Lifestyle - The Korea Times

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo stuns fans with dramatic short-hair transformation ahead of comeback

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo has revealed a striking new hairstyle, captivating fans with a dramatic look that marks one of her boldest transformations yet. On Monday, Jisoo uploaded several photos to her personal social media account without any caption. The images show her on a photo shoot set, carrying herself with the poise and professionalism of a seasoned global star. One detail immediately drew attention: Jisoo’s hair. Known for her long, signature hairstyle, the singer appeared with a sharp, chic short cut, prompting widespread admiration online. Fans say her “untouchable” visuals shine even without her trademark long hair. In the photos, Jisoo pulls off a range of outfits — from a halterneck dress to a pink skirt paired with a khaki shirt — all while maintaining her distinct features and effortlessly commanding presence. Her bold makeover has already sparked buzz across social media, with many praising her versatility and elegance. BLACKPINK, the group Jisoo belongs to, is currently in the midst of its large-scale “Deadline” world tour, with concerts running from Nov. 28 to

Nov 26, 2025By Xportsnews

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo stuns fans with dramatic short-hair transformation ahead of comeback

Hallyu Con marks 5 years of growing UK interest in Korean culture

LONDON — Five years after a small volunteer team first tested the idea of a grassroots K-culture convention in London, Hallyu Con has grown into a yearly reunion for the United Kingdom’s Korean culture community, where fans and creators gather under one roof for a day that now stretches far beyond K-pop into film, food, fashion and frank conversations about representation. Hosted at Samsung KX in London, Friday, with support from the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) and the Korea Tourism Organisation UK, the 2025 edition carried the theme “Past, Present, Future,” capturing both the evolution of U.K. hallyu (Korean wave) fandom and the organizers’ aspirations for the years ahead. While more compact than previous editions due to a change in dates, the event delivered a warm celebration of Korean culture, underscored by a committed and growing community. Community rooted in cultural exchange Hallyu Con co-founder Lashai Ben Salmi reflected on the meaning of the five-year milestone. “It’s really exciting, mainly for the community,” she told The Korea Times, describing Hallyu

Nov 22, 2025By Jiji Ahn

Hallyu Con marks 5 years of growing UK interest in Korean culture

BABYMONSTER’s Chiquita and Asa stun airport crowd with long-boots styling twist

BABYMONSTER members Chiquita and Asa sparked buzz at Incheon International Airport this week as they stepped out in coordinated yet strikingly different long-boots styling — a fashion moment that quickly spread across Korean social media. The YG Entertainment rookie group departed for Nagoya on Nov. 21 for the next stop of their Japan fan concert tour. While the two members wore outfits built around ivory tops and long black boots, the details made their looks stand out in completely opposite ways, reflecting each member’s personality and image. Chiquita chose an ivory tweed jacket that gave off a classic and slightly romantic feel. She paired it with black sheer stockings and chunky black long boots, highlighting her long legs. Her dark wine-colored hair was braided into a single plait, giving her a soft, innocent aura, while a small keyring doll added a playful touch befitting the group’s youngest member. Asa, on the other hand, leaned into a bolder mood. She wore an oversized loose-fit knit sweater styled like a mini dress, creating a subtly sexy silhouette. With a black micro-

Nov 22, 2025By Xportsnews

BABYMONSTER’s Chiquita and Asa stun airport crowd with long-boots styling twist

How Jennie and Karina made ‘kimjang vest’ trendy in Korea

A floral quilted vest long seen as an unfashionable “grandma-style” item in Korea — commonly nicknamed the “kimjang vest” because older women often wore it while making kimchi for winter — is enjoying a surprising revival among young consumers as a trendy winter fashion piece. According to Naver Data Lab search trends on Nov. 18, searches for these quilted vests and related keywords such as “floral vest” among users aged 19 to 34 hit an all-time high of 100 the previous day. Naver assigns the peak search volume a value out of 100 to show relative change. After reaching 96 in December 2024 and dropping to zero, interest began surging again in mid-October. Search analysis platform BlackKiwi also reported that searches for the vest this month increased nearly sevenfold — 699.85 percent — from the previous month. Users in their 20s and 30s accounted for nearly half of all searches, at 13.2 percent and 36 percent respectively, while women made up an overwhelming 84.3 percent. Analysts say the resurgence is linked to the growing popularity of “choncance,” a trend where

Nov 22, 2025By Hankookilbo

How Jennie and Karina made ‘kimjang vest’ trendy in Korea

Why Spotify is betting big on Korea's new listening culture

In Korea, music streaming is no longer just about listening — it’s becoming a lifestyle. As Korean pop culture continues to expand its global influence and Gen Z turns playlists into tools of self-expression, music platforms are racing to keep up. What used to be a straightforward choice between a few domestic services has shifted into a multi-platform habit: one app for chart voting, another for discovery, another for mood playlists. In this new landscape, Spotify is trying to move from "just another app" to something closer to a lifestyle brand, embedding itself into daily routines both online and offline. An ordinary stretch of street in Seoul’s trendy Seongsu-dong took on a different energy earlier this month. Past crowded cosmetic stores and the stream of office workers and students, a three‑story building pulsed with music loud enough to spill onto the sidewalk. Inside was Spotify House Seoul, a pop-up venue where the streaming giant staged its largest offline event in Korea to date from Nov. 13 to 15. The installation was more than a temporary attraction. Through interacti

