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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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Books

Ridi sees surge in fantasy web novel transaction volume

Ridi, a major Korean digital content platform, has recorded a more than 50-fold increase in the transaction volume of its exclusive fantasy web novels compared to 2021, supported by a rising fanbase and intellectual property (IP) expansion. This increase outpaced the average growth rate of the overall web novel market. Ridi attributed the performance to rising user interest in the fantasy genre. Reflecting this demand, the number of newly published fantasy web novels on the platform last year increased by more than 10 percent year-on-year. Ridi's user data from last year showed that about 45 percent of readers who bought a work by a specific author also purchased other titles by the same writer. This trend has led to an increase in both user retention time and overall consumption on the platform. The fantasy genre has emerged as a powerhouse for IP expansion across various media formats. "Fantasy is a genre capable of diverse expansions fueled by a dedicated fandom, and its importance within the Ridi platform is growing rapidly," the company said. A prime example is "Solo Leveling," a meg

Jun 4, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Ridi sees surge in fantasy web novel transaction volume
Films

Can Korean cinema sustain its rebound?

After years of struggling to recover from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, Korea's film industry is finally showing signs of life again. Driven by a string of local box office successes led by the historical drama “The King's Warden,” Korean films have regained momentum in theaters this year, raising hopes that the industry may be emerging from one of the most difficult periods in its history. According to data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the nation's theaters attracted 31.9 million admissions during the first quarter of 2026, up 53.2 percent from 20.82 million a year earlier. Total box office revenue rose 58.7 percent year-on-year to 318 billion won ($211.2 million). Korean films accounted for much of that recovery. Domestic films generated 233.3 billion won in ticket sales and drew 24.01 million viewers during the January-March period, more than double the previous year. The biggest contributor was “The King's Warden,” which became a rare phenomenon in the postpandemic era. The film, which opened on Feb. 4, attracted 15.73 million viewers in the first quarter alone

Jun 3, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Can Korean cinema sustain its rebound?
People & Events

Indian star Priyanka Mohan named honorary ambassador for Korean tourism

Priyanka Mohan, a popular Indian actor, has been appointed an honorary ambassador for Korean tourism to attract more visitors from South Asia, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said Tuesday. Mohan, who debuted in 2019 and has built a solid career primarily in the South Indian film industry, recently gained international acclaim as the lead actor in the Netflix original film “Made in Korea,” released in March. The film topped Netflix's movie charts in India for two consecutive weeks and became a major hit in seven countries, including parts of the Middle East. Mohan, who boasts nearly 6 million followers on Instagram, has frequently expressed her deep affection and interest in Korean culture online. During her weeklong visit to Korea marking the appointment, Mohan will tour major tourist destinations, including Seoul Forest and Tongin Market in the capital, as well as Gyeongju Expo Solgeo Art Museum and Wooyang Art Museum in the historic city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Her itinerary includes experiential activities such as K-food cooking classes, wellness spa treatment

Jun 2, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Indian star Priyanka Mohan named honorary ambassador for Korean tourism
Shows & Dramas

Nvidia CEO to appear on Korean talk show during visit

Jensen Huang, the co-founder and CEO of global tech giant Nvidia, will make his first-ever appearance on a local variety show during his upcoming visit to Korea, local cable channel tvN said Tuesday. According to tvN, Huang is scheduled to be featured as a guest on "You Quiz on the Block," a highly popular talk show hosted by the nation's top comedian, Yoo Jae-suk. Huang, who transformed Nvidia from a graphics chipmaker into a global powerhouse of the artificial intelligence (AI) era, is widely recognized as an industry visionary who reshaped the global tech landscape. He is reportedly set to arrive on Thursday after finishing his schedule at the annual COMPUTEX tech show in Taipei, Taiwan. "We are thrilled to welcome Jensen Huang on 'You Quiz,'" said Nam Seung-yong, a business leader at CJ ENM, an operator of tvN. "We hope viewers will tune in to hear his life story, moving from a young dishwasher to the CEO of the world’s most valuable company, as well as his insights into navigating the AI era and the qualities needed for future leaders." The episode will be released later this mont

Jun 2, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Nvidia CEO to appear on Korean talk show during visit
Sports

Controversial Korea football body chief to step down after World Cup

Chung Mong-gyu, the long-standing president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), announced Friday that he will resign from his post after the FIFA World Cup. The KFA released an official statement from Chung, who has led the nation's football governing body for 13 years since taking office in 2013. He plans to officially submit his resignation after the World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S., concludes on July 19. The announcement of his sudden departure is widely seen as an attempt to protect the national team from public backlash before the tournament. The move is also seen as a way for Chung to escape direct responsibility for the ongoing scandals surrounding his leadership. "I intend to step down from the position of KFA president after this World Cup," Chung said in the statement. "I believe my final duty as president is to support the national team so that they can achieve meaningful results in the tournament, and I will do my utmost to fulfill this responsibility." Chung secured his fourth consecutive term in February last year with an 85.6 percent approval r

