SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – The Swedish Academy’s announcement on October 10 naming South Korean author Han Kang as the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature has reignited discussions about artistic freedom and political interference in South Korea. The Academy specifically cited Han’s ability to “confront historical trauma” in their decision, notably referencing her [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Han Kang’s historic win of the Nobel Prize in literature marks a major breakthrough for Korean literature, which has been gaining international recognition in recent years. Even before the Nobel triumph, numerous Korean authors had garnered acclaim on the world stage through prestigious international literary awards. Korean writers have [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – In a unique display of consideration for her upcoming concert’s impact on the local community, popular South Korean singer IU has gifted garbage bags to residents living near Seoul World Cup Stadium, where she is set to perform this weekend. On September 19, a post titled “IU’s Thoughtfulness” appeared on [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – Three Korean shows made it into Netflix’s top 10 Non-English content chart in the first half of the year, the global streaming service said Friday. According to its Engagement Report from January to June, the Korean TV shows “Queen of Tears,” “Parasyte: The Grey” and “My Demon” garnered 29 [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – Suga of K-pop superband BTS was fully drunk with a blood alcohol level of over 0.2 percent when he fell to the ground in Seoul earlier this week while driving an electric scooter, police said Friday. Suga has been booked for investigation after being found lying on the ground [...]
SEOUL, Jun. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – As Naver Webtoon prepares for its Nasdaq listing, the company has set its initial public offering (IPO) price, catapulting its valuation to around 3.7 trillion won. This development marks a significant milestone for the digital comics industry, challenging the long-held notion that “webtoons can’t make money.” Webtoon Entertainment, the North [...]
SEOUL, June 13 (Korea Bizwire) – Despite sweltering temperatures Thursday, the area around the Seoul Sports Complex in southern Seoul transformed into a vibrant sea of purple, as fans gathered to celebrate the 11th anniversary of K-pop megastar BTS. Hours before the 2024 Festa — an annual event hosted by BTS’ agency, BigHit Music — [...]
SEOUL & LONDON, Jun. 6 (Korea Bizwire) –Korean literature is stepping into the global