KOREAN NEWS

Located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, the Anyangcheon Stream Cherry Blossom Path is a scenic trail built along the embankment of the Anyangcheon Stream. It has long held the title of the longest cherry blossom stretch in Seoul, extending toward the border of Gwangmyeong City. The path's unique two-tier structure allows visitors to experience different atmospheres on the upper and lower levels of the embankment. On the upper trail, cherry tree branches from both sides intertwine

A heated debate erupted at the "Gwanghwamun Plaque Forum" held on March 31st at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. The discussion centered on a proposal by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to install an additional Hangeul (Korean alphabet) plaque beneath the existing Hanja (Chinese characters) plaque on Gwanghwamun Gate. The gate's signage has historically shifted between Hangeul (installed in 1968) and Hanja (restored in 2010), making this a highl

A heated debate has emerged regarding the mobilization of over 10,000 civil servants for the BTS comeback concert held at Gwanghwamun Square. While police and Seoul city officials initially forecasted a massive crowd of up to 260,000, actual attendance was estimated at 104,000 by HYBE and only 62,000 by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's tracking system—a significant deviation from the original predictions. The safety operation involved 6,700 police officers and 2,600

Ahead of the BTS special performance at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21st, local restaurants, cafes, and retailers are busy preparing for an expected crowd of 260,000. Gwanghwamun Myeonok, a local cold noodle restaurant, has announced a giveaway of 1,000 free bowls of naengmyeon on the day of the event. Coffee@Works is offering a 20% discount to customers wearing purple fashion items, while Paul Bassett has introduced a limited-edition Lavender Ice Cream, leveraging the signat

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced comprehensive safety measures for the BTS comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21st. To manage an expected crowd of up to 260,000, approximately 6,500 officers and 5,400 pieces of equipment, including high-altitude observation vehicles and lighting trucks, will be mobilized. Police will implement a "stadium-style crowd management system," where entry to viewing areas is restricted solely through 31 designated gates to

Following the "Dubai Cookie" craze, "Bomdong (Spring Cabbage) Bibimbap" has emerged as the latest viral food trend on Korean social media. A 2008 clip of entertainer Kang Ho-dong enjoying the dish has resurfaced, triggering a "Bibimbap Challenge" featuring seasonal greens. Short-form content views have surpassed 5 million, leading to a nearly 30% surge in Bomdong prices over the past month. Nutritiously, Bomdong is a powerhouse. It contains twice the calcium of eggs and doubl

On March 3, 2026, Geumjeongsan Mountain in Busan officially launched as South Korea's 24th National Park. This marks the first time in approximately 39 years since Sobaeksan in 1987 that a previously unprotected area has been elevated to national park status. It holds significant historical importance as South Korea's first "urban national park" situated entirely within a major metropolitan area. Geumjeongsan National Park spans approximately 66.859 square kilometers across s

Controversy is mounting over "mass camping" by fans aiming to secure prime viewing spots for the upcoming BTS concert near the Gwanghwamun area on the 21st. With dozens of posts on social media organizing overnight stays in the Gwanghwamun area, authorities are struggling with the limitations of safety enforcement and crowd control. A significant factor contributing to this trend is the skyrocketing cost of local accommodations, with prices jumping five to six times higher th

BLACKPINK is meeting fans through a unique promotion connecting downtown Seoul to celebrate the release of their 3rd mini-album, 'DEADLINE'. YG Entertainment announced on the 27th that it will hold the "BLACKPINK 3rd MINI ALBUM [DEADLINE] HOURGLASS TOUR" from March 1st to 9th.  This promotion will be operated at four locations: the Same Hapjeong, Soundwave Yeongdeungpo Times Square, Musinsa Standard Seongsu, and Ktown4u COEX. By connecting these four points around the Nationa

Busan City is launching a major crackdown to eradicate "price gouging" and "illegal operations" in the lodging industry ahead of the BTS World Tour performance in Busan this June. The city announced that it will conduct a special inspection targeting accommodations near the venue and major tourist attractions for approximately four months, from February 23 to June 15, immediately following the concert. This is a follow-up to the "Price Stabilization Response Manual" establish

