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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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Travel & Food

Where to find special chocolates for Valentine's Day in Seoul

Valentine’s Day, which falls on Feb. 14, may come wrapped in roses, but chocolate is its most enduring language of affection for this occasion. From hand-painted bonbons and glossy jewel-like pralines to bean-to-bar creations that spotlight the journey of cacao itself, Seoul’s artisan chocolatiers are turning sweets into storytelling. Whether you’re after playful sets inspired by literature or gift boxes designed as much for the camera as the palate, The Korea Times rounded up the most enticing Valentine’s chocolate offerings in Seoul — perfect for gifting, sharing or indulging yourself. Piaf Artisan Chocolatier A favorite among chocolate lovers, Piaf Artisan Chocolatier is often described as a must-visit destination in Seoul for premium handmade chocolates, especially for those seeking elegant Valentine’s Day gifts. The shop is takeout only and does not serve beverages, placing full emphasis on its craft. Founder and chocolatier Ko Eun-soo, a computer engineering graduate of Seoul National University, discovered handmade chocolate during a 2007 trip to Japan and recalled the

Feb 6, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Where to find special chocolates for Valentine's Day in Seoul
Shows & Dramas

Why Korea, Japan are joining forces to make must-watch dramas

Netflix’s romance series “Can This Love Be Translated?” has drawn attention for many reasons, including the casting of Japanese actor Sota Fukushi as Hiro, a Japanese superstar whose initial contempt for Cha Moo-hee (Go Youn-jung) gradually turns into love as the story unfolds. Fukushi’s role is smoothly woven into the narrative as a Japanese celebrity working alongside a top Korean star, with several scenes filmed in Japan. For viewers who follow both Korean and Japanese dramas, the casting of Japanese actors in Korean productions — and vice versa — is becoming increasingly common. More notably, this reflects a broader rise in cross-border content creation between the two countries. The scope of collaboration varies by project. “Can This Love Be Translated?” represents one of the simplest forms, involving mainly casting. Similarly, Season 3 of SBS’ action drama “Taxi Driver,” released November 2025, features Japanese actor Sho Kasamatsu as one of the villains. “Gimbap and Onigiri,” a Japanese drama released on Jan. 12, stars Korean idol-turned-actor Kang Hye-w

Feb 4, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Why Korea, Japan are joining forces to make must-watch dramas
K-pop

K-pop idols star in ‘The Mission: K’ musical about early missionaries in Korea

Stories of foreign Christian missionaries who spread the word of God and laid the foundations of education and medicine on the Korean Peninsula in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are often told in books, museum exhibitions and documentaries. “The Mission:K,” a musical that premiered Friday at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, marked a lively addition to these storytelling methods. The production featured four male K-pop idols portraying four historical figures. MJ from ASTRO played Horace N. Allen (1858-1932) of the United States, who established the first Western medical clinic in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Jaeyoon from SF9 took on the role of Horace G. Underwood (1859-1916), an American missionary known for founding the Joseon Christian College, which later became Yonsei University. Kim Dong-jun from ZE:A portrayed Canadian doctor Oliver R. Avison (1860-1956), who led quarantine efforts during the outbreak of cholera and is credited with opening Severance Hospital and Severance Medical College. Ricky from Teen Top played Louis H. Severance (1838-1913

Feb 2, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
K-pop idols star in ‘The Mission: K’ musical about early missionaries in Korea
Shows & Dramas

5 charming filming locations from Netflix’s 'Can This Love Be Translated?'

While Netflix series "Can This Love Be Translated?" has captured fans with its cross-cultural romance and compelling characters, it is also fueling travel envy with stunning international filming locations, transporting viewers from Japan’s serene temples to the dramatic canyons of Canada and sun-drenched ruins of Italy. The show’s wanderlust factor hasn’t gone unnoticed: According to Netflix, the 12-episode series starring Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung and Japanese actor Sota Fukushi attracted 9 million viewers last week, becoming the most popular non-English show of the week. The Korea Times compiled a list of real-life destinations featured in the show worth visiting on your next holiday. Kamakura, Japan Kamakura, a small city in Japan, is where the two main characters, Cha Mu-hee (Go) and Joo Ho-jin (Kim), spend part of the day together in the first episode. A memorable scene in which the two are separated by a train adds to the location’s charm, highlighting its picturesque streets. Located in Kanagawa prefecture, just about an hour outside Tokyo, Kamakura is a historic seaside c

Jan 30, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
5 charming filming locations from Netflix’s 'Can This Love Be Translated?'
  • Surprising Korean spots that look just like Italy, Canada in ‘Can This Love Be Translated?’
Music

Where to slow down and listen: Classical music lounges in Korea

For classical music fans, listening is a focused, almost ritual experience. In Korea, a growing number of specialized listening rooms and audio cafes cater to that mindset, offering spaces designed for deep, undistracted engagement with music. Outfitted with high-end and vintage speakers, amplifiers and extensive LP collections, many venues aim to recreate the sound of a concert hall. Others are cherished for their history and status as local landmarks, sustained by loyal patrons over the decades. Here are some notable places to visit, from Seoul spots to long-standing regional classics. In Seoul Audeum Audeum opened as an audio museum in 2024. Chung Mong-jin, chairman of KCC Group, personally financed the museum and donated his collection of vintage audio equipment, cameras and 100,000 records. While visitors cannot listen to the collection during regular hours, the museum hosts audio concerts twice a month to allow participants to experience classical music played on high-quality equipment. The building was designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and won a Versailles Architect

