The Korea Times

In search of yarn: Seoul has what China’s crochet wave lacks

When planning my stay in Seoul, the thing I was most looking forward to wasn’t the food or the K-pop concerts — it was finally being able to visit a brick-and-mortar yarn store. Back in China, crocheting and knitting have gained traction in recent years. From famous actresses to lifestyle influencers, people are reclaiming the craft that was once considered something only our grandmothers did. However, this booming community exists almost entirely online. Like many young Chinese makers, I learned to crochet through a screen. I watched tutorials on Xiaohongshu, China’s equivalent of Instagram, bought the exact yarns the influencers recommended via e-commerce links, and finished my first handbag without ever stepping foot in a craft store. It was highly efficient. However, the moment I wanted to stop blindly following online patterns and start exploring the tactile possibilities of different yarns, I hit a wall. In Shenzhen, the bustling tech powerhouse I call home, there is only one dedicated yarn store. It mostly sells imported skeins so expensive — around $20 to $70 for a mere

Apr 23, 2026By Alice Li

In search of yarn: Seoul has what China’s crochet wave lacks

Business

From studios to streets: Chinese livestreamers chase sales in Seoul

The streets of Myeong-dong in Seoul are still calm at 9 a.m., untouched by the day’s rush — except for a group of livestreamers already busy talking to their viewers. They are not street performers, as one might expect in a busy commercial district. Instead, a group of three stands beside a small cart, showcasing hats and jackets in front of a smartphone mounted on a tripod. “This hat model was newly released in early April, and I’m the only one selling it online,” one of them, who gave her name as Yi, said. “Now, if you comment ‘1’ in the livestream, I’ll prioritize your order and make sure it’s shipped through a faster delivery service.” Yi is a Chinese reseller living in Seoul. She and her team primarily source hats and clothing from MLB, a brand popular among Chinese consumers, in Korea, and then sell the items to customers in China through livestreams on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. Reselling has long been entrenched in China, driven by a growing middle class in the nation seeking overseas goods. It is not illegal in China as long as the sellers report

Apr 17, 2026By Alice Li

From studios to streets: Chinese livestreamers chase sales in Seoul

Business

China’s solid-state battery drive nears commercialization as Korean bets on advanced tech

China’s solid-state battery development is entering a "crucial phase" ahead of commercialization, signalling progress towards mass production, according to an industry expert, as companies in China and Korea race to gain an edge in next-generation technologies. The remarks were made by Lian Yubo, chief scientist of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD, at an auto industry seminar that brought together industry insiders, analysts and government officials, China’s state media Beijing News reported last week. Solid-state batteries are widely seen as a next-generation technology, offering a safer and more energy-dense alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries, but remain difficult to commercialize due to challenges in price, manufacturing and stability. “It is important to clearly recognize that from pilot-scale rollout to large-scale vehicle integration and eventually stable application, there remain numerous challenges in engineering, cost and yield,” Lian said. He talked about key hurdles, including stabilising solid-solid interfaces and suppressing lithium dendrite gro

Apr 16, 2026By Alice Li

China’s solid-state battery drive nears commercialization as Korean bets on advanced tech

Business

Rising oil uncertainty could boost Chinese EV expansion abroad

Turmoil around the Strait of Hormuz had injected fresh uncertainty into global oil prices, drawing comparisons to the 1970s oil crisis when rising fuel costs pushed consumers toward more fuel-efficient Japanese cars. This time, analysts say, a similar dynamic could accelerate the global shift to electric vehicles, potentially giving Chinese automakers — already dominant in electric vehicle (EV) production — an edge in overseas markets, including Korea. According to data cited by Chinese brokerage Citic Securities from MarkLines, a Japanese company specializing in automotive industry data and analysis, Japanese carmakers’ share of the U.S. market rose to 20 percent in 1980 from just 4 percent in 1972. As Chinese electric and hybrid vehicle makers expand into the global market, many are positioning themselves to challenge the long-standing dominance of Japanese brands by offering lower running costs and strong price competitiveness. Advances in technologies such as BYD’s DM-i 5.0 hybrid system have already made Chinese models more cost-competitive than their Japanese counterparts,

Apr 8, 2026By Alice Li

Rising oil uncertainty could boost Chinese EV expansion abroad

Business

From quick meal to comfort food: Korean instant noodles hold ground in China

Economic ties are often shaped by broader political dynamics, as evidenced by Beijing’s informal restrictions on Korean cultural products — the so-called “Korean wave” — following Korea’s deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in 2017. Yet while the Korean wave — known as hallyu in Korean — has faded from China’s cultural scene, another wave, that of Korean instant noodles, has surged in popularity. Korea has remained mainland China’s largest supplier of instant noodles since it replaced Taiwan in 2016, with export value rising 266 percent between 2017 and 2025, according to China Customs data. This stands in contrast to broader K-food exports to China, which have fluctuated. Export value declined from 2022 to 2024 before rebounding in 2025, according to data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation cited by local media earlier this month. “Compared with local brands, Korean instant noodles offer differentiated Korean-style flavors centered on spiciness, as well as a chewier noodle texture,” said a

