Latest news with #K-content
Korea Herald
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'Hallyu' expert publishes 'Next Korean Wave' to present future vision
Saebit Publishing, a leading Korean publisher, said Monday it has published a new book, "Next Korean Wave: The Future of Hallyu Shaped by Entertainment and Technology," by Samseog Ko, a leading expert in Korean content and IT policy. This comprehensive volume explores the challenges and opportunities facing "hallyu," the Korean Wave or the global boom of Korean pop culture, in the era of artificial intelligence and digital transformation and presents a bold vision for Korea's future as a global cultural powerhouse. Over the past 30 years, hallyu has become Korea's signature brand, a powerful cultural asset and a key driver of national competitiveness and future growth. Dramas, K-pop and other K-content have achieved global success, making hallyu a defining cultural phenomenon of the 21st century. However, the Korean Wave now faces new threats: anti-hallyu sentiment due to cultural differences, lack of content diversity and fan fatigue. Experts have raised concerns about the "crisis" or "peak" of hallyu, warning of potential stagnation if these issues are not addressed. Additionally, the domestic content industry's heavy reliance on global streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube has weakened its self-sufficiency and ecosystem sustainability, raising concerns about hallyu's long-term viability. The rise of generative AI and advanced technologies are also bringing revolutionary changes to the content industry, fundamentally transforming how content is created, produced and consumed. This book asks fundamental questions: "Can hallyu remain sustainable in the age of AI?" and "What roles should K-content and hallyu play at home and abroad?" Ko answers these questions through vivid accounts of his field research in Southeast Asia, the United States, China and other hallyu hotspots. The book consists of two main parts. Chapter 1 summarizes hallyu's past and present. It examines the path hallyu has taken over the past 30 years. Chapter 2 consists of content contemplating hallyu's future. It contemplates the future of hallyu centered on the combination of entertainment and technology, including content, and presents specific measures for what to do and how for sustainable hallyu. By introducing in detail the global content and IT trends that the author personally observed at CES, the world's largest IT exhibition, and SXSW, a content festival, it presents the direction that the domestic content industry and hallyu should take. Ko currently serves as chair professor at Dongguk University's AI Convergence College and standing representative of the National Assembly Entertech Forum. He served as chairman of the K-Culture Strategy Committee under the Global Responsible Power Nation Committee directly under Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung.
Korea Herald
08-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
K-beauty's US crown under tariff strain in 2 minutes
Korean beauty, born from local culture, is now soaring on a global scale. Its triumph is most vividly illustrated in the US, where it became the top cosmetics exporter in 2024, surpassing former leader France for the first time. Despite this meteoric rise, however, a question remains: How far can K-beauty go at this pivotal juncture, now clouded by looming tariffs? Success formula • Global K-content wave meets lab-developed innovation, popularized through e-commerce • Localized, high-quality products with clean formulations tailored for US consumers • Strong foothold on Amazon, with competitive pricing fueling demand • Viral marketing on TikTok and Instagram, opening new channels like TikTok Shop • Expansion into major US retailers: Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Walmart and Target Navigating US regulations • Compliance with the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act rules for Food and Drug Administration registration, product listing and labeling • Dedicated compliance teams at beauty giants and major original design manufacturers • Successful product testing and certification for over-the-counter sunscreens Tariff headwinds • Delayed 25 percent tariff set for July 9 alongside existing 10 percent tariffs • Growing concerns over won-dollar exchange rate and its impact on import prices • Expansion of US-based production by companies such as Kolmar Korea and Cosmax • Increased US investments by Amorepacific and LG H&H, including LG's $130 million capital infusion and Amorepacific's US facility plan What's next? • Long-term strategy emphasizing technological leadership, product innovation • Shift in innovation focus to AI-powered devices and next-generation beauty technology
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Mercy For None: 3 reasons you can't skip this Netflix webtoon adaptation serving up Korean noir action with So Ji Sub and Lee Jun Hyuk
