Kwon Mee-yoo

Michigan State University students explore Korean culture during Seoul trip

As Korean pop culture continues to resonate far beyond the peninsula, a group of Michigan State University (MSU) freshmen experienced the Korean Wave firsthand through a new First-Year Seminar Abroad program that brought them to South Korea. From palace grounds to K-pop studios and from historic landmarks to immersive musical productions, the two-week course offered students a dynamic introduction to Korean society and its global cultural impact. The course, titled "K-cultures: Stories and Identity in Korean Cultures," was led by professor Laura MacDonald from MSU’s Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, who did a fellowship at Ewha Womans University and studied Korean musical theater. Designed to help new students develop critical thinking and intercultural understanding, this year marks MSU’s first-ever overseas seminar to Korea, reflecting the growing appeal of Korean culture among young Americans. For many students, the trip was a way to deepen their understanding of Korean culture beyond what they had encountered online. Emad Shahjahan, a double-major in comparative cu

Korean musical 'Swag Age' makes UK debut in one-night-only concert

The award-winning Korean musical “Swag Age: Shout Out, Joseon!” will make its London debut this autumn in a concert performance at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on Sept. 8. Titled “Swag Age in Concert,” the one-night-only staging will bring the genre-bending production to a global stage for the first time, introducing U.K. audiences to a unique fusion of Korean history, hip-hop and the universal message of resistance and freedom. Set in a fictionalized Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), the musical imagines a society where sijo — a traditional poetic form once embraced by common people as a way to endure life’s hardships — is banned in the wake of a political conspiracy. The story follows the revival of sijo through a national poetry competition and a secret rebel group known as Golbindang, who risk everything to reclaim artistic expression and cultural identity from the grip of a powerful court official who monopolizes the genre. “It is truly meaningful to have this piece held in London at this amazing venue through ‘Swag Age in Concert,’” playwright Park Chan-min said in

‘The Great Gatsby’ readies to roar to life in Seoul in August

After dazzling audiences in New York and London, “The Great Gatsby” is making its way to Seoul, marking a rare moment in theater history where a Broadway-originated production runs simultaneously in three global capitals. The 15-week Seoul engagement begins with previews on Aug. 1, before officially opening at GS Arts Center in southern Seoul on Aug. 8. The musical, adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel, was first brought to life on stage by Korean producer Shin Chun-soo. In 2024, Shin made history as the first Korean and first Asian to serve as a solo lead producer on Broadway. Just one year later, the show premiered in London’s West End. Now, with its Seoul debut, Shin admitted that unveiling the show in his home country comes with a unique sense of pressure. “To be honest, I feel even more nervous here than I did for Broadway or the West End,” he said during a showcase at Mood Seoul on Some Solvit, Tuesday. “There, it was an exciting kind of tension. But here in Korea, it's more of an anxious kind of tension — because this is my home turf and I feel the wei

CJ ENM to adapt film 'Dancing Queen' to musical, sets sights on global stage

CJ ENM is set to turn its 2012 hit film “Dancing Queen” into an original musical with ambitions beyond Korea, tapping top-tier Broadway creatives to bring the story to life on stage. Leading the charge is Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, best known for Broadway hits such as “Kinky Boots,” “Hairspray,” and more recently “Boop! The Musical” and “The Devil Wears Prada.” Joining him is New York-based Korean American composer Helen Park, who made history as the first Asian woman nominated for Best Original Score at the Tony Awards with “KPOP.” Playwright Cho Min-hyung, behind Korean musicals such as “Let Me Fly” and “ChaMe,” will write the book. Originally released in 2012, the film “Dancing Queen” features Uhm Jung-hwa and Hwang Jung-min in a heartwarming comedy about a woman who reignites her dream of becoming a singer while juggling life as a politician’s wife. “This story, grounded in the belief that dreams have no expiration date, is universally resonant,” Mitchell said in a statement Tuesday. “I see great potential

After 'Squid Game,' world sees Korea differently

Last weekend, a "Squid Game" parade brought downtown Seoul to a standstill as the final episodes of the global hit's third and final season dropped. Giant floats of the menacing Young-hee doll and nostalgic "dalgona" candy, as well as legions of pink-suited guards, rolled through the streets. It felt like a scene out of fiction, but instead, it was a reminder of how a Korean drama has evolved into a full-fledged global phenomenon. When I first saw that "Squid Game" had become Netflix’s most-watched series of all time, I initially assumed it meant the most-watched among Korean titles. But no — it surpassed global hits such as "Wednesday," "Stranger Things" and "Bridgerton." A Korean series, in the Korean language, outpaced English-language juggernauts to become a household name worldwide. Even now, the scale of its success feels almost surreal. “Squid Game” didn’t just dominate entertainment headlines. It marked a turning point in the history of global content. More than a hit, it cracked open the cultural hegemony long dominated by English-speaking productions. It proved that

