The “2025 Hangang Light Show” was held on the evening of September 7 at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul’s Gwangjin District, where more than 1,200 drones lit up the sky with a spectacular display themed around Netflix’s animation K-POP DEMON HUNTERS (Kedehon).
Four more performances are scheduled for September 13, 20, 26, and October 18. Each show will feature 1,200 drones recreating Seoul landmarks such as Cheongdam Bridge and Bukchon Hanok Village, along with characters from K-pop Demon Hunters, leaving audiences with unforgettable memories.
The online ticketing system for the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has once again crashed this year, drawing a flood of complaints from movie fans.
When ticket sales for the opening film, Open Cinema, and Midnight Passion sections began at 2 p.m. on September 5, errors in seat selection and failed payment attempts occurred repeatedly.
Fans voiced frustration, saying, “Every time I selected a seat, it showed as already sold,” and “The payment button wouldn’t work, forcing me to start over.” Many eventually gave up on booking altogether.
The issue is especially problematic as it repeats last year’s failure. BIFF, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, switched to a new ticketing system provider, but critics argue, “It makes you wonder if they even tested it properly.” Online communities and social media were filled with posts like, “Why is BIFF ticketing a mess every single year?”
BIFF officials explained that while some bookings went through normally, the system became unstable due to a surge of initial traffic. Still, disappointment and distrust among fans remain high.
After last year’s refund fiasco, the repetition of such problems is seen as a blow to BIFF’s credibility as an international film festival.
LE SSERAFIM surprised fans at their first North American tour concert by announcing their comeback this October, sparking thunderous cheers from the crowd.
Their setlist ranged from debut track “FEARLESS” to songs from their latest 5th mini album HOT, with local fans singing along in Korean and turning the venue into one massive chorus.
The members expressed gratitude, saying, “This moment feels even more emotional thanks to our fans who waited so long.” Member Huh Yunjin especially moved the audience to tears, recalling, “Eight years ago, I dreamed of one day standing on this stage while sitting in this very audience. Today, that dream came true.”
For the encore, they performed “DIFFERENT (English ver.),” “Perfect Night,” and “No-Return (Into the unknown),” sharing close moments with fans until the very end.
Their new single, produced once again by Bang Si-hyuk, marks their first comeback in about seven months and is already heightening global fans’ anticipation.
Korea’s MZ generation is increasingly drawn to new “rising sneakers” under the trend of “Ditto consumption.” While steady sellers like Nike Air Force and adidas Samba remain strong, emerging brands such as ALO and PUMA, along with collaboration models, are rapidly gaining traction.
According to the “KREAM Report” by Korea’s limited-edition trading platform KREAM, purchasing patterns strongly tied to social media and celebrity influence are becoming evident. The “ALO Sunset Sneakers” worn by Kendall Jenner saw searches spike 469% in a single day, while PUMA’s “H-Street OG” worn by Rosé recorded a transaction surge of over 30,000%. Mizuno’s “Racer Trail SE,” despite not being released in Korea, also saw a sharp increase in trades thanks to social media buzz.
Collaboration products such as “New Balance × Tokyo Design Studio,” “On Running × PAF,” and “Nike × Hyein Seo” are showing strong demand with premium prices, fueling the ongoing collaboration craze.
Industry insiders noted, “The recent sneaker trend is defined by rising sneakers that quickly absorb the interest and transactions of the MZ generation, driven by the influence of social media and celebrities.”
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will host the “2025 Hangang Light Show (Drone Light Show)” on September 7 at 8 p.m. at Ttukseom Hangang Park.
Additional shows are scheduled for September 13, 20, 26, and October 18. A total of 1,200 drones will illuminate the night sky over the Han River, depicting Seoul landmarks featured in KPOP-DEMON HUNTERS—such as Cheongdam Bridge and Bukchon Hanok Village—along with characters from the series, creating unforgettable memories for spectators.
Ahead of the main drone show, a cultural performance featuring KPOP-DEMON HUNTERS cover dances and songs will take place at 7 p.m. There will also be a photo event with special costumes and face painting.
The cultural program will be held in two parts: Part 1 from 7:00–8:00 p.m., and Part 2 from 8:15–8:45 p.m. immediately after the drone show.
The city of Seoul advised checking announcements in advance as the schedule may change depending on weather conditions, and recommended using public transportation to avoid congestion.
Since the drone light show takes place in the sky, it can be viewed for free from anywhere near the Hangang Park venue. Event information is available on the official website (www.seouldroneshow.com) and Instagram (@seouldroneshow_official).
