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Kim Se-jeong

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

I am covering trend, food and fashion. Previously, I covered diplomacy, city, environment and unification.

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People & Events

Korean Cultural Centers help new voices in K-culture reach global audiences

BTS, BLACKPINK, Pinkfong, and the Netflix original series Squid Game are now household names in the global K-culture phenomenon. Behind their success are powerful entertainment companies and robust support systems that helped guide them on the path to international acclaim. But what about lesser-known artists who lack access to those resources or exposure? That’s where the Korean government steps in — with Korean Cultural Centers abroad playing a key role in supporting and promoting emerging talent. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korean Cultural Centers around the world — tasked with promoting Korean culture in their host countries — are working to introduce emerging Korean artists to local audiences. For example, the Korean Cultural Center in Poland arranged for Greatest Masque, a Korean mask dance company, to perform at a Polish festival in July. Meanwhile, the electronic funk duo Fat Hamster & KANG New is scheduled to perform at Colours of Ostrava — the largest music festival in the Czech Republic — also in July, with support from the culture of

May 28, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
Korean Cultural Centers help new voices in K-culture reach global audiences
People & Events

Global cultural leaders gather in Seoul to chart sustainable future for arts

Cultural leaders from around the world are gathering this week in Seoul for the 10th World Summit on Arts and Culture to discuss the global challenges facing the cultural and creative sectors and ways to advance sustainable development. The summit runs from Wednesday to Friday, with an opening gala Tuesday. "Digital technologies do not merely offer new tools, but they are fundamentally changing how art is created, distributed and experienced. At the same time, they also present new issues, such as social exclusion through the digital divide, copyright concerns and artificial intelligence (AI) ethics," Byoung Gug Choung, chair of the Arts Council Korea (ARKO), said in a statement. "As these winds of change sweep across the globe, we find ourselves at a critical moment where we must come together to reflect on how we will navigate them." Hosted ahead of UNESCO’s cultural policy conference MONDIACULT 2025 in Barcelona slated for September, this year’s World Summit focuses on futureproofing culture through three key themes: knowledge systems and agency; participatory systems and connecte

May 27, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
Global cultural leaders gather in Seoul to chart sustainable future for arts
People & Events

Lights, but no clarity: Inside Korea’s puzzling pavilion at Osaka Expo

OSAKA, Japan — When it began in 1851, the World Expo served as a showcase for industrial innovation, technological advancements and cultural achievements from around the globe. Today, it has evolved into a venue where countries promote their identity, values and innovation. Visiting the Expo’s 36th edition in Osaka, Japan — which opened on April 13 and runs through Oct. 13 — this reporter found that the Korea Pavilion left many, especially Korean visitors, underwhelmed. Its abstract representation of Korea and overall dim atmosphere failed to resonate. The pavilion features a rectangular digital media facade that displays Korea’s four seasons, iconic landmarks and K-pop dances. Inside, the exhibition is divided into three halls. The first, which this reporter found the least successful, offers a light show where visitors record their voices before entering. Inside, they hear their voices layered with artificial intelligence-generated orchestral music, accompanied by synchronized light beams. Although exhibition director Koh Joo-won explained that the underlying message was “

May 19, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
Lights, but no clarity: Inside Korea’s puzzling pavilion at Osaka Expo
Photo News

PHOTOS Korea Day at Osaka Expo 2025

Participants clad in hanbok (traditional Korean attire) line up at the Asia and Pacific Trade Center port in Osaka, Japan, Tuesday, to celebrate the arrival of a replica wooden boat reenacting the voyages of "Joseon Tongsinsa," or diplomatic missions during the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty. The reenactment commemorates the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan. Yonhap

May 13, 2025By Kim Se-jeongphoto
[PHOTOS] Korea Day at Osaka Expo 2025
  • Historic Korean diplomatic boat arrives in Osaka, rekindling cultural ties
Travel & Food

Historic Korean diplomatic boat arrives in Osaka, rekindling cultural ties

OSAKA, Japan — A reconstructed wooden boat reenacting the voyages of diplomatic missions during the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty arrived in Osaka, Japan, Tuesday, helping to celebrate the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan. The boat departed from Busan on April 28, sailing 1,311 kilometers across the Korea Strait to Osaka via Japan's Tsushima Island and the cities of Shimonoseki, Kure, Fukuyama and Tatsuno. Called "Joseon Tongsinsa," the Joseon-era diplomatic mission included diplomats, scholars, musicians, writers, artists and others who served as cultural ambassadors. The last voyage to Osaka was in 1764. “No better symbol represents the strong ties between Korea and Japan than the Joseon Tongsinsa,” said Culture Minister Yu In-chon during a ceremony welcoming the boat’s arrival in Osaka. “Today, younger generations in Korea and Japan enjoy each other’s music, dramas, films and animations, transcending geographical boundaries, which will lay the foundation for future relations.” Osaka city government officials and residents also attende