11 new King Sejong Institutes open in 9 countries as global demand for Korean language surges

As global enthusiasm for the Korean language continues to grow, the Korean government designated 11 new King Sejong Institutes (KSIs) in nine countries this year, following a record-high competition rate of 8.5 to 1. The additions bring the total number of institutes to 252 locations across 87 countries, signaling the Korean language’s unprecedented international appeal. This year’s expansion includes six new centers in Asia, two in Africa and three in Europe, each chosen to respond to surging local demand for Korean language and culture education. In Egypt, where the only existing KSI, located at the Korean Cultural Center in Cairo, faced a waitlist of 1,285 students, two new centers will open at Ain Shams University in Cairo and Alexandria University. The expansion comes as Korean businesses increase their presence in the African country. Uzbekistan, already home to seven KSIs, will see the addition of another at Ajou University in Tashkent. The decision reflects a rise in demand for Korean language education geared toward employment and overseas study in the country, supported by

Why K-pop’s rise in London is about more than just music

LONDON — It’s a Sunday afternoon near Covent Garden. A crowd begins to form as dancers glide through the sharp, synchronized moves of TWICE’s “I Can’t Stop Me.” The performers — members of iKloud, one of London’s grassroots K-pop cover crews — channel the song’s sleek energy with striking precision. Diverse in race, gender and background, they move as one, drawing out phones and smiles from curious onlookers. Scenes like this — whether K-pop cover shoots, TikTok challenges or random play dances — are now a regular sight at London’s landmarks. From the Southbank to King’s Cross, K-pop’s influence in London runs deeper than dance moves or catchy tunes, reshaping how young Londoners express themselves, build community and foster cultural connection. Community built from ground up London's K-pop fan community flourished in unexpected ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Bee and Katie, co-founders of BKT K-pop Events, it started online — watching music videos, discovering new groups and admiring the fashion and choreography. What began as casual fandom soon

With trophies on table, Hue Park reflects on Tony win, sets sights on new stages

Hue Park, writer of this year's Tony Award-winning musical “Maybe Happy Ending,” is living through whirlwind days just weeks after making history as the first Korean national to win Broadway’s highest honor. Park described seeing his two Tony trophies sitting on his New York kitchen table as surreal — a daily reminder of the responsibility he now carries. “I haven’t found a proper place for them, so I just put them on the table. I had breakfast looking at them. It’s still strange to me that these symbolic trophies are now in my humble home,” Park said during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. “Maybe Happy Ending” is a musical about two Helperbots in near-future Seoul who discover fireflies, love and the meaning of goodbye. It was first staged in Korea in 2016 and made its Broadway debut in November 2024. Park’s visit to Korea, initially intended as a quiet family reunion, quickly turned into a media frenzy as congratulations poured in for the historic achievement. Despite the fanfare, Park revealed that he and composer Will Aronson kept expectations low during aw

Lim Yun-chan to release new ‘Tchaikovsky: The Seasons’ album in August

Pianist Lim Yun-chan will release his new album “Tchaikovsky: The Seasons” on Aug. 22 through Decca Classics, reinterpreting the Russian composer’s 12-part piano suite as a personal reflection on the final year of a human life. Pre-release track “June. Barcarolle. Andante cantabile,” the sixth piece in the set, dropped on streaming platforms Friday. Rather than a simple journey through the calendar months, Lim’s interpretation offers an emotional journey through sorrow, memory, joy and ultimately acceptance. “‘The Seasons’ contains the story of a life nearing its end,” Lim said in a statement. “It begins with someone sitting by a hearth, the fire gradually dimming, lost in a mix of sorrow, reverie and hope. Eventually, they return to the present, accepting everything and quietly organizing the day that will never come again.” The album was recorded at the Menuhin Hall in Surrey, the U.K., and features cover art by Korean artist and Lim’s longtime friend Choi Ho-yeon, mirroring the album’s introspective tone. Lim praised Choi on Instagram as an artist “whose

PHOTOS Readers flock to Seoul Int'l Book Fair amid 'text hip' trend