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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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K-pop

'Excited and honored' to livestream BTS show: Netflix VP

BTS will transform the heart of Seoul into a massive stage on Saturday as the K-pop band marks its historic return with a live performance at Gwanghwamun Square to celebrate the release of its new album "ARIRANG." The event will be broadcast live to more than 190 countries via Netflix starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, marking the first time the global streaming giant will host a live music event of this scale in Korea. Brandon Riegg, vice president of nonfiction series and sports at Netflix, said the partnership with HYBE was a natural fit for the platform's live strategy. "We're incredibly excited and honored to be able to partner with HYBE and BTS on this landmark event," Riegg said during a press conference in Seoul Friday. "As we look at entertaining the world and the big events in the live space that we tried to do, it was very clear from the start that this opportunity was one we could not pass up." Riegg added that the collaboration is a continuation of Netflix's belief in the power of Korean culture. "I think it really doesn't get any bigger than BTS, and what this tour and performance

Mar 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Excited and honored' to livestream BTS show: Netflix VP
Travel & Food

From ‘King’s Warden’ tragedy to Busan’s K-pop fever, regional tourism drives new growth

This year’s Korea Travel Expo opened its doors Thursday, showcasing a dynamic shift in domestic tourism where cinematic history and record-breaking global appeal are breathing new life into regional tourism. From Yeongwol County’s independent debut fueled by the box-office hit movie, "The King’s Warden," to Busan’s celebration of surpassing 3 million international visitors, this year’s expo highlights how diverse regional identities are becoming the nation's strongest travel assets. Under the theme "Travel beyond Daily Life, Travel Stays in Regions," the 23rd edition of the expo features 385 booths from 160 government institutions and tourism-related companies. The four-day event, co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Association, serves as a launch pad to distribute concentrated tourism demand from the capital to the nation’s hidden corners. "The Korea Travel Expo is a representative event that showcases the new possibilities of domestic travel," Vice Culture Minister Kim Dae-hyun said during the opening ceremony. "Through this expo,

Mar 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
From ‘King’s Warden’ tragedy to Busan’s K-pop fever, regional tourism drives new growth
People & Events

‘The King’s Warden’ success sparks interest in Joseon-era documents

The National Library of Korea will publicly reveal for the first time a rare historical document detailing the loyalty of Eom Heung-do, a Joseon-era official, as public interest in his story surges following the massive success of the film “The King’s Warden.” The Seoul-based library said Wednesday that the special exhibition, scheduled to run from March 24 to April 19 at its main building in Seocho District, centers on a 1733 document. Issued by the Ministry of Military Affairs under the special command of King Yeongjo (1694-1776) of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the record grants Eom’s descendants exemptions from military service and labor as a reward for their ancestor’s loyalty to the deposed King Danjong (1441-57). The document is considered a highly valuable historical resource as it shows how the state officially recognized and rewarded Eom’s courageous act of burying the exiled king at a time when others feared to do so. The artifact was deposited at the library in 2019 by a descendant of Eom’s and is being shown to the public for the first time with the family's

Mar 18, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
‘The King’s Warden’ success sparks interest in Joseon-era documents
People & Events

Gov’t expands 'Culture Day' to every Wednesday to boost public access

Korea is expanding its “Culture Day” program from once a month to every Wednesday starting April 1 to encourage more people to enjoy cultural activities in their daily lives, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday. First launched in 2014, the Culture Day is a national welfare program that provides various benefits and discounts on cultural activities. The expansion of this program was legally finalized following the approval of an amendment during a Cabinet meeting last month. To ensure the success of this transition, the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday with 11 major organizations representing the cultural and economic sectors in Seoul. The partnership includes the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea Federation of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and various associations for museums, libraries and performing arts. Under the new initiative, the government aims to move beyond a state-led model and establish a sustainable cultural ecosystem through private sector cooperation. Participating institutions will offer disco

Mar 18, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Gov’t expands 'Culture Day' to every Wednesday to boost public access
Books

Webtoon Entertainment eyes sustainable growth through creator-centric 'flywheel' strategy

Naver Webtoon, the Korean subsidiary of the online content powerhouse Webtoon Entertainment, plans to strengthen its platform growth this year by expanding its creator-led ecosystem and advancing artificial intelligence technologies to connect diverse works with global readers, Webtoon Entertainment President Kim Yong-soo said Tuesday. In his first official public appearance since taking office this month, Kim said that the platform will prioritize essential growth drivers such as creator support, the discovery of new talent and technical sophistication while pursuing visible results. “A healthy creative ecosystem is a fundamental element necessary for the long-term growth of the company,” Kim said at a press conference in Seoul. “We will continue to invest in the creative ecosystem to ensure the sustainable growth of our business.” From 2021 to 2025, Webtoon Entertainment distributed a total of 4.15 trillion won ($2.78 billion) to creators, the company said. To maintain this momentum, the company revealed plans to invest more than 70 billion won this year alone into discovering

