The Korea Times

5 places in Korea to enjoy cherry blossoms

Warm spring winds have brought national attention to cherry blossoms, which are expected to bloom earlier than usual this year, heightening anticipation for one of Korea’s most cherished seasonal rituals. According to weather forecasts, global warming has pushed flowering dates forward by one to seven days compared to the annual average. Seogwipo in the southern part of Jeju Island has already seen blossoms emerge, with Busan, Daegu and Ulsan to follow, before the blooms reach Seoul around April 3. For both locals and visitors, cherry blossom viewing is a popular way to celebrate the season, with many taking time off to enjoy the fleeting spectacle. Numerous flower festivals are also held across the country to cater to seasonal travelers. The Korea Times has compiled a list of five places to enjoy cherry blossoms. Jinhae, South Geongsang Province Each spring, Jinhae District in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, transforms itself into a sea of cherry blossoms, earning its designation as Korea's largest cherry blossom destination. This year's Jinhae Gunhangje Festival runs for 10 days

Mar 26, 2026By Park Jin-hai

5 places in Korea to enjoy cherry blossoms

Shows & Dramas

Actor Lee Seo-jin becomes ‘Texas guide’ in new Netflix travel show

Actor Lee Seo-jin and acclaimed television producer Nah Yung-suk have teamed up again for a new travel series — this time set in Lee’s favorite U.S. state, Texas — with Lee serving as a guide. Netflix “Ready or Not: Texas,” an unscripted, plan-free travel reality show, follows the duo as they wander across the Lone Star State. The show spotlights “Texas fanatic” Lee, who considers the state his second home, alongside Nah and the production crew as they join him on a series of unpredictable adventures. “I’ve been visiting Texas often because I’m interested in it — the weather’s great, it’s a good place to live, and I thought it’d be a perfect spot to retire. I’ve told people for years that Dallas is where I want to settle down," Lee said during a press conference at CGV I’Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul, Tuesday. “You’ll see why Texas is so popular once you go. It’s strong in sports, most athletes are from there, and there’s no state income tax. With its oil wealth, people live comfortably and are very friendly. There are just so many great things abou

Mar 24, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Actor Lee Seo-jin becomes ‘Texas guide’ in new Netflix travel show

K-pop

BTS comeback costumes inspired by Joseon era, 'han'

Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul became the stage for BTS’ grand comeback performance on Saturday evening. Much like its setting — the historic square at the heart of the capital — and the album title itself, "ARIRANG," named after a 130-year-old Korean folk song, the show was widely seen as a statement about the place of Korean culture and identity on the global stage. Among the many elements that deepened the performance’s Korean resonance, the costumes stood out especially vividly. As BTS danced against the backdrop of Gyeongbok Palace, the sight of luminous fabric gliding over dark, subtly shimmering outfits created an impression of both grace and power. The stage costumes, titled “Lyrical Armor,” were created by Korean designer brand Songzio. The brand’s creative director Jay Song described the pieces as “embodying the spirit of a new generation of heroes who carry the turbulent history of Korea," on the fashion house brand's Instagram page. Blending the sturdy armor worn by warriors of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty with flowing "hanbok" (Korean traditional clothi

Mar 22, 2026By Park Jin-hai

BTS comeback costumes inspired by Joseon era, 'han'

Shows & Dramas

Long-running travel show 'Welcome, First Time in Korea?' returns with major revamp

MBC's "Welcome, First Time in Korea?," a long-running reality travel show, has returned after a thoughtful makeover, kicking off its fourth season this evening. The show has been a trailblazer for foreigner-led travel shows and one of network's flagship programs, charming viewers with real stories from international guests exploring Korea. It has delivered fun and cultural connection over more than 400 episodes, all with solid 3 percent average ratings. Breaking free from traditional trips, the new season opens its doors to anyone worldwide with an interest in Korea, allowing visitors to explore and share their journeys. The production team has handpicked unexpected figures to uncover Korea's hidden charms and reaffirm the show's enduring power. "We dropped 'invited' because fans — big names even — emailed us wanting in. After some 300 Zoom calls over six months, we selected those genuinely eager to travel Korea. The show will also introduce unique national traits, inviting hosts from each country to the studio," the show's producer Jeon Min-kyung said during an online press confere

Mar 19, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Long-running travel show 'Welcome, First Time in Korea?' returns with major revamp

Korean Heritage

BTS, MU:DS unveil collection inspired by Silla’s Divine Bell

As BTS fans flock to the city for their idol group’s historic comeback concert, one point of interest for them is finding memorable souvenirs to take home. For anyone bored with photo cards, magnets and key rings and looking for something new and charming, the MU:DS collaboration collection could be a great option. The group’s agency HYBE has collaborated with the National Museum Foundation of Korea’s cultural brand MU:DS to unveil the “2026 BTS x MU:DS Collaboration” collection, reinterpreting traditional patterns from the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok into modern design items. The ancient bell, housed at Gyeongju National Museum in North Gyeongsang Province and designated a National Treasure, was cast in 771 to honor King Seongdeok of the Unified Silla Kingdom (668-935). It remains the largest extant Korean temple bell and one of the finest examples of Silla’s metal-casting artistry. The massive bronze bell, standing 3.75 meters tall and weighing 18.9 tons, is widely known as the Emille Bell, named after an old legend that tells of a child cast into the molten metal so the

Mar 19, 2026By Park Jin-hai

BTS, MU:DS unveil collection inspired by Silla’s Divine Bell

Shows & Dramas

2 young souls find light amid life's gray realities in 'Still Shining'

