Lifestyle - The Korea Times

‘No-brake’ fixed-gear bikes surge among teens despite deadly risks

At 5 p.m. on Aug. 21, two sixth-graders raced across Seoul Saek Park in Yeouido, practicing skidding techniques on their “fixies,” or fixed-gear bicycles. With scabbed knees from repeated falls, the boys were undeterred. For them, Saek Park has become a sanctuary for teens to show off tricks and their prized bikes, alongside Songpa’s Olympic Park. Fixed-gear bikes, unlike regular bicycles, lock the pedals to the rear wheel, meaning if the wheel spins, the pedals must spin too. Originally designed for velodrome racing, these stripped-down bikes have gained rapid popularity among Korean teenagers, celebrated for their sleek look and potential for tricks. “I’d say six out of ten of my friends already ride fixies, and the others are planning to switch,” said a 12-year-old rider, adding that he had been pleading with his parents to buy him one. What troubles parents and authorities is a growing trend among teens to remove the brakes entirely, creating so-called “no-brake fixies.” Riders claim it adds thrill, but the dangers are obvious. On Aug. 12, a middle school student in G

Aug 26, 2025By Hankookilbo

‘No-brake’ fixed-gear bikes surge among teens despite deadly risks

TWICE’s Jihyo stuns fans with daring backless outfit ahead of Sept. comeback

Jihyo of K-pop group TWICE drew attention on Sunday after sharing photos of herself in a striking backless outfit, leaving fans captivated by her bold fashion choice and flawless visuals. On Aug. 24, Jihyo posted a series of photos on her personal social media channel with the caption, “Nice to meet you, everyone! See you in September.” In the pictures, the singer confidently poses in a daring backless design that resembles a swimsuit, showcasing her toned figure and confident style. One of the photos shows Jihyo's reflection in a mirror, highlighting her defined body lines and striking facial features. Her bold outfit, which revealed her silhouette, immediately sparked enthusiastic reactions from both domestic and international K-pop fans. Jihyo debuted with TWICE on Oct. 20, 2015, with the group’s first EP “The Story Begins.” Since then, Twice has released multiple hit songs, including “Cheer Up,” “TT” and “Fancy.” The group recently held concerts in Nagoya, Japan, on Aug. 23 and 24, meeting global fans as part of their ongoing world tour. This article from Xportsn

Aug 25, 2025By Xportsnews

TWICE’s Jihyo stuns fans with daring backless outfit ahead of Sept. comeback

BLACKPINK’s Lisa and IVE’s Jang Won-young spark keyring craze among MZ generation

Luxury keyrings have become the must-have accessory among Korea’s MZ generation, with top K-pop idols like BLACKPINK’s Lisa and IVE’s Jang Won-young driving the trend by showcasing their own distinctive styles. Keyrings dominate the “bag decoration” craze The bag decorating trend, known as “gakku” in Korean, has remained one of the strongest fashion waves in recent years, and keyrings are at the center of it. No longer just practical items, keyrings have evolved into personalized statement pieces that reflect individuality and fashion sense. Among the biggest trendsetters is Lisa of BLACKPINK, who has repeatedly caught fans’ attention by pairing limited-edition character keyrings designed by a Thai artist with her luxury handbags. Her styling choices quickly went viral and sparked what fans dubbed the “Lisa keyring craze,” causing several of her featured keyrings to sell out within hours. Jang Won-young fuels high-demand market IVE’s Jang Won-young has also generated buzz after being spotted with a limited-edition character keyring designed by a Chinese artist. Like

Aug 23, 2025By Hankookilbo

BLACKPINK’s Lisa and IVE’s Jang Won-young spark keyring craze among MZ generation

Asia Model Festival chair reflects on 20 years uniting Asia through fashion

Yang Eui-sig, a popular TV commercial model in the 1990s, became president of the Korea Model Association in 2006. Observing that actors, singers and comedians enjoyed the spotlight of annual awards shows while models had none, he set out to change that. After launching the Korea Model Awards that year, his vision went on to cross borders. With Japan and China involved, the award ceremony transformed into the Asia Model Festival. Today, it has become one of the world’s largest fashion and cultural platforms, with 27 Asian countries represented under one spotlight. “Asian models who came to Korea 20 years ago have become leaders in their own countries and are now leading Asia. I can proudly say that such a huge platform was built,” Yang said during an interview with The Korea Times at his headquarters in southern Seoul, Aug. 11. Not limited to just an awards ceremony, the event first kicked off with an opening fashion show by the late Andre Kim, then Korea’s most famous fashion designer, and has since grown into a launching pad for top designers, emerging talents and aspiring mod

Aug 20, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Asia Model Festival chair reflects on 20 years uniting Asia through fashion

From swimsuit styling to midday runs, sportswear is reshaping the fashion market in Korea

“Gabriel, Gavin, Julian, Brandon, Jackson, Perry, Nico, Drew …” These are not people’s names, but swimsuit styles. In the world of competitive swimwear dominated by brands like Funkita, Nike and Jolyn, the way the back of a swimsuit is designed can be enough to create a whole new identity. Whether the straps are fixed or tied and how much fabric covers the hips all help determine the style. Swim styling, or “swim coordination,” is now a trend that involves matching swimsuits with swim caps and goggles for both color and pattern harmony. Namgoong Bo-young, 37, who began swimming as a hobby three years ago, owns more than 60 swimsuits and has worn around 200 in total. Her collection also includes 30 swim caps and 10 pairs of goggles. “I started with just one set, but after seeing so many beautiful designs online, I got hooked,” she said. “I match swimsuits, caps and goggles for a coordinated look, and in December I wear red, green and sparkly sets for Christmas. Dressing up for the pool made swimming more fun, and I started going every day instead of twice a week.” He

Aug 16, 2025By Hankookilbo

From swimsuit styling to midday runs, sportswear is reshaping the fashion market in Korea

Are Korea’s webtoon platforms becoming gateway for global pop culture?