For the week of February 23 to March 1, South Korea is expected to experience yellow dust and cold temperatures early in the week, followed by a gradual rise in temperatures to recover to mild, seasonal spring weather starting mid-week. On Monday the 23rd, fine dust concentrations nationwide will remain at "Unhealthy" levels. Morning temperatures will stay below freezing with strong winds, making the wind chill feel significantly lower. However, by mid-week on Wednesday the 2

Are you visiting or leaving Korea between February 13th and 18th? Incheon International Airport Corporation has announced that approximately 1.22 million passengers are expected to use the airport during this Lunar New Year (Seollal) holiday. With Asiana Airlines’ relocation to Terminal 2 (T2) last month, the passenger flow is now balanced 50:50 between terminals. While this helps reduce overall congestion, we recommend these three tips to ensure a seamless and stress-free jo

Specific details regarding the scale and ticketing schedule for the full-group comeback performance, "BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG," have been released. The concert will be held for free at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21. The official seating will accommodate approximately 15,000 people, including both standing and reserved sections. The event is scheduled to be broadcast live to over 190 countries worldwide via Netflix. Fierce competition for tickets is expected to be

Rain or snow is expected nationwide starting on the 10th, and no severe cold is anticipated through the Lunar New Year holiday (February 15–18). According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, morning temperatures in Seoul dropped to -10.1°C on the 9th, with strong cold around -10°C recorded nationwide. However, temperatures are expected to rise significantly above freezing in the afternoon, returning to average levels. In Seoul, the midday high is expected to reach 5°C

Olive Young, operated by CJ, is increasingly moving into locations formerly occupied by Starbucks. Recently, in major prime districts such as D-Tower in Gwanghwamun and Myeongdong in Seoul, Olive Young has been taking over spots that Starbucks held for over a decade. Beyond a simple change in tenants, this symbolically demonstrates that the core "anchor tenant" of Korean commercial districts has shifted from coffee to beauty and wellness. At the heart of this change is the ex

MUSINSA has officially opened "MUSINSA STORE MYEONGDONG," a large-scale fashion select shop spanning four floors from the first basement to the third floor, covering approximately 300 pyeong(Approx. 10,700 sq ft). This store specifically targets female foreign tourists in their 20s, significantly increasing the presence of "MUSINSA GIRLS" and the unisex line "MUSINSA YOUNG." Additionally, More than 80% of the 110 brands in the store are domestic Korean brands, creating a cura

Netflix will exclusively live stream "BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG" on March 21 at 8:00 PM. In this performance, all members will showcase their comeback stage for the new album for the first time. The event will be broadcast live to viewers in over 190 countries worldwide via Netflix. Netflix will also release the feature-length documentary "BTS: THE RETURN" on March 27, which chronicles the production process of the ARIRANG album. It will provide an intimate look at the group

Recently, the Japanese TBS news program "N Star" highlighted the record-breaking cold in Seoul, reporting a unique experimental video filmed near the Han River, which has since gone viral. At the time of the report, the temperature in Seoul had plummeted to -13°C. The "Han River Ramen" that the reporter cooked outdoors froze solid within just two hours, with the noodles suspended mid-air. The reporter vividly conveyed the harshness of the cold in Seoul while observing the ram

Recently, Karina, a member of the group aespa, gained attention by recommending the combination of Samgyeopsal (pork belly) and ramen as her "soul food" in a video on the YouTube channel "Editor Karina." Karina compared Samgyeopsal to life and memories, suggesting that a meal is only truly complete when ramen is added. This combination is a popular part of Korean food culture and is gaining interest among international fans following the K-pop star's recommendation. However,

The announcement of BTS resuming their world tour after nearly four years has triggered a massive explosion in travel demand to South Korea, led by the global fandom ARM According to data from Hotels.com , inbound searches for Seoul increased by 155%, while searches for Busan skyrocketed by 2,375% within 48 hours of the schedule announcement on January 13. This indicates that global fans began securing accommodations and flights even before ticket sales started, proving that