A gentle, beautifully observed coming-of-age romance, "Still Shining" isn’t really about campus hijinks so much as it is about tracing two teens into their 30s, where love, work and family quietly reshape their hearts across more than a decade of subtle transformations. At 19, Tae-seo (Park Jin-young) arrives in the countryside after losing both parents in a car accident. He grew up in a household where money was always short, to the point that his parents only wished for "something safe and peaceful, where Tae-seo can make a living without struggle." Now, with a younger brother who has been left with a permanent limp and grandparents to support, Tae-seo spends the entire summer alone in an empty school library, studying as if his family’s survival depends on every page. On the surface, Tae-seo looks solid and unshakable, but that composure masks constant tension. He is a boy who learned too early that there is no safety net. Into this tightly controlled life slips Eun-a (Kim Min-ju). Talkative, playful and just a little chaotic, she becomes the one person who makes him unclench hi

Mar 18, 2026By Park Jin-hai

2 young souls find light amid life's gray realities in 'Still Shining'

Shows & Dramas

TV shifts toward soothing, heartfelt reality shows

Korean television is quietly shifting from shock to solace, with more programs trading relentless stimulation for what viewers call "good dopamine" — not the adrenaline rush of drama, but the gentle satisfaction of genuine human care. At the forefront of this trend is SBS “Mongle, Mongle? Mongle!,” a dating reality show that premiered March 8 and follows young adults with developmental disabilities or who are neurodivergent as they attempt something both ordinary and radical: romance. Guided by real-life couple Lee Hyo-ri and her husband Lee Sang-soon, the show treats dating not as spectacle but as a basic right often denied to people who are often not seen as adults with desires and boundaries. Casting alone tells us how hungry people were for this premise: producers reportedly met with more than 500 applicants before selecting three participants whose lives and personalities anchor the three-part series. For Ji-hyun, an artistically gifted woman who dreams big despite her intellectual disability, Ji-hoon, an autistic barista, and Ji-won, an actor with Down syndrome, even getting

Mar 16, 2026By Park Jin-hai

TV shifts toward soothing, heartfelt reality shows

Shows & Dramas

From chaebol to secret agent: Virtual roster of 'Boyfriend on Demand'

Since its release on March 6, Netflix’s "Boyfriend on Demand," starring BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, has captured both local curiosity and global buzz. Beyond its star power and glossy production, the show taps into a distinctly modern fantasy — the comfort of love without the risk of heartbreak. At the heart of the story is Seo Mi-rae, a webtoon producer worn down by deadlines, a difficult author she manages and the emotional residue of a breakup. Her ex-boyfriend is about to marry someone else. Out of loneliness, exhaustion and a flicker of curiosity, she turns to a virtual reality subscription service promising up to 900 kinds of love. With a simple headset and the push of a button, Mi-rae can meet boyfriends who fulfill every imaginable romantic ideal — from a devoted CEO to a sentimental artist — all without the messy unpredictability of real life. Fans adore its straightforward bliss. "I miss K-dramas just for fun — no murders, just love and butterflies," one Reddit user raved. Others nod to its real-world edge: "It nails the fear of relationships ending," while another mused, "P

Mar 13, 2026By Park Jin-hai

From chaebol to secret agent: Virtual roster of 'Boyfriend on Demand'

Shows & Dramas

Lee Na-young says 'Honour' is not just about sexual violence

ENA’s thriller “Honour,” which wrapped Tuesday, follows a team of lawyers taking on a powerful sex trafficking cartel in a story that inevitably echoes the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Centered on three determined attorneys at the victim advocacy firm L&J — short for Listen & Join — who choose solidarity over silence while investigating scandals linked to the shadowy digital sex trade platform “Connect In,” the drama marks actor Lee Na‑young’s first work on the small screen in three years. Lee plays Yun Ra‑yeong, a celebrity lawyer with millions of followers online, but beneath her polished public image lies a woman shaped by deep personal trauma. Lee's restrained performance has drawn praise from viewers. "I first read the script with the curiosity of a novel reader, just dying to know what would happen next. Then I went back through it, thinking about the role I had to play and that's when I felt like I just had to be part of this story," Lee said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in central Seoul, Wednesday. Taking on a role with lengthy legal dialogue

Mar 11, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Lee Na-young says 'Honour' is not just about sexual violence

Trends

Why young Koreans are meeting strangers to eat french fries together

Red cartons stacked into makeshift towers. Phones hovering overhead for the perfect aerial shot. Some 50 strangers chatting like old friends — all brought together by little more than a shared love of french fries. That was the scene at a McDonald's near Sinsa Station in southern Seoul earlier this month, where what looked like an ordinary fast-food outlet transformed into something harder to categorize: a pop-up social gathering built entirely around fries. The idea is older than it looks. Back in 2013, a group of attendees at Comic World, an amateur subculture convention, gathered at a McDonald's in Busan simply to eat mountains of french fries together. The tradition resurfaced earlier this year and quickly swept the country, spreading through social media and Danggeun, Korea's largest secondhand marketplace app, known as Karrot in English. The format is disarmingly simple: Strangers gather at a fast-food joint, order towering trays of fries, swap stories over crispy bites, then go their separate ways — no strings, no dues, no drama. There are no membership fees, no obligation to

Mar 11, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

5 places in Korea to enjoy cherry blossoms

Actor Lee Seo-jin becomes ‘Texas guide’ in new Netflix travel show

BTS comeback costumes inspired by Joseon era, 'han'

Long-running travel show 'Welcome, First Time in Korea?' returns with major revamp

BTS, MU:DS unveil collection inspired by Silla’s Divine Bell

2 young souls find light amid life's gray realities in 'Still Shining'

TV shifts toward soothing, heartfelt reality shows

From chaebol to secret agent: Virtual roster of 'Boyfriend on Demand'

Lee Na-young says 'Honour' is not just about sexual violence

Why young Koreans are meeting strangers to eat french fries together

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