May 13, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
Historic Korean diplomatic boat arrives in Osaka, rekindling cultural ties
  • PHOTOS Korea Day at Osaka Expo 2025
K-pop

KCON JAPAN 2025 draws 50,000 with full K-culture experience

TOKYO — At the Makuhari Messe convention center just outside Tokyo Sunday, a crowd of nearly 50,000 visitors gathered to sample Korean food and beauty products. The venue hosted the 36th edition of KCON, the world’s largest K-pop festival and convention, over the weekend in Japan. The three-day event offered much more than just a K-pop concert — it provided fans with a full Korean cultural experience. Among the highlights was a booth area where Japanese fans could explore Korea through food and beauty. Olive Young, Korea’s leading beauty retailer, drew long lines, with fans sampling skincare and makeup products — especially from its Colorgram brand, currently endorsed by K-pop group ZeroBaseOne. Many attendees carried reusable bags bearing the Olive Young logo. Rin, 21, a Japanese fan who came to see ZeroBaseOne, also stopped by the Olive Young booth. “I use their (Korean) skincare products. I like them,” she told The Korea Times in English. Other major Korean brands such as Samyang Foods, Nongshim and CJ Foodville also hosted booths, appealing to fans’ senses. At the foo

May 12, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
KCON JAPAN 2025 draws 50,000 with full K-culture experience
Travel & Food

Ex-Boyfriend Toast: Jam-packed love story that went viral

Food doesn’t always go viral for its flavor — sometimes, it’s the story that sells. That’s the case with “Ex-Boyfriend Toast.” This simple dish — a slice of toasted bread topped with cream cheese and blueberry jam — has evolved from a viral internet post in Korea to a popular item at a cafe in Brooklyn. “Treat yourself to a delicious toast — made with blueberry preserves and cream cheese — that has an interesting background story as to why it got its name!” reads the item description on PHiL Cafe's Uber Eats menu. Priced at $10, it is reportedly one of the cafe’s most frequently ordered items. The backstory involves a Korean woman who missed the toast her ex-boyfriend used to make for her. After their breakup, she texted him asking for the recipe — making it clear she wasn't trying to rekindle the relationship. To her surprise, he sent back a detailed set of instructions. She shared their text exchange online back in 2018, and it quickly went viral. As the post gained popularity, Korean convenience store chain GS25 briefly sold a “Boyfriend Sandwich” made

May 9, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
Ex-Boyfriend Toast: Jam-packed love story that went viral
People & Events

Yoido Full Gospel Church pastor honored for promoting family-friendly culture

Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, received a presidential award Thursday for his leadership in advancing family-friendly initiatives through the church’s outreach programs. The award was presented by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family as part of May's Family Month celebrations. Lee was among 85 honorees recognized at a ceremony in Seoul. “The church was recognized for promoting the value of life through support for single-parent families and for contributing to the spread of a family-friendly culture through initiatives like childbirth celebration grants and day care centers,” the church said in a statement. Yoido Full Gospel Church is the largest Protestant church in the world by membership, with approximately 480,000 members, of which 150,000 are active. Lee has served as senior pastor since 2008. Between 2021 and 2024, the church has distributed a total of 6.1 billion won ($4.2 million) in childbirth encouragement funds and donated 120 strollers to single-parent families. In addition, the church supports the elderly, children and people w

May 8, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
Yoido Full Gospel Church pastor honored for promoting family-friendly culture
People & Events

Celebrating 141st anniversary of Korea-Italy ties in Venice

First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yong Ho-seong speaks during the opening ceremony of the exhibition "For All that Breathes on Earth: Jung Youngsun and Collaborators" at San Marco Art Centre in Venice, Italy, Wednesday (local time). The exhibition, which originated from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, is part of cultural exchange program between Korea and Italy that celebrates the 141st anniversary of diplomatic relations and coincides with the 2025 Venice Biennale of Architecture. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

May 8, 2025By Kim Se-jeongphoto
Celebrating 141st anniversary of Korea-Italy ties in Venice
People & Events

Culture minister visits Gangwon Province

Culture Minister Yu In-chon, right, listens as Sokcho Mayor Lee Byeong-seon explains the history of his city during the minister's visit to the coastal city in Gangwon Province, Wednesday. Yu visited the city as part of a general inspection on local tourism. Yonhap

May 7, 2025By Kim Se-jeongphoto
Culture minister visits Gangwon Province
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