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Baek Byung-yeul

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.

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Travel & Food

KTO turns to big data to draw 30 mil. tourists by 2028

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) aims to achieve its goal of attracting 30 million foreign tourists by 2028, a year ahead of the government's target, by utilizing comprehensive big data to revitalize regional tourism and market strategies, KTO President Park Sung-hyeuck said Tuesday. "Precise and timely data, along with sharp market analysis capabilities, are crucial tools to achieve this bold milestone," Park said during a forum held by the state-run agency in Seoul. Korea attracted around 19 million foreign tourists last year, and the government has set its sights on bringing the number to 30 million by 2029. KTO hosted the data seminar to address the rapidly changing travel environment, which is increasingly shaped by independent travelers. The agency emphasized that data-driven insights are critical to moving past conventional experience-based tourism marketing and toward a sustainable growth model. To support the industry, KTO announced the launch of its new quarterly report, whose title translates into "Korean Tourism These Days." The inaugural issue combines consumption, teleco

May 19, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
KTO turns to big data to draw 30 mil. tourists by 2028
People & Events

Pastor Jack Graham emphasizes gospel’s role in digital age

Jack Graham, the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas and a prominent leader of U.S. evangelicalism, said the fundamental role of a pastor remains unchanged even in the rapidly evolving era of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology. "I wouldn't say that the role of the pastor is changing," Graham said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "What I do as a pastor and preacher is different than what someone in the 19th century would have done, but it has nothing to do with changing the responsibility of the role of the pastor overall." Graham recently visited Korea at the invitation of the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea to celebrate the broadcaster’s 70th anniversary. His visit was facilitated by his longtime friend, Billy Kim, the chairman of FEBC-Korea. "This is my first time over. I don't know why I've waited so long to get here," Graham said. "My good friend, Billy Kim, has invited me many times through the years and it just never worked out. But right now is the best time, the right time, and I'm so glad that we have the opportunity to experie

May 19, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Pastor Jack Graham emphasizes gospel’s role in digital age
Travel & Food

Local tourism policies face next test after Labor Day travel surge

Korea’s regional tourism policies are shifting focus toward sustaining long-term visits and local spending, following a sharp rise in domestic travel during the country’s first official May 1 Labor Day holiday, according to government and industry officials Friday. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the number of domestic travelers on May 1 rose 55 percent from a year earlier to 11.63 million, while travel-related credit card spending increased 40 percent, from 532.2 billion won ($355 million) to 743.6 billion won. The number of travelers heading outside the Seoul metropolitan area jumped 70 percent from 4.05 million to 6.87 million, indicating that the holiday translated into stronger regional tourism demand. Tourism industry experts said the key challenge now is sustaining that momentum by connecting transportation, lodging, traditional markets and local content into an integrated tourism experience. “Simply bringing more visitors to regional areas is no longer enough,” an official from a local tourism industry said. “The policy focus is increasingly shifting to

May 15, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Local tourism policies face next test after Labor Day travel surge
Shows & Dramas

CJ's role as 'architect of K-culture' spotlighted by CNN

A new CNN documentary shines a light on Korean entertainment mogul CJ ENM’s 30-year commitment to culture, examining how the company grew from an early investor into a main builder of “hallyu,” or the Korean wave. The four-part series, titled “K-Everything,” premiered on May 9. Produced and hosted by Korean American actor Daniel Dae Kim and sponsored by Hyundai Motor, the project traces the journey of Korean culture from its roots to its current global standing. In particular, the documentary emphasizes CJ’s foundational role in the film industry, dating back to its 1995 investment in DreamWorks. That move is highlighted as the starting point for a sustainable industrial framework that allowed titles such as director Park Chan-wook’s “Joint Security Area” (2000) and Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” (2019) to reach global audiences. As the Cannes Film Festival is underway, the series revisits CJ’s long-standing relationship with the prestigious event. It credits the company’s unwavering support for filmmakers like director Park, whose “Oldboy” (2003) won the Grand

May 15, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
CJ's role as 'architect of K-culture' spotlighted by CNN
Films

Ra Mi-ran takes on fantasy challenge with 'The Mysterious Candy Store'

Actor Ra Mi-ran expressed both excitement and pressure in taking on the lead role for the upcoming fantasy film "The Mysterious Candy Store Jun Chun Dang," based on the hit Japanese children's book series. "I felt a sense of responsibility in playing Hong-ja because the original work is loved by so many people," Ra said during a press conference at a theater in Seoul, Wednesday. "I was motivated by the desire to create a Korean version of the story and to challenge myself with the fantasy genre after focusing on more realistic roles in the past." "The Mysterious Candy Store Jun Chun Dang" is a fantasy drama based on the best-selling Japanese novel series "Mysterious Candy Store Sentendo" by Reiko Hiroshima. The story follows the mysterious owner of a candy store who sells magical treats that grant wishes to lucky customers holding specific coins. The original book series is a major cultural phenomenon in Korea with more than 2 million copies sold. Its popularity has led to various adaptations including an animated series and a movie in Japan and a musical in Korea. The musical version he