Nov 20, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Why Spotify is betting big on Korea's new listening culture

'KPop Demon Hunters' comes to Seoul with December pop-up

A pop-up store for Netflix's smash hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" will open in Seoul next month, extending the movie's momentum offline with a full range of official merchandise and character-themed attractions. The "KPop Demon Hunters Official POP-UP — SEOUL" will run from Dec. 4 to 28 in the Seongsu-dong area, a major retail hub for pop-up events. The project is a collaboration between Netflix and B.stage, the Korea-based fan-commerce company which produces and globally distributes the film's merchandise. The pop-up will feature items based on popular characters from the film, including members of the fictional K-pop groups Huntrix and the Saja Boys. The merchandise lineup includes plush dolls, keyrings, apparel, accessories and K-pop-themed collectibles such as photocards and binders designed for photocard collectors. Several items will be sold exclusively at the Seoul event. Fans can get early access through an online pre-order from Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. to Nov. 30 at midnight via the film's official fan community website. A Netflix spokesperson gave an official statement sayin

Nov 13, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

'KPop Demon Hunters' comes to Seoul with December pop-up

Aespa’s NingNing goes viral with henna-covered hand, revealing mirror selfie

Aespa member NingNing has caught the attention of fans after sharing a series of striking everyday photos on social media — including one that shows her wearing henna on her hand and another featuring an eye-catching outfit. On Monday, NingNing posted several photos to her personal account with the short caption, “I don’t know.” The images captured various moments from her day-to-day life, ranging from casual mirror selfies to fashionable outings. In one photo, NingNing poses in front of a mirror with her hand partly covering her face, revealing an elaborate henna pattern across the back of her hand. Another photo drew attention for its bold composition, showing her in a black undergarment-style top — a rare look for the usually stage-focused idol. Additional shots showed NingNing wearing a headscarf while browsing what appeared to be a clothing shop, and holding vinyl records in a record store, revealing a relaxed and artistic side of her life offstage. Meanwhile, aespa has announced its first Kyocera Dome performance in Osaka, scheduled for Apr. 11–12, 2026, followed by a t

Nov 12, 2025By Xportsnews

Aespa’s NingNing goes viral with henna-covered hand, revealing mirror selfie

Spend less, clean more: Koreans find new path to a calmer, happier life in Japanese books

Two Japanese self-help books, whose Korean titles translate as “The low-consumption life” and “The monk’s way of cleaning,” are gaining popularity among readers seeking a sense of calm in a fast-paced, consumption-driven society. Both suggest that happiness can be rediscovered not through acquiring more, but through consciously spending less and clearing unnecessary things from life. “The reason I prefer a low-consumption lifestyle is that it allows me to keep asking what truly makes me happy,” author Kazenotami (pen name) wrote in “The low-consumption life.” “I am convinced that I feel happiness far more easily now than when I used to spend money carelessly.” “In Zen Buddhism, happiness doesn’t come from acquiring something new, but from letting go of what you don’t need,” said Shunmyo Masuno, a Zen priest and author of “The monk’s way of cleaning.” Unlike traditional guides that emphasize frugality or efficiency, Kazenotami’s “The low-consumption life” begins with practical steps but extends to redefining what it means to live meaningfully. Si

Nov 8, 2025By Hankookilbo

Spend less, clean more: Koreans find new path to a calmer, happier life in Japanese books

InterviewLooking outward: How APEC opened new window for Korea's creative industry

Whenever large-scale international events such as the Olympics or the World Cup are held, the world’s attention naturally turns to the host nation. Extensive media coverage often sheds light on the people, culture and lifestyle of that country. The same was true this time. Last week, the southeastern city of Gyeongju successfully hosted the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, drawing global attention. Located in North Gyeongsang Province, Gyeongju was once the capital of the ancient Silla Dynasty. The city, known for its well-preserved relics, artwork and numerous historic sites, exudes a quiet dignity and is often called a “living museum,” as it holds the splendor of Korea’s past. During the APEC events, Gyeongju’s rich and diverse cultural heritage captivated investors and dignitaries from around the world. This was clear evidence that the popularity of Korean culture did not happen overnight. Some visitors, perhaps unknowingly, became ambassadors of Korean culture themselves. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, for example, posted on Instagram ab

Nov 7, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung

Looking outward: How APEC opened new window for Korea's creative industry

Korea's 'bihon' generation: How young women are reimagining life without marriage

The air was cold but the atmosphere buzzy as a crowd of 2,000 women streamed into a three‑story building in Seoul’s trendy Seongsu‑dong on the first day of November. They had come for a gathering never before seen in Korea: a fair dedicated to “bihon,” the movement that rejects heterosexual marriage and celebrates the choice to live single. Despite a nearly 70 percent surge in single-person households over the past decade, according to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, marriage is deeply ingrained as a social expectation, especially for women, who often face harsher judgment based on their marital status. Bihon pushes back. The word itself stands apart from “mihon,” the more common Korean term for “unmarried.” The prefix “mi” can be translated as “not yet,” suggesting that the current state is merely temporary and that marriage will follow in due time. However, in the past few years, a growing number of the country’s young feminists have begun to embrace bihon — literally “no marriage” — as a deliberate choice to remain single. It is

Nov 7, 2025By Park Han-sol

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