Starring the iconic So Ji Sub, Netflix drops another Korean action noir masterclass into its growing K-content slate. The mini-series, based on the Naver webtoon, follows Gi Jun, a former gangster who vanished 11 years ago and now returns to avenge his brother's death. The webtoon (2020–2021) was an instant hit. The show's got all the right hooks, an impressive cast, emotionally-fuelled action, a plot that doesn't play by the rules, raw brawls, and a finale that'll stick with you. Ahead of the premiere, the series teased key details, not to be missed in the series. Also read: Good Boy first Impression: Don't be fooled by 'Pouty' Park Bo Gum, he's delivering career-best punches After Bloodhounds, The Glory, My Name, Beyond Evil and more, there's a new name in the noir binge club. Directed by Choi Seong Eun, the series brings together a high-powered lineup, led by So Ji-sub as Ki Jun. His casting is fan-picked. Webtoon loyalists had him in mind for the live-action from day one. The director admitted she was unsure at first, but after meeting him, she said, 'I felt he could carry Gi Jun's emotions. I had the space to create freely, with truly great ingredients.' His character in the series is quiet, limping, intense, and out for blood. You've seen So Ji Sub in I'm Sorry, I Love You and Master's Sun. Lee Jun Hyuk plays Ki Seok, the brother whose mysterious death sets everything off. Heo Joon Ho steps in as a gang boss and father figure to Seok. Gong Myoung brings in heat as the hot-headed heir of a rival gang, and Choo Young Woo slides into the role of a prosecutor who plays clean in public but is all rot underneath. Ahn Kil Kang, Lee Beom Soo, and Jo Han Chul round out the gang ensemble. And then there's Cha Seung-won, a total wildcard. You'll have to binge to find out. Also read: Popular Korean actor caught cheating, forced to quit shows after private photos explode online The unpredictable plot The best part of this genre often lies in its climax and plot twists, and Mercy for None checks both boxes. Ki Jun, who once cut his own Achilles tendon to cripple himself out of the crime world, is now limping back into it. His return is triggered by the shady death of his younger brother. But don't expect flashy, fast-paced action here. The director made it clear, they wanted the pace slow, the movements deliberate. No wasted punches. Just emotion-heavy sequences that keep pressing forward. 'I think it effectively conveys the character's struggle to forge ahead, no matter the odds,' he said. The show holds tight to the cold, sharp tone of the original webtoon, Plaza Wars. Two rival gangs, Ju Un and Bong San, battle for control, with old bosses and next-gen heirs in the mix. It's a world where mercy isn't just rare, it's a weakness. The K-drama has no flashy or stylised actions, with bodies flying in the air. No stylish punches or heroes walking out of explosions. Since action sits at the core, Mercy for None makes sure it's heavy, raw, and bruised. So Ji-sub said he treated fight scenes like dialogue. 'The director told us not to include unnecessary action. He said it would be better not to throw in action just for the sake of it during transitional scenes. When it comes to revenge, are we going to subdue these people or punish them? There's a difference, and we tried to make that distinction,' he told The Korea Herald. The idea was simple: if the emotion doesn't land, the action doesn't matter. So they let the rage, the guilt, the grief do the heavy lifting. Get ready for some intense basement brawls, back alley knife fights, and baseball bats. Mercy for None is streaming on Netflix.
Forbes
05-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Netflix, Martha Stewart, T.O.P And Lil Yachty Welcome You To The K-Era
Lil Yachty, Martha Stewart and T.O.P appear in Netflix's new K-content campaign. Let's face it—a collaboration between lifestyle mogul Martha Stewart and South Korean rapper and actor T.O.P was something no one saw coming, but that's precisely what happened when Netflix revealed its latest ad for Korean content. The two-minute video on Netflix's YouTube channel also features American rapper Lil Yachty, himself a longtime K-culture fan who famously paid tribute to the iconic K-pop boy band BIGBANG (of which T.O.P is a former member) in 2016 by freestyling to their songs. (And seeing as how T.O.P is clearly his favorite BIGBANG member based on that clip, it was probably only a matter of time before he and the real T.O.P found themselves in the same video.) In Netflix's promotional clip, Stewart is caught crying while watching the hit K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines. When told that she doesn't speak Korean, Stewart responds, 'I don't, it speaks to me.' Stewart is later seen actively engaging with and taking cues from other blockbuster Korean shows like Squid Game, All of Us Are Dead and Physical: 100. She also chats with Lil Yachty about Single's Inferno while wearing a snail mucin sheet mask on her face—one of (many) items popularized by the ever-growing K-beauty trend. T.O.P (real name Choi Seung-hyun), who plays Thanos in Squid Game season 2, appears in Stewart's dressing room in the latter half of the video and flashes her the classic Korean 'finger heart' sign. At this point, the camera cuts to a barrage of additional K-culture references found throughout the room, from the song 'Like Jennie' by BLACKPINK member Jennie blasting from a speaker to a tray filled with Korean snacks and beverages to Stewart wearing an Extraordinary Attorney Woo T-shirt. 'I've seen this before… You're in deep on K-content. Don't worry, she'll be fine,' T.O.P remarks, at least according to the English subtitles. (A more literal translation of what he actually says would be something like: 'Oh, I see you're hooked on not only K-content but Korean culture as well. Don't worry, that happens to everyone.') He then makes his exit with the now-iconic 'Skrrt!'