Korean webtoon platforms such as Naver Webtoon and Kakao Webtoon are rapidly transforming from local digital comics hubs into pillars of global pop culture, creating major cross-industry intellectual property (IP) hits and exemplifying the power of digital-native storytelling. The distinct vertical-scrolling format of webtoons, optimized for mobile viewing, and their adaptability to diverse genres position Korean platforms as a prime conduit for both exporting original IP and importing or reimagining global franchises. On Wednesday, Webtoon Entertainment, the U.S. parent company of Korea’s Naver Webtoon, announced a multi-year global content partnership with the Walt Disney Company. Through this deal, Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and 20th Century Studios’ most beloved franchises such as Spider-Man, Avengers and Star Wars will be reborn as vertically scrolling webtoons specifically tailored for mobile devices. Around 100 different titles will be sequentially launched within a dedicated Disney section in the English-language Webtoon app, marking Naver’s entry as a key player in mainstre

Aug 15, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Are Korea’s webtoon platforms becoming gateway for global pop culture?

Too stylish or too revealing? Jang Won-young posts photos of controversial ‘first kick’ outfit

IVE member Jang Won-young has shared a series of photos in the outfit that sparked heated discussion during her recent ceremonial first kick at a football match. On Wednesday, Jang posted several photos on her personal account along with football and heart emojis. The pictures show her wearing the same outfit she sported during IVE’s halftime performance and first kick at the first match of the 2025 Coupang Play Series, held on July 30 at Suwon World Cup Stadium. For the event, IVE members appeared in custom football jersey outfits, each with a unique twist, before taking turns kicking the ball, a moment that drew widespread attention. Jang’s look in particular stood out — an off-the-shoulder top paired with short shorts that gave the impression of a mini dress. While other members opted for loose-fit jersey tops and shorts, her fitted and revealing design drew sharp reactions from some fans and netizens, who said, “It’s too revealing,” “Not suitable for a ceremonial first kick” and “An outfit that makes viewers uncomfortable.” IVE’s Chinese fan base also voiced stro

Aug 14, 2025By Xportsnews

Too stylish or too revealing? Jang Won-young posts photos of controversial ‘first kick’ outfit

InterviewKOFICE chief envisions Korea as Asia’s cultural hub

Park Chang-sik, president of the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), witnessed the spread of Korean content around the world firsthand. As a former television producer, he made “Years of Upheaval” (1992) and “Sandglass” (1995), two of the most popular drama series broadcast in Korea in the 1990s. He also led renowned production company Kimjonghak Production when it produced “Lee San, Wind of the Palace” (2007), a historical drama starring Lee Seo-jin and Han Ji-min. All three programs were exported to other countries for viewing. Of the 50 or so dramas Park had his hands on, many found audiences outside Korea. “To be honest, the reason we first started exporting content was out of necessity. It was around the late 1990s that we began selling dramas to Japan and Taiwan. Back then, we often wondered, ‘Why is this even working?’ But starting in the 2000s, K-content began to gain real attention, and that’s how today’s ‘K’ was born,” he said in a recent interview with The Korea Times at the KOFICE headquarters in Yeongdeungpo District, S

Aug 13, 2025By Park Jin-hai

KOFICE chief envisions Korea as Asia’s cultural hub

80th Liberation Day Are Korea, Japan culturally getting closer?

Eighty years after Korea's liberation from Japan, a profound cultural shift is reshaping the relationship between the two nations. For decades, the flow of pop culture was largely a one-way street, with Korea absorbing Japanese influences. Now, a vibrant two-way exchange is underway. This cultural rapprochement is forging new bonds that are proving more durable than the often-rocky diplomatic landscape. Experts on both sides say that a shared future will be built on mutual understanding, collaboration and appreciation for each other’s cultures. Great reversal from Japanese influence to K-culture’s rise For decades, Korean popular culture was heavily influenced by its neighbor. Cultural critic Bae Kook-nam said from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule period through the 1990s, Japan's influence was "absolute." "For instance, our trot music was influenced by enka, the Japanese singing genre, and early Korean dramas, films and entertainment shows were also heavily influenced by Japan," Bae said. This one-sided flow of culture, however, began to shift dramatically in the late 1990s. The popul

Aug 12, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

[80th Liberation Day] Are Korea, Japan culturally getting closer?

$23 T-shirt worn by BLACKPINK member Jennie sells out online

BLACKPINK’s Jennie has once again drawn attention for her fashion choices. On Aug. 9, Jennie posted several photos from her trip to Paris on her personal account, along with the caption “Jennie’s Paris travel log.” In the photos, Jennie wears a white T-shirt paired with black pants for a simple, chic look, accessorized with sunglasses and a necklace. The T-shirt itself became the main talking point. Printed in English, it reads, “Got shot in the head? My dad’s a good shooter,” along with the Korean phrase “Kkabujimara” (meaning “don’t mess with me”), catching the eye of fans and fashion watchers alike. The shirt, from a Korean designer brand, is currently sold for around 30,000 won ($23). Since Jennie wore it, it has surged in popularity, ranking among the top-selling items in online malls. BLACKPINK is currently on its European tour, having performed in Paris, Milan and Barcelona. The group will take the stage at London’s Wembley Stadium on Aug. 15 and 16. This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

Aug 11, 2025By Xportsnews

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