through characters beloved by the MZ generation.

  • A Taste of Oktoberfest in Korea’s Namhae German Village

    Namhae German Village is a unique destination where the blue sea meets red rooftops, not just a tourist spot but a living community that holds the lives and history of Korean miners and nurses dispatched to Germany in the 1960s.

    The houses in the village were built with authentic German materials and architectural methods, filled with the affection and sincerity of the Korean-German community. At the Dispatch to Germany Exhibition Hall, visitors can see original passports, work uniforms, and nursing tools, offering a vivid glimpse into their dedication.

    The village’s charm peaks during the German Village Beer Festival, held every early October. This year, it runs from October 2 to 4, transforming the entire village into a grand festival resembling Munich’s Oktoberfest, complete with performances, events, and abundant food.

    Namhae German Village is not only a scenic destination perfect for memorable photos but also a historic site honoring the lives of the generation who played an important role in Korea’s modern history. Beneath the red rooftops, gazing at the dazzling Namhae sea, visitors can find not just joy but also deep resonance and inspiration.

  • Korean Pop Art on Display in Hong Kong: Kitsch & Pop Exhibition

    The Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Seoul Museum of Art, will host the exhibition “Kitsch & Pop: The Present of Korean Pop Art” from October 2 to November 22.

    The exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), as part of the “Touring K-Arts” project, which travels from Shanghai to Hong Kong.

    Its aim is to re-examine Korean pop art—relatively undervalued amid the global spread of K-pop and K-culture—within the context of contemporary art, while also introducing Korean culture through visual arts connected to music, fashion, film, and cuisine.

    The exhibition revolves around two key themes: “Individualized Pop” (Korean pop art contextualized within mass consumption, globalism, and postmodernism of the 2000s) and “Cool-Kitsch” (the creative sensibility of young artists in the age of the internet, SNS, and AI). It will showcase both new works by emerging artists active since the 2010s and pieces from the early-to-mid 2000s.

    The director of the Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong stated, “This is a meaningful opportunity to showcase the experimental and creative spirit of Korean contemporary art at Hong Kong, a crossroads of international culture,” adding that the exhibition is expected to spark the global expansion of Korean pop art.

  • Nagoya Welcomes Korean Hair Salon Brand WENEED

    Korean premium hair salon brand WENEED will open its first store in Nagoya, Japan this October, marking its entry into the overseas market.

    WENEED operates 31 salons across Korea and has gained attention for its designer-centered management philosophy. The Japan launch is made possible through a partnership with COMS Group, a company with 50 years of history, and introduces a “shared salon model” to the Japanese market for the first time. Under this structure, designers freely utilize salon space, while the headquarters provides marketing and training support—a rare format in Japan.

    WENEED is setting itself apart with the strategy of being “the place to experience Korea’s latest hair trends first.” At the Nagoya location, renowned Korean designers will hold monthly seminars to train local stylists in the newest K-beauty styles, while customers will have early access to the trendiest looks.

    Starting with Nagoya, WENEED plans to expand to major Japanese cities including Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. The company emphasized, “This entry into Japan marks the first step in sharing K-beauty with the world,” expressing its ambition for global expansion.

  • BTS Suga Opens Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center with ₩5 Billion Donatio

    Severance Hospital announced the opening of the “Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center” on the first floor of Jejung Hall on the 30th.

    The center was established with a ₩5 billion donation made in June by BTS member Suga (Min Yoon-gi) to Severance Children’s Hospital. It features therapy rooms for language and behavioral treatment, as well as a music and social skills group therapy room equipped with soundproofing and acoustic facilities. The cozy waiting area also displays wooden artworks by an autistic spectrum disorder artist.

    From late last year to early this year, Suga worked with Professor Chun Keun-ah to meet children with autism spectrum disorder, offering music volunteer work including guitar performances. Based on this experience, Suga and Professor Chun co-developed the “MIND” program, incorporating music into therapy, establishing the world’s first university hospital system that integrates art with medicine for treatment and independence.

    The MIND program, built on non-verbal music therapy, is effective even for children with low cognitive abilities or those who do not respond verbally. It encourages self-expression by letting children choose instruments and supports social skills such as waiting their turn during ensemble sessions. A professional team—including child psychiatrists, music therapists, speech therapists, behavioral therapists, and clinical psychologists—collaborates to provide tailored treatments through case-based discussions.

    Experts note that as music therapy is globally recognized for its effectiveness, this center is expected to become an innovative model combining art and medicine. Moreover, Suga’s philanthropic act is anticipated to positively influence social awareness of children with autism.

  • Trend Korea 2026: Balancing Technology and Humanity

    Since 2008, Seoul National University Professor Emeritus Kim Nan-do, Korea’s leading consumer trend researcher and author of the annual Trend Korea series, has forecast the year’s consumer patterns. For 2026, he identified “AI” and “humanity” as the defining keywords.

    The report highlights ten key terms: Human-in-the-Loop, Philconomy, Zero-Click, Ready-Core, AX Organization, Pixel Life, Price Decoding, Health Quotient (HQ), 1.5 Households, and Fundamentalism. Some reflect the growing influence of AI, while others emphasize emotion, tradition, and essential values.

    In particular, while AI dominates every sector, keywords such as “Zero-Click” and “AX Organization” demonstrate its direct technological impact. Meanwhile, “Philconomy” and “Fundamentalism” represent a trend toward prioritizing human-centered and fundamental values.

    Professor Kim stressed that “as AI advances, human involvement, emotion, and traditional values become increasingly important,” emphasizing that 2026 will be a consumer era where technology and humanity coexist.

  • TREASURE Confirms 2025-26 Asia Tour with 26 Shows

    YG Entertainment announced on the 29th via its official SNS the poster for the “2025-26 TREASURE TOUR [PULSE ON],” unveiling more details of the tour that will kick off at Seoul’s KSPO DOME on October 10–12.

    According to the announcement, TREASURE will meet local fans next year on March 6 at The Venetian Arena in Macau, March 28 at NTSU Arena in Taipei, April 18 at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, April 25–26 at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta, May 3 at Singapore Indoor Stadium, May 9 at AsiaWorld-Arena in Hong Kong, and May 30 at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

    The group had already revealed concerts in Seoul and Japan’s Tokyo, Aichi, Fukuoka, Kanagawa, and Osaka. With the addition of Macau and Kuala Lumpur, the tour now spans 14 cities and 26 shows. However, the Bangkok schedule and venue remain unannounced, heightening anticipation among global fans.