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  • 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.”

  • AGF2025 Confirms Exclusive Booth for Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle

    The animated film “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle”, which is on the verge of becoming the highest-grossing release of the year, has announced its participation with an exclusive booth at AGF2025, drawing significant attention.

    AGF2025 will take place from December 5 to 7 at KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang. It is Korea’s largest official comprehensive subculture festival, covering not only anime and games but also manga, webtoons, light novels, anisong, and virtual YouTubers. With exhibitions, merchandise sales & collaboration cafés, hands-on experiences, and stage programs, the festival attracts subculture fans from around the world.

    The film, which already achieved the highest opening score, top revenue, and No.1 audience ranking among Japanese films this year, is now on the brink of taking over the box office crown. News of its exclusive booth at AGF2025 has sparked an explosive response from fans.

    The booth will feature a variety of content revisiting iconic scenes from past installments, showcasing the intense world of Infinity Castle. Special gifts and events for visitors are also being prepared, raising expectations for an even more enthusiastic reception.

    Further details on the exclusive booth will be released sequentially through the official AGF2025 website and the social media channels of ANIMOVIE, ANIMAX, and ANIPLUS.

  • Nongshim Partners with aespa for Global Shin Ramyeon Campaign

    Nongshim has appointed aespa as the first global ambassador for Shin Ramyeon.
    With this collaboration with a leading global K-pop group, the company aims to promote its global slogan “Spicy Happiness In Noodles” worldwide.

    Nongshim explained that aespa’s image, known for transmitting energy through music, aligns perfectly with the Shin Ramyeon brand values. They also pointed out that aespa has naturally referenced Nongshim products since 2021, which positively influenced the decision.

    The first global Shin Ramyeon advertisement was produced in a music video style, breaking away from the usual format.
    The ad visualizes the unique spicy joy of Shin Ramyeon through aespa’s performance and vocals, showing consumers around the world enjoying the noodles with happiness. The ad’s ‘Shin Ramyeon dance’ adds fun by reinterpreting actions such as opening the ramen package, pouring water, and preparing chopsticks as part of the choreography.

    This advertisement will be digitally distributed mainly in key export markets such as the United States, China, Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

  • Granola Core Dominates Korean Winter Fashion, Says KREAM

    According to new data released by the fashion resale platform KREAM, the “Granola Core” trend has emerged as one of the strongest fashion shifts this winter based on a comparison of transaction records from October 2024 and October 2025. The term refers to a style inspired by natural, health-focused outdoor living—essentially, the look of someone who “seems like they eat granola.”

    KREAM’s October trend report shows that padded outerwear transactions rose by 108 percent year-over-year, while windbreakers increased by 28 percent. The early cold season, combined with the rise of Granola Core styling, has driven significant growth for outdoor brands such as The North Face, Arc’teryx, Salomon, and Montbell. The North Face, in particular, saw its transaction volume surge by 253 percent, dominating half of the top 10 padded jacket rankings with models like the Ventus, Wave, and Matiere gaining balanced popularity.

    Nature-inspired color palettes also saw heightened demand. The “Sansangear Surfex Puffer Jacket Gray” traded at a 335 percent premium compared to its original retail price. Beanies have likewise become essential styling items, with transactions among teenage male users rising by 41 percent, signaling a clear generational spread.

    A KREAM spokesperson noted that Granola Core has evolved beyond a passing trend to become a new fashion movement that merges nature and practicality, projecting that related items will continue to perform strongly.

  • Im Si-wan Announces First Solo Mini Album, The Reason, for December Release

    Im Si-wan, the first artist under SM Entertainment’s new music label SMArt, is set to release his first-ever solo mini album.

    Titled The Reason, the album features five tracks of varying moods, including the title track of the same name, and will be released in full on December 5 at 6 p.m. KST across major streaming platforms.

    The project marks a significant milestone for Im Si-wan, who has built a wide-ranging career as an actor through numerous acclaimed works. This album is his first solo release since debut, showcasing his personal musical taste and nuanced emotional expression. Fans are expected to discover a new side of him as a solo artist.

    The Reason will also be available in physical format starting December 5, with pre-orders opening on the 17th at both online and offline music retailers.