The Korea Times

Trader Joe’s Halloween totes are here — will fakes follow in Korea?

SEATTLE — New Halloween mini totes from Trader Joe’s, one of the most anticipated merch drops of the season, hit U.S. shelves Wednesday. Now, shoppers in Korea are watching closely to see if the frenzy will inspire another round of knockoffs. The $2.99 mini canvas bags, available in pumpkin orange, purple, jet black and multicolored, are the latest addition to the American grocery chain’s line of reusable totes that have become unlikely collectors’ items. In the U.S., the limited edition release drew long lines and social media buzz within hours. But in Korea, the conversation centers not only on scarcity, but authenticity. Earlier this summer, pastel-colored “Trader Joe’s” totes flooded Instagram and Naver, many of them marketed as “officially licensed imports.” The nearly identical bags mimicked the brand’s viral mini size, but many buyers soon realized they were dupes. Complaints piled up as customers discovered that the fabric, stitching and number of outer pockets differed from genuine Trader Joe’s merchandise. As refund requests increased, one question domina

Oct 10, 2025By Jane Han

Trader Joe’s Halloween totes are here — will fakes follow in Korea?

Films

Audrey Nuna realizes reach of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ on trip to Korea

NEW YORK — Audrey Nuna didn’t realize how far “KPop Demon Hunters” had traveled until she visited Korea. “I went to Korea a few weeks after the film started taking off,” she told Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show” that aired Tuesday evening. “I got off at Dongdaemun Station and this cute little grandpa was doing a street performance of ‘Golden’ on this Korean traditional instrument. He was so swagged out. I had to do a double take.” The 26-year-old Korean American singer, who voices one of the leads in the hit animated film, said the moment stayed with her. “In Korean culture, it’s a big deal if an elderly person is impressed by you,” she said. “You can get into an Ivy League school — that makes sense to them. But for the older generation to embrace something like this, it’s something different.” That intergenerational connection captures what “KPop Demon Hunters” and its fictional trio Huntr/x have achieved since the film’s release in June. The project’s soundtrack reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while its breakout single “Golden” ha

Oct 9, 2025By Jane Han

Audrey Nuna realizes reach of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ on trip to Korea

South Korea

President Lee promotes K-food on primetime TV

The presidential couple stepped out of politics and into primetime TV, drawing wide attention with their appearance on “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator,” also known internationally as “Chef & My Fridge” on Netflix. The episode, which aired Monday evening during the Chuseok holiday, marked President Lee Jae Myung’s first appearance on an entertainment program since taking office. The broadcast had drawn public attention even before it aired, after critics questioned the timing of its filming shortly after a national network outage triggered by a fire at a government data center in Daejeon. On the show, the president, who stepped out of the political arena and into primetime TV, told viewers that the goal was to help showcase Korean food as a key cultural asset. “Culture is one of our most important strengths,” Lee said during the broadcast. “K-pop and dramas are vital, but at the heart of it all is food. Once people fall in love with a taste, it rarely fades. That’s why K-food has staying power.” Lee’s comments reflected his broader effort to promote Korea’s so

Oct 7, 2025By Jane Han

President Lee promotes K-food on primetime TV

South Korea

US Koreans say dual nationality pledge overlooks birthright, tax hurdles

SEATTLE — President Lee Jae Myung’s plan to lower the age limit for dual citizenship is drawing skepticism from many Korean Americans, who see the pledge as largely symbolic and say it overlooks deeper problems tied to automatic citizenship and tax burdens. At present, Korea permits only overseas Koreans aged 65 or older to hold dual citizenship. Lee said Thursday his administration would review lowering that bar, citing the need to strengthen ties with Korean nationals abroad and respond to longstanding requests from diaspora groups. He also promised better protections for Koreans overseas and improvements to voting access. But online forums and community discussions show a disconnect. For many Korean Americans, the age limit is less of a concern than the unintended burdens created by Korea’s laws on citizenship and taxation. “Most of us here already chose to become U.S. citizens,” one commenter wrote on MissyUSA, the largest Korean online community in the U.S. “Lowering the age doesn’t matter. What we really need is for Korea to fix the problem of U.S.-born kids who are a

Oct 5, 2025By Jane Han

US Koreans say dual nationality pledge overlooks birthright, tax hurdles

South Korea

Travel chaos averted as airport staff settle on overtime

Security screening workers at Incheon International Airport have agreed to work overtime during the Chuseok holiday, reversing an earlier plan that had raised fears of travel chaos at Korea’s busiest gateway. The two unions representing Incheon International Airport security employees said Thursday they would carry out scheduled overtime from Oct. 3 to 12, when more than 2.4 million passengers are expected. The groups had previously announced they would reject extra shifts as a form of protest against what they called management’s “union suppression” and insufficient staffing. Because security screeners are legally barred from striking, the overtime refusal had been seen as a way to exert pressure during the peak travel period. But the last-minute reversal means security checks at Incheon’s passenger terminals are expected to run normally. A union official said the outstanding labor issues will instead be discussed through future negotiations. While the immediate risk of congestion has eased, unrest continues across the country’s airports. Since Wednesday, about 2,000 subcontr