Gwangneung Forest, home to the Korean natural monument bird Dryocopus javensis and designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, will be open to the public on the 27th–28th.
Normally closed to visitors, this forest is revealed only during the annual Gwangneung Forest Festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with an enriched lineup of programs.
The festival offers forest walks, forest yoga, guided nature tours, and interactive experiences, along with busking performances, photo zones, and rest areas that combine culture with relaxation.
Special events such as a “Forest Nap Contest” in collaboration with Yuhan-Kimberly, eco-friendly campaign booths, and YouTube content creation will add further meaning to the celebration.
To ensure visitor convenience, Namyangju City will operate free shuttle buses from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., connecting Jinjeop Station, Kyungbok University, and the military base parking lot. The festival is open to everyone without prior registration.
Ticket reservations for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which marks its 30th anniversary this year, will begin on September 5.
On the 29th, the BIFF Secretariat announced the reservation schedule for the festival, which opens on the 17th of next month.
Reservations for the opening and closing ceremonies will start at 2 p.m. on September 5, alongside bookings for Open Cinema outdoor screenings, Midnight Passion late-night screenings, Actors’ House, and Community BIFF events. General screenings will be available for reservation starting at 2 p.m. on September 9. The screening timetable will be released at 6 p.m. on the 29th.
Reservations can be made online via the official BIFF website (biff.kr). Tickets for films not sold out online, or for those that become available due to cancellations, can be purchased at the BIFF ticket booth on site.
The “2025 Korea Grand Music Awards (2025 KGMA)” will be held on November 14–15 at Inspire Arena in Incheon.
The organizing committee announced its first lineup, featuring BOYNEXTDOOR, Stray Kids, IVE, ATEEZ, Kiss of Life, and FIFTY FIFTY (in alphabetical order), signaling a grand K-pop festival.
The lineup includes global achievers such as Stray Kids, who hold the record for the most No.1s on the Billboard 200; IVE, who performed at Lollapalooza for two consecutive years; and ATEEZ, who made back-to-back entries on the Billboard Hot 100.
Rising groups like BOYNEXTDOOR, Kiss of Life, and FIFTY FIFTY will also join, presenting performances that span different generations.
The committee plans to reveal additional second and third lineup announcements. The awards ceremony will spotlight not only K-pop but also achievements in other genres, including bands and trot. Hosting the two-day event will be Red Velvet’s Irene, Kiss of Life’s Natty, and actress Nam Ji-hyun.
Korea’s traditional liquor industry is actively launching miniature products. Small-sized bottles not only allow consumers to experience premium liquors at reasonable prices but also serve as valuable gifts and collectibles. Distilled liquor miniatures, in particular, have lower risks of spoilage and are increasingly popular as overseas gifts, driving steady market growth.
In this trend, Jeju Citrus introduced a new 100㎖ miniature version of its mandarin-distilled liquor Shillye Myeongju. Just like the original 750㎖ bottle, it is distilled from fermented Jeju mandarins and aged in oak barrels, with the packaging refreshed in a triangular design. Shillye Myeongju is crafted from mandarins harvested by about 140 farms in Shillye Village, Seogwipo, offering subtle smoky, citrus, and vanilla notes with a smooth finish from one year of aging.
Breweries expect miniature products to make traditional liquors more approachable while enhancing brand promotion. Shillye Myeongju also won a Gold Medal at Belgium’s Monde Selection last year, earning international recognition for its quality. The release of this miniature version is expected to help showcase the appeal of Korean distilled spirits worldwide.
The Netflix animation K-pop Demon Hunters OST track “Golden” has secured the No.1 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 main singles chart for the third week in a row.
Following Stray Kids’ album KARMA reaching No.1 on the Billboard 200, this marks the first time in about five years since BTS’s BE and “Life Goes On” that K-pop has simultaneously dominated both the singles and albums charts.
During the latest tracking week, “Golden” racked up 35.3 million streams (+4%), 19.7 million radio airplay impressions (+21%), and 9,000 sales (+11%), maintaining its explosive momentum. Its 10-week chart run shows a steady climb: 81 → 23 → 6 → 4 → 2 → 2 → 1 → 2 → 1 → 1. This achievement makes “Golden” the third K-pop song to hold No.1 on the Hot 100 for at least three weeks, following BTS’s “Butter” (10 weeks) and “Dynamite” (3 weeks).
This week’s Hot 100 top 10 also features four tracks from the OST, with “Your Idol” at No.4, “Soda Pop” at No.5, and “How It’s Done” at No.9, further showcasing the soundtrack’s global dominance.
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