Mar 17, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Webtoon Entertainment eyes sustainable growth through creator-centric 'flywheel' strategy
Films

Busan International Film Festival receives 'A-list' status

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) officially gained A-list festival accreditation from a regulatory body of global film festivals, cementing its status as a leader in global cinema alongside prestigious events like Cannes, Berlin and Venice. On Monday, the organizers of the nation’s largest film festival said BIFF was named an A-list film festival in the newly reorganized accreditation system of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). BIFF Director Jung Han-seok expressed his gratitude regarding the selection. “This is a joyful result that shows the rapidly growing global influence of the Busan International Film Festival,” Jung said. “It is especially meaningful to be officially recognized by a highly credible organization that evaluates major film festivals around the world. We will continue to strive to further elevate our global status as an A-list film festival.” Established in 1933, the FIAPF is a prominent organization that validates the credibility of international film festivals worldwide. The organization recently overhauled its t

Mar 16, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Busan International Film Festival receives 'A-list' status
Films

'KPop Demon Hunters’ wins big at Oscars with 2 awards

Netflix animated feature “KPop Demon Hunters” secured wins for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Sunday (local time). The Oscar followed the Korean culture-inspired animation’s earlier wins at the Golden Globes in January and Grammy Awards in February. “KPop Demon Hunters” beat out competitors like “Arco” “Elio,” “Little Amelie or the Character of Rain” and “Zootopia 2” in the animation race, and tracks from “Diane Warren: Relentless,” “Sinners,” “Viva Verdi!” and “Train Dreams” in the song category. The awards highlighted the global impact of the movie, which has smashed Netflix viewership records with more than 500 million cumulative views since its release last June. The recognition for both its storytelling and the original track “Golden” underscored the power of cross-cultural collaboration in today’s film industry. Directed by Korean Canadian filmmaker Maggie Kang, the action-fantasy film follows K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey of girl band Huntrix, who also secretly protect t

Mar 16, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'KPop Demon Hunters’ wins big at Oscars with 2 awards
Films

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ eyes Oscars following Golden Globe, Grammy wins

“KPop Demon Hunters,” the Netflix animated feature that sparked a massive cultural phenomenon and has seen record-breaking viewers numbers since its release last year, is now at the center of international attention as fans wait to see if it can continue its historic winning streak at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday evening (local time). The film has been nominated in two major categories at this year's Oscars — the Best Animated Feature and the Best Original Song. In the animated feature race, the film is in competition with "Arco," "Elio," "Little Amélie or the Character of Rain" and "Zootopia 2." Meanwhile, the film’s hit track "Golden" is vying for the award for original song trophy against tunes from "Dianne Warren: Relentless," "Sinners," "Viva Verdi!" and "Train Dreams." Directed by Korean-Canadian filmmaker Maggie Kang, the action-fantasy film follows three K-pop superstars — Rumi, Mira and Zoey — who also secretly protect the world from evil spirits. The animated feature has achieved worldwide success, becoming the most-watched title in Netflix history with over 5

Mar 15, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ eyes Oscars following Golden Globe, Grammy wins
People & Events

Korean churches unite for historic joint Easter service

Korean churches are preparing for a historic joint celebration this Easter, which falls on April 5, bringing together 72 denominations to mark the holiday with a parade and a unified worship service, according to the organizing committee. The organizer for the Easter joint service announced that they will have the 2026 Easter Parade at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on April 4. The event will feature around 8,000 participants from 40 teams and include various programs such as Easter Village experience zones and a celebratory concert. The Easter joint service will take place the following day at Yoido Full Gospel Church. The service is particularly significant as it falls on the same date as the arrival of American missionaries Horace G. Underwood and Henry Appenzeller in Incheon in 1885, which marks the beginning of Protestantism in Korea. Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, who serves as the chairperson for both the service and the parade, emphasized the importance of the gathering during a press briefing Thursday. "I offer my sincere repentance for the divis

Mar 12, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean churches unite for historic joint Easter service
Trends

Italian design master urges Korean designers to focus on emotion, sustainability

Design is not a destination, but a continuous movement that defines the very essence of human life. That is the philosophy Michele De Lucchi brought to Seoul this week, when the Italian architect and designer visited Korea as the official design ambassador for the 10th edition of Italian Design Day. For De Lucchi, design should never be a static object in a gallery. It should evolve, grow and breathe alongside the people who use it — much like a dance that changes every time it is performed. "I have always felt that life is a dance because we are never truly still," De Lucchi told The Korea Times during an interview at High Street Italia in southern Seoul, Tuesday. "We are constantly regenerating our environment and our relationships through the objects we create." The 75-year-old maestro is a towering figure in the global design scene, best known for creating the Tolomeo lamp for Italian lighting brand Artemide. This iconic desk lamp won the Compasso d’Oro award in 1989 and remains one of the best-selling design objects in history. Beyond his commercial success, De Lucchi was a pivot

Mar 12, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Italian design master urges Korean designers to focus on emotion, sustainability
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