Mar 30, 2026By Alice Li

From quick meal to comfort food: Korean instant noodles hold ground in China

K-pop

Rare appearances, enduring devotion: Why Chinese fans still chase BTS

When Hu Siyi, a 27-year-old Chinese fan of BTS, secured a ticket at midnight for the group’s concert at Gwanghwamun Square, she said she could hardly contain her excitement. “I came to Korea and restarted my undergraduate studies because of them,” Hu said. “I’m so happy that I feel like I might explode just thinking about their comeback.” Drawn in by the group’s music, Hu has been a fan for more than eight years. She said she was particularly drawn to the positive messages in their songs, as well as the members’ talent and involvement in songwriting and choreography. However, the group has had limited exposure in mainland China since Beijing’s unofficial restrictions on “hallyu,” or the Korean wave, following the 2017 deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Hu moved to Korea in May 2025, hoping to attend concerts and other in-person events after all the members completed their military service last year. “If they can’t come to where I live, I’ll just come to them.” Hu is among millions of Chinese fans who have remained devoted to

Mar 21, 2026By Alice Li

Rare appearances, enduring devotion: Why Chinese fans still chase BTS

K-pop

Why K-pop remains popular in China despite cultural disputes

When recent online disputes between Southeast Asian and Korean netizens were reposted on Chinese social media, Irene Jin felt a sense of deja vu. For the longtime K-pop fan, the arguments echoed a wave of anti-Korean sentiment she remembered well from years earlier — one that had put K-pop fandom in the crossfire. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a wave of large-scale criticism of Korean idol groups over cultural appropriation,” said Jin, who has followed K-pop for more than a decade. “Many groups used elements associated with traditional Chinese culture in their content — such as Chinese knotting and folding screens — but often described them broadly as ‘Oriental style.’” The disputes have played out repeatedly. In 2020, stage outfits worn by girl group Mamamoo drew criticism from Chinese netizens who argued that the designs drew too heavily from Hanfu, China’s traditional clothing. They rejected the group’s characterization of the costumes as a modernized take on hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire, framing them instead as an appropriation of Chinese cu

Mar 14, 2026By Alice Li and Pyo Kyung-min

Why K-pop remains popular in China despite cultural disputes

Business

China rare earth producers forecast profit recovery despite global diversification push

Despite concerted international efforts to diversify rare earth supply chains away from China over the past year, leading Chinese producers are forecasting a significant rebound in profitability for 2025. China Northern Rare Earth Group, a state-owned domestic rare earth giant, has forecast net profit growth of up to 135 per cent for 2025, reversing a decline in the previous year. Similarly, state-controlled critical minerals giant China Rare Earth Group projected it would return to profitability in 2025. In the downstream sector, Beijing Zhong Ke San Huan High-Tech, a leading producer of rare earth permanent magnets — a key rare earth product widely used in electric vehicles and consumer electronics — expects its 2025 net profit to surge by as much as 900 percent, reversing a 96 percent decline in 2024. The company attributed the major turnaround to advances in technological innovation, an expanded market share over the past year, and improved cost controls, according to its earnings pre-announcement in late January. Rare earths are essential to a wide range of high-tech products, an

Mar 10, 2026By Alice Li

China rare earth producers forecast profit recovery despite global diversification push

Business

Where has China’s push for chip self-reliance taken it?

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping global demand for semiconductors, bringing renewed attention to the chip supply chain, which has long been dominated by Korean and Western firms. Signs of change are rippling through the chip market. China, driven by massive domestic demand and betting on technological innovation to fuel future economic growth, has been stepping up efforts to achieve chip self-sufficiency and cut dependence on foreign suppliers. This explainer examines China’s progress across the semiconductor value chain, the breakthroughs achieved and the gaps that remain, placing them in context through comparisons with global leaders such as South Korea, and looks at Beijing’s next steps to push the sector forward. How far has China come? China’s semiconductor industry has expanded rapidly in recent years. Output reached a record 484.3 billion units last year, up 85.2 percent from 2020, according to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Under its 14th Five-Year Plan, which set the economic blueprint for the country during the 202

Feb 21, 2026By Alice Li

Where has China’s push for chip self-reliance taken it?

Others

Chinese medical tourists flock to Korea for dermatology ahead of Spring Festival

With China’s Spring Festival approaching, Lu Xiao decided to try dermatology treatments for the first time, hoping to look her best for family gatherings during the break. “I’ve seen a lot of posts on social media about the effects of dermatology treatments recently, and they looked quite appealing, so I wanted to try it myself,” Lu said. She flew to Korea for a three-day trip earlier this month and opted for Thermage and ultrasound-based lifting treatments at a clinic in Myeong-dong, aimed at addressing signs of aging and improving skin firmness. “Some clinics in China may use uncertified devices, and prices here are more competitive,” Lu said. The treatments cost around 10,000 yuan ($1,444) in total — roughly 40 percent cheaper than quotes she received in China. Lu is among a growing number of Chinese consumers traveling to Korea for dermatology and skin care services, even as weak consumer confidence at home has kept overall spending subdued. According to Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of inbound medical patients from China surged by 132 percent in 20

Feb 11, 2026By Alice Li

Alice Li

Read more

In search of yarn: Seoul has what China’s crochet wave lacks

From studios to streets: Chinese livestreamers chase sales in Seoul

China’s solid-state battery drive nears commercialization as Korean bets on advanced tech

Rising oil uncertainty could boost Chinese EV expansion abroad

From quick meal to comfort food: Korean instant noodles hold ground in China

Rare appearances, enduring devotion: Why Chinese fans still chase BTS

Why K-pop remains popular in China despite cultural disputes

China rare earth producers forecast profit recovery despite global diversification push

Where has China’s push for chip self-reliance taken it?

Chinese medical tourists flock to Korea for dermatology ahead of Spring Festival

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