May 13, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Ra Mi-ran takes on fantasy challenge with 'The Mysterious Candy Store'
Travel & Food

Lotte Hotels & Resorts taps graphic artist Verdy for ‘art-cation’ promotion

Lotte Hotels & Resorts is seeking to strengthen its identity as a cultural curator by launching a collaborative promotion with world-renowned graphic artist Verdy, commemorating his first solo exhibition in Korea, the company said Tuesday. The hotel group said the collaboration is aimed at providing guests with exclusive cultural experiences going beyond traditional lodging services. The promotion stays open until July 19 to match Verdy's “I Believe in Me” exhibition at the Lotte Museum of Art, located on the seventh floor of Lotte World Tower in Seoul. Verdy, an Osaka-born Japanese artist, has gained a massive global following for his ability to blend subculture aesthetics with graphic design and art. He is best known for "Vick," his signature character combining elements of a panda and a rabbit. Under the partnership, guests staying at Signiel Seoul hotel, Lotte Hotel Seoul and Lotte Hotel World will receive limited-edition key card holders personally designed by Verdy. Guests presenting these holders at the Lotte Museum of Art will be entitled to a 30 percent discount on admissio

May 12, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Lotte Hotels & Resorts taps graphic artist Verdy for ‘art-cation’ promotion
Travel & Food

Korea moves to diversify inbound tourism beyond Seoul

The government is accelerating its efforts to reshape the country's tourism landscape, moving away from a long-standing administrative approach that has concentrated foreign visitor flows in the capital region. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday it is holding a series of regional consultations this week. The meetings aim to lay the groundwork for a new tourism framework built around eight broad clusters, spanning five major hubs and three special autonomous regions across the country. The initiative comes as Korea grapples with a persistent structural imbalance, with more than 80 percent of foreign visitors never traveling beyond the Seoul metropolitan area. With the government targeting 23 million inbound tourists this year and 30 million by 2029, officials say the growth potential of a Seoul-centric model is reaching its limit. "Tourists do not travel along administrative boundaries," said Kang Jung-won, head of the tourism policy bureau of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. "That is precisely why we must expand beyond the single administrative unit mod

May 12, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea moves to diversify inbound tourism beyond Seoul
People & Events

Ex-chief confident in South Chungcheong’s potential in content business

Under Kim Gok-mi's leadership, the Chungnam Content Agency, a cultural promotion body located in South Chungcheong Province, succesfully expanded its global presence by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technology and fostering the esports sector. As Kim completed her term as president on Monday, the agency is likely to continue its course. "The content industry is rapidly expanding into an intellectual property business converging with telecommunications and artificial intelligence," Kim told The Korea Times in a written interview Monday. The agency changed its name from the Chungnam Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency in 2025. "We changed the name to strengthen our connection with government policies and make the agency more accessible to the public," Kim said. The agency has prioritized AI in content creation. It produced an AI-restored video of Korean independence activist Yu Gwan-sun using unreleased family photos to commemorate the 80th anniversary of national liberation. The video was screened in Times Square in New York and drew significant attention from inter

May 12, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Ex-chief confident in South Chungcheong’s potential in content business
People & Events

Lotte World’s MapleStory event draws 100,000 visitors

More than 100,000 visitors have participated in the "Create Your Own Character" experience at Lotte World Adventure in southern Seoul, as part of its spring collaboration with Nexon’s popular online game MapleStory, the theme park operator said Monday. The interactive attraction, located at the Meeting Plaza on the first floor of the adventure park, allows visitors to create digital avatars by scanning a QR code. Users can either generate a character that resembles them by uploading a photo or customize one manually. The event has gained significant traction among longtime fans of the game, as it allows them to import their actual in-game characters. Once completed, the character is displayed on a 10-meter-high media tree. Starting this spring, the theme park has collaborated with Nexon to draw in dedicated MapleStory fans as well as visitors who wanted new experiences at the park. Lotte World Adventure is currently decorated with various MapleStory monsters, serving as popular photo spots for guests. The organizers said the experience is designed to make visitors feel as if they are "

May 11, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Lotte World’s MapleStory event draws 100,000 visitors
Shows & Dramas

CNN, Hyundai Motor spotlight K-culture in new documentary

CNN launched a new four-part documentary series, “K-Everything,” exploring the creative power and historical journey of Korean culture from its traditional origins to its current global dominance, with Hyundai Motor as the project's sole sponsor. CNN said it decided to develop the documentary, which began airing Saturday, to showcase the underlying forces behind Korea’s cultural rise. The documentary series covers various aspects of the Korean wave including music, film, food and beauty. It highlights how Korea’s unique history and experiences have shaped a cultural movement that now leads global trends. The project is produced and hosted by Daniel Dae Kim, a Hollywood actor and producer known for his roles in major television series and films. Kim leads the audience through the evolution of Korean media and its rise to the world stage. The first episode focuses on K-pop, featuring global stars such as Psy, Taeyang and Jeon Somi to discuss the growth of the industry and the power of global fandoms. The second episode examines the film and drama industry through conversations with

May 10, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
CNN, Hyundai Motor spotlight K-culture in new documentary
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