May 29, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Controversial Korea football body chief to step down after World Cup
Sports

PHOTO Promoting 'K-sport' hangung to the world

Hu Kwang, right, founder of hangung, or Korean hand archery, and president of World Hangung Association, poses with Janez Sodrznik of Slovenia, center, newly elected president of The Association For International Sport for All (TAFISA), and Kang Seok-jae, World Hangung Association vice president, during the TAFISA general assembly meeting in Prague, May 15. The World Hangung Association said Friday that it successfully promoted the Korean-born sport, which blends traditional Asian archery and pitch-pot with Western darts to global sports officials during the five-day event to expand its international presence. Courtesy of World Hangung Association

May 29, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
[PHOTO] Promoting 'K-sport' hangung to the world
People & Events

Yoido Full Gospel Church opens 52nd World Mission Conference

Bringing together hundreds of missionaries from around the globe, Yoido Full Gospel Church launched its 52nd World Mission Conference at its main sanctuary in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss future evangelical strategies and share their mission experiences. The three-day annual event ran from Wednesday to Friday at the church's headquarters in Yeouido, western Seoul, and the Youngsan Camp in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, under the theme “Mission, Driven Only by the Power of the Cross.” Every May, Yoido Full Gospel Church hosts the event to honor the dedication of overseas missionaries. This year's conference drew 677 missionaries and their families serving in 67 countries across the world, alongside tens of thousands of church members. During the opening service on Wednesday, Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of the church, delivered a sermon, emphasizing the core essence of Christian mission work. "The world is currently in deep lamentation and despair due to wars, famines and natural disasters, and the only path to salvation is the cross of Jesus Christ," Lee said. "Just as the Apostle Paul co

May 29, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Yoido Full Gospel Church opens 52nd World Mission Conference
Travel & Food

LEE'S 1ST YEAR IN OFFICE President bets big on regional tourism

No president in Korean history has taken tourism more seriously than President Lee Jae Myung. Previous presidents did not feel the need to focus heavily on tourism because the Korean economy largely relied on exports such as electronics, refined petroleum products, automobiles and semiconductors. However, the situation looked quite different when Lee took office last year. The global popularity of Korean dramas, films and K-pop artists has drawn international tourists to Korea to visit locations featured in their favorite shows, eat dishes enjoyed by celebrities and shop for beauty products used by K-pop stars. Lee also had his own reason to push for tourism, as he seeks to alleviate Korea's slowing economic growth, demographic decline and weak regional economies. The president has described tourism as a “core national strategic industry,” stressing that the country must move beyond Seoul-centered tourism growth to achieve sustainable expansion. “Tourism is a key national strategic industry for Korea,” Lee said during a meeting to discuss national tourism strategy in February.

May 29, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
[LEE'S 1ST YEAR IN OFFICE] President bets big on regional tourism
Films

Um Tae-goo showcases unexpected rapper charms in 'Wild Sing'

Actor Um Tae-goo is widely recognized for his deep, husky voice and quiet personality. Having built a reputation through intense, dark roles, the actor has rarely been associated with high-energy comedy. However, the 42-year-old is set to shock audiences by transforming into a rapper in the upcoming comedy film "Wild Sing." Um portrays Sang-gu, who constantly talks in a high voice, loves hip-hop and even makes cute faces while dancing. The actor said Thursday that taking on this unconventional character was a terrifying challenge that pushed him to his physical and mental limits. "Everything about this role was a burden, including the comedy genre itself, the rapping and keeping the character's tension so incredibly high," Um told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul. "Intellectually, I always knew that comedy is the most difficult genre of acting, but experiencing it made me realize how truly challenging it is to make someone laugh. I now deeply respect actors who specialize in this field." Directed by Sohn Jae-kon, "Wild Sing" follows Triangle, a former idol group that attempts a comeback

May 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Um Tae-goo showcases unexpected rapper charms in 'Wild Sing'
People & Events

Gov't aims to boost K-culture exports to $110 bil. by 2030

When President Lee Jae Myung took office last year, his administration's goal for K-culture exports by 2030 was set at $35 billion. On Thursday, the government updated the target at a much higher level: $110 billion. The new export target came up as the government redefined the scope of K-culture and recalculated its market size. Under the new definition, K-culture now includes tourism, K-food, K-beauty and K-fashion. “Inbound foreign tourism is a natural result and extra benefit of K-culture, because visitors come to Korea after falling in love with its cultural charms,” Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said during a press conference in Seoul, Thursday. "We also included global demand for K-food, K-beauty and K-fashion, as these lifestyle choices are driven by overseas consumers' attraction to Korean culture." The minister also said: "At a time when many traditional sectors that have driven the Korean economy are facing challenges, an upgraded statistical figure proves that the K-culture sector is indeed another engine that can lead our future. We believe this clearer picture will he

May 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Gov't aims to boost K-culture exports to $110 bil. by 2030
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