—which all three stars repeat at the very end while dressed in Squid Game tracksuits. Social media reactions to the unexpected collab have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with many users praising Netflix for the surprise video and gushing over T.O.P's appearance in the clip. Some of the user comments on the "Welcome to Your K-Era" video on Netflix's YouTube channel More user comments on Netflix's new K-content promotional video Commenter on YouTube references the 2016 BIGBANG tribute video in which Lil Yachty raps and talks to ... More cardboard cutouts of BIGBANG members. Screenshot of a post on X Netflix's slogan for its 'Welcome to Your K-Era' campaign is 'You Don't Have to Speak It to Love It' (for anyone who's interested, a more literal translation of the Korean phrase would be: 'Even if you don't know the language, you know the feeling!'), acknowledging the power of K-content to resonate with audiences across the globe despite the language barrier. That said, as an aside, it should be noted that the Korean language is also experiencing a worldwide boom these days. For instance, a recent study by the Modern Language Association found that out of the 15 most commonly taught foreign languages at U.S. colleges and universities, Korean was the only language to show remarkable growth between 2016 and 2021—a whopping 38.3% increase in enrollment over that five-year period. Biblical Hebrew and American Sign Language were the only other languages that showed increased enrollment—9.1% and 0.8% respectively—while all other foreign languages showed a marked decline in enrollment over that time period. To feed your K-content obsession—and perhaps help you improve your Korean listening comprehension skills—Netflix now has a 'Welcome to Your K-Era' panel on its interface, which serves as a one-stop shop to find all your favorite Korean films and shows on Netflix. (Tip for those new to Korean movies and shows: ALWAYS watch them subbed, NEVER dubbed!) Residents of Los Angeles, California might have also seen these Netflix billboards along Sunset Boulevard featuring Korean-only captions, often superimposed on ads for popular Netflix Korean shows: Billboard in LA with Netflix's new K-content slogan "You Don't Have to Speak It to Love It" written ... More in Korean (a more literal translation would be: "Even if you don't know the language, you know the feeling!") Netflix billboard in LA for 'Squid Game' that reads, "It's now time to end the game" in Korean Netflix billboard in LA for 'Single's Inferno' that reads, "Jun-seo over Tae-oh, you've crossed the ... More line" in Korean Netflix billboard in LA for 'The Glory' that reads, "You've messed with the wrong person" in Korean There's also a video billboard in New York City's Times Square that shows all of these ads along with a few more featuring other Korean shows. Below is a still frame for the K-zombie thriller All of Us Are Dead: Netflix digital billboard in Times Square for 'All of Us Are Dead.' The Korean words read, "Now our ... More school is in the middle of a survival class." Netflix's K-content promotional campaign comes on the heels of its global fan event Tudum, which featured many K-culture moments both during and in the lead-up to the live event held in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 31st. That weekend, Tudum coincided with other events in Los Angeles that celebrated K-culture, including an epic sold-out concert by K-pop boy band Stray Kids (whose global fanbase is predominantly non-Korean), a concert by Korean singing legend Baek Ji-young, and 88rising's annual Head in the Clouds music festival, which saw many K-indie and K-pop artists take the stage at the Rose Bowl, including BIGBANG's leader G-Dragon (dubbed by many fans as the 'King of K-pop') and iconic K-pop girl group 2NE1. As I've mentioned before, it's a K-content world, and we're all just living in it. And Netflix is one of the players leading the Korean Wave, known as 'Hallyu" (한류) in Korean.
Pink Villa
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
BLACKPINK's Jennie and ex-BIGBANG's T.O.P appear in surprising K-pop x Squid Game crossover, fans react
K-pop fans are abuzz with excitement over an unexpected crossover involving BLACKPINK's Jennie and former BIGBANG member T.O.P. And no, it's neither a dating rumour nor a joint music release or a physical meeting that got fans excited. It's something entirely different, and fans have gone into a frenzy due to this. It was about a recent appearance of T.O.P in a video that had a surprising Jennie connection. Jennie connection in T.O.P's K-content promotion Netflix recently unveiled a video including snippets from its popular South Korean shows like All of Us Are Dead, When Life Gives You Tangerines and Single's Inferno 4. The video titled "Martha Stewart, @lilyachty, and T.O.P invite you to enter your K-Era" aimed at promoting Netflix's K-content, through short skits of the mentioned people. T.O.P appeared at the end as a Squid Game 2 cast, pretending to walk into a Hallyu wave-hit Martha Stewart. As he looks around to check how much she was into the K-culture currently, he sees Koren snacks, Martha Stewart wearing a t-shirt featuring Park Eun Bin and hears a radio playing Jennie's Like JENNIE. This unexpected crossover delighted the fans. Check out fan reactions to Like JENNIE X T.O.P crossover T.O.P's former group BIGBANG and Jennie's BLACKPINK are two of the biggest names in the K-pop industry and both belong to YG Entertainment. However, the two artist in question previously announced their departure from the group, and following that, there were almost no chances of their public appearances together. However, the usage of Ruby album's Like JENNIE as a background music for T.O.P got fans thrilled. They gushed over the "T.O.P X JENNIE CRUMBS" and said, "YG/Ex YG remaining on top because they're using T.O.P and Jennie's song in the background." A lot of fans of the idols made their joint edits and jokingly labelled them "father daughter." Fans couldn't get over it and demanded more such content release in the future. A T.O.P and Jennie collaboration, whether in music or acting, would be a dream come true for fans. They are eagerly hoping for their wish to come true.