Oct 3, 2025By Jane Han

Travel chaos averted as airport staff settle on overtime

South Korea

K-pop gets fresh lift with presidential push

President Lee Jae Myung didn’t just give a policy speech on Wednesday — he joined the show. Sitting front-row in a sleek hanbok, he applauded as Le Sserafim performed and later grabbed the microphone to personally introduce Stray Kids to the crowd. The president’s rare appearance with idol performers set the tone for the government’s new emphasis on culture. The event marked the launch of the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, a new body designed to supercharge Korea’s cultural influence overseas. By naming Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young and JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young as co-chairs, Lee signaled an unusual partnership: government authority working hand-in-hand with one of the industry’s biggest insiders. Lee cast the initiative as “Hallyu 4.0,” the next stage of the Korean Wave, where music, film, gaming and webtoons evolve from cultural exports to global connectors. He described K-culture not just as a soft power tool but as a potential economic engine on par with Korea’s iconic industries like semiconductors and shipbuilding. "Our gover

Oct 2, 2025By Jane Han

K-pop gets fresh lift with presidential push

South Korea

‘Airport fashion’ may not fly so freely

For years, Incheon International Airport has doubled as a fashion runway, with K-pop idols and TV stars turning routine departures into photo ops that quickly found their way into entertainment media and social feeds. Now that ritual is under review. The Incheon International Airport Corp. recently met with airport police and private security firms to discuss how to manage the crowds that gather when celebrities travel abroad. One idea raised was requiring celebrities to submit a “travel usage plan” before departure to reduce congestion and prevent chaotic scenes. The talks followed several recent incidents in which impromptu fan gatherings and photo events disrupted the terminal, raising concerns that ordinary passengers were being inconvenienced or even put at risk. Incheon International Airport Corp. president Lee Hak-jae said passenger safety remains the top priority. “We’ll keep working with partner agencies to minimize inconvenience for passengers and create a smoother, more orderly travel environment,” he said. Airport fashion has been part of Korean pop culture since the

Sep 30, 2025By Jane Han

Foreign Affairs

Korea left behind as US lowers auto tariffs for Europe, Japan

WASHINGTON — The U.S. has finalized agreements to cut tariffs on imported cars from both Europe and Japan, leaving South Korea as the only major auto exporter still facing a hefty 25 percent duty. The U.S. Commerce Department confirmed this week that tariffs on European cars and auto parts will drop to 15 percent, retroactive to August 1, under a trade deal reached in July. Japan secured the same rate earlier this month after wrapping up its own negotiations with Washington. The moves significantly improve the competitiveness of European and Japanese automakers in the world’s second-largest car market. South Korea, by contrast, has yet to benefit. Seoul reached a preliminary understanding with the U.S. in July to cut tariffs to 15 percent, but follow-up talks have stalled. As a result, Korean automakers — led by Hyundai and Kia — continue to pay 25 percent on vehicles shipped to the U.S., a key market that accounts for a major share of their global sales. Industry analysts warn the gap could hurt Korean firms’ pricing power at a time of slowing demand and fierce competition from

Sep 25, 2025By Jane Han

Korea left behind as US lowers auto tariffs for Europe, Japan

Foreign Affairs

Lee’s message lands better in US with new interpreter

NEW YORK — Korean Americans are welcoming President Lee Jae Myung’s new interpreter on his current visit to New York, seeing it as a much-needed change after his previous aide drew criticism for what was described as sloppy and inaccurate translations during recent high-profile events. Observers in the U.S. said the smoother interpretation not only lifted the president’s image but also eased the awkwardness many felt at past slip-ups. The new interpreter is Kim Jong-min, a director-level foreign ministry official who joined the delegation to New York and quickly drew notice for his steady performance. On Monday, Kim handled interpretation as Lee met first with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and later with U.S. lawmakers. Video clips of the sessions circulated online, with many viewers noting that his delivery sounded smooth and natural — a clear contrast to the halting translations that sparked criticism during last month’s summit between Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. One example was when Lee made a lighthearted remark about Trump’s distinctive autograph,

Sep 24, 2025By Jane Han

Lee’s message lands better in US with new interpreter

Trends

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ set to dominate Halloween

Witches, vampires and zombies are out. This Halloween belongs to “KPop Demon Hunters,” as flashy looks from the hit animation are already being called the season’s hottest costumes. It marks yet another year of Korean-inspired outfits sweeping the U.S., following the “Squid Game” craze of 2021. Fans went into overdrive Monday when Netflix announced it had teamed up with Spirit Halloween, America’s biggest costume retailer, to officially release costumes based on the film characters. Online forums lit up as people discussed getting costumes for themselves and for children. “Finally!” one Reddit user wrote. “No more making it from scratch. This will be one of the top costumes this year.” Another chimed in, “Is it weird for a 42-year-old man to dress up as the Saja Boys?” On the company’s website, Rumi, Mira and Zoey costumes were listed as “coming soon,” and start at $60 (approximately 83,000 won). While no official Saja Boys outfits are being offered, fans say all they really need is the gat, a traditional black hat — dozens of which are on Amazon, at a ra

Sep 23, 2025By Jane Han

Jane Han

Read more

Trader Joe’s Halloween totes are here — will fakes follow in Korea?

Audrey Nuna realizes reach of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ on trip to Korea

President Lee promotes K-food on primetime TV

US Koreans say dual nationality pledge overlooks birthright, tax hurdles

Travel chaos averted as airport staff settle on overtime

K-pop gets fresh lift with presidential push

‘Airport fashion’ may not fly so freely

Korea left behind as US lowers auto tariffs for Europe, Japan

Lee’s message lands better in US with new interpreter

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ set to dominate Halloween

Top 5 stories