Jan 28, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Where to slow down and listen: Classical music lounges in Korea
  • At Renaissance, Seoul’s forgotten classical music salon comes back to life
Music

At Renaissance, Seoul’s forgotten classical music salon comes back to life

The bustling Daehangno area in Seoul is a haven for artists and art lovers. Theater posters layer the walls and audiences drift between small stages, cafes and late-night bars. Tucked inside the Arts Council of Korea’s (ARKO) Artist House is a quieter kind of stage. Behind its doors sits Renaissance, a music salon that feels less like a venue and more like a time capsule. Vintage speakers tower over the room. Record players and old amplifiers sit like relics of another era. Faded fliers and yellowing papers hint at stories that stretch back decades. Opened in May 2025, the space invites visitors to do something increasingly rare: sit still and listen. Renaissance is rooted in the legacy of one man — Pak Yong-chan (1916-94). Born into an affluent family in Imsil, South Jeolla Province, during Japanese colonial rule, Pak developed a love for classical music at an early age. He studied economics at Meiji University in Japan, and when he returned home, his luggage was said to be filled with classical music vinyls — as many as 8,000. When Seoul was taken by North Korean and Chinese forces

Jan 28, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
At Renaissance, Seoul’s forgotten classical music salon comes back to life
  • Where to slow down and listen: Classical music lounges in Korea
Travel & Food

Where to find Korea's Bakery World Cup-winning shops

A team of four Korean bakers has won La Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie 2026, widely known as the Bakery World Cup, in Paris, Friday (local time). According to the organizer, “Following two days of intense competition, South Korea ... won the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie, succeeding the French team, the grand winner of the previous edition.” The team consists of leader Kim Jong-ho, Hwang Seok-yong, Choi Yong-hwan and Kim Myung-gi. The final round saw 10 teams competing under the theme “The Great Inventions of Your Country.” Representing Korea, the team created a piece inspired by the "geobukseon," or turtle ship, an ironclad warship built by Admiral Yi Sun-sin in 1592 during the Imjin War. The vessel is widely credited, along with Yi’s leadership, as a key factor in the victories of the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910. “The South Korean trio claimed this latest edition 10 years after their first and only previous victory,” the organizer said on its website. “This achievement highlights South Korean expertise in bakery-patisserie and their mastery

Jan 25, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Where to find Korea's Bakery World Cup-winning shops
Music

Pianist Kim Kang-tae wins 3rd prize at Liszt Piano Competition Utrecht

Pianist Kim Kang-tae, 29, has won third prize at the prestigious Liszt Piano Competition Utrecht in the Netherlands, the Kumho Culture Foundation (KCF) said Sunday. Kim performed Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in the final round, finishing behind Russia’s Alexander Kashpurin, who took first prize, and the U.K.’s Thomas Kelly, who placed second. His awards include 8,000 euros, or approximately 14 million won, professional coaching, a customized website, recording opportunities and recital engagements at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam as well as in Norway, Italy, Hungary and Belgium. Launched in 1986, the competition is held every three years and is open to pianists between the ages of 19 and 29. Other Korean laureates include Minsoo Hong, who won second prize in 2017, and Park Yeon-min, who also took second in 2022. Born in 1997, Kim debuted through KCF’s young artists program. His previous accolades include second prize at the 2018 Takamatsu International Piano Competition, first prize at the 2017 Jirisan International Music Festival Competition and first prize at the 2016 Beijing

Jan 25, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Pianist Kim Kang-tae wins 3rd prize at Liszt Piano Competition Utrecht
Travel & Food

Honey Butter Chip, tanghulu, dujjonku: Rise and fall of Korea’s viral food trends

From convenience store snack aisles to TikTok feeds, Korea’s food scene has repeatedly shown how quickly tastes can rise — and fall. Over the past decade, a stream of viral snacks and desserts has captured public attention, fueled by social media buzz, scarcity marketing and a growing appetite for novelty. Some items vanished almost as quickly as they appeared, while others settled into everyday menus. Looking back at both the blink-and-you-miss-it crazes and the ones that stuck offers a snapshot of how consumer psychology, online virality and health concerns intersect in Korea’s fast-moving food culture. Honey Butter Chip The 150-gram bag of potato chips glazed with honey and butter was catapulted to stardom shortly after its launch in 2014. Within three months, it reportedly became the bestselling product at all three major convenience store chains. Combining salty and sweet flavors, the chips proved irresistibly addictive. Scarcity played a key role in its rise. Production shortages — which some speculated were a marketing tactic — only fueled demand. By early 2016, manufact

Jan 23, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Honey Butter Chip, tanghulu, dujjonku: Rise and fall of Korea’s viral food trends
Trends

Foreign residents have low awareness of Culture Day benefits

From time to time, Monica, 36, a working mother from Uzbekistan, and her Korean husband take their daughter Miso, 11, to the cinema near their home in Seoul. Miso loves animated films, and the family considers movie outings a small but meaningful moment amid their busy schedules. But, as Monica recently learned, she has been missing out on a benefit designed to make such experiences more affordable. “We recently watched ‘Zootopia 2’ and paid full price,” Monica told The Korea Times. “If we had known a discount was available on the last Wednesday of the month, we definitely would have planned around it.” The discount Monica was referring to is part of Culture Day, a government initiative designed to make cultural activities more accessible. Introduced in 2014, Culture Day offers reduced or free admission to a wide range of cultural venues such as movie theaters, public museums, galleries, concert halls and sports events on the last Wednesday of every month. In a 2024 survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, six out of 10 Koreans were aware of the program and 66

Jan 23, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
Foreign residents have low awareness of Culture Day benefits
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