Rabbits, moon jars and pistachios: Chuseok gifts take shape

With Korea’s Thanksgiving holiday, Chuseok, just around the corner, the season for gift-giving is in full swing — and this year, traditional Chuseok staples are getting a contemporary makeover. Fruit and meat remain perennial favorites for the harvest holiday, while nuts, cooking oils, seafood and everyday foods such as Spam continue to fill gift boxes. But for those looking beyond such familiar choices, this year’s offerings bring something different. A new crop of specialty gift sets is reimag

2026-09-19 16:00:00:00

Tteok, Korea's beloved rice cake, gets modern makeover

Korea’s beloved, chewy rice cakes are stepping into a new era as makers reimagine the traditional treats with unexpected flavors, playful forms and contemporary recipes designed to win over a younger generation. Among the latest creations is pizza seolgi, a savory take on the traditional steamed rice cake known as seolgi tteok, topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, olives and pepperoni. Young people have flocked to Jeil Tteok at Seoul's Myeonmok Market, after word spread that the viral sn

2026-09-19 16:00:00:00

Katseye unfollows collaborator Ed Sheeran amid Macklemore fallout

Katseye's members have unfollowed Ed Sheeran on Instagram, following rapper Macklemore's removal from the remaining US dates of Sheeran's "Loop" tour after he voiced support for Palestinians during his opening performance. Fans noticed Tuesday that Katesye's Manon, Daniela, Lara, Megan and Yoonchae no longer followed Sheeran on Instagram. Fans also noted that Lara and Megan liked a post Macklemore shared after he was removed from the "Loop" tour, while Lara added Macklemore to her following list

2026-09-17 16:40:57:00

Your guide to a culture-filled Chuseok

With an extended Chuseok holiday approaching, cultural attractions across Seoul are preparing special programs for families and friends looking to spend time together. This year's Chuseok holiday runs Sept. 24-26, with the break extending through Sunday, Sept. 27. Many cultural sites will close on Chuseok Day, Friday, Sept. 25, but remain open on the other days, offering a range of special programs. Most of the programs are free of charge. Here are some cultural spots where visitors can experien

2026-09-17 15:26:29:00

[Treasures From National Museum of Korea] Bronze Ritual Artifact

Period: Early Iron Age Materials: Metal — copper alloy Dimensions: L. 13.5 cm Designation: Treasure 1823 Early communities of the Korean Peninsula first began using metal objects during the Bronze Age, 10th to 4th century BCE. These early metal objects were made of bronze, an alloy consisting of copper and smaller proportions of tin, zinc, and lead. Producing bronze objects was a complex process that required molds, so only the most elite members of a society could own them. Thus, such objects s

2026-09-16 11:02:24:00

Sol LeWitt’s conceptual art comes to Seoul

Amorepacific Museum is presenting Sol LeWitt, a pioneer of conceptual art, bringing together a range of his works, including structures, paintings, prints and archival materials, as well as wall paintings that continue to be recreated according to instructions left by the artist. "Sol LeWitt: Open Structure" covers the American artist's practice over nearly five decades, from his early open cube structures to the later works featuring more varied colors and forms. Organized in collaboration with

2026-09-15 13:20:11:00

Illegal BTS ‘Swim’ copies sold on Temu

Unauthorized copies of BTS’ “Swim” single are being sold on Chinese online shopping platform Temu, a Korean professor said Wednesday, calling the practice an obvious violation of intellectual property rights. Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University, said in an Instagram post Tuesday that he confirmed the sale after receiving reports from BTS’ fanbase, Army. He shared a screenshot of a sales post advertising the single on Temu. “BTS’ ‘Swim’ single is only sold through official

2026-09-15 10:26:56:00

From Musinsa to Daiso, K-beauty is rewriting Korea’s retail playbook

Korean retailers are finding new ways to capitalize on the booming K-beauty market, expanding beauty offerings into fashion platforms, pharmacies and discount stores. Fashion retailer Musinsa launched its first physical beauty store in Hongdae on Friday, adding a new retail channel for consumers. All four stories of Musinsa Beauty Hongdae are dedicated entirely to beauty. Its basement also houses Beauty Onnuri Pharmacy, a new K-beauty-focused concept operated by Korea’s Onnuri Pharmacy franchise

2026-09-14 14:21:40:00

Sulwhasoo taps Japanese market in Isetan Shinjuku

South Korea's cosmetics brand Sulwhasoo is expanding into the Japanese market, opening its first official pop-up store at Isetan Shinjuku in Tokyo from Sept. 5 to Oct. 13. At the pop-up in Japan's flagship department store, Sulwhasoo is showcasing its ginseng-based beauty products, including its Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Cream and First Care Activating Serum. Visitors can experience the brand's signature programs, such as hand massages, as well as its Jihambo packaging service. The brand

2026-09-13 13:00:59:00

AI-generated music breaks into Melon's Top 100

Music created with generative artificial intelligence is making its way onto South Korea's major music charts, including one long considered a tough ceiling for K-pop groups. A song by YouTube channel "Joseon Hiphop" became the first AI-generated track to enter Melon's Top 100 on Sept. 6. "Forest of the Heart," released in May, later fell off the chart on Sept. 8. Other songs by the channel, which has more than 175,000 subscribers, are still on Melon's charts. As of Sunday, three songs by Joseon

2026-09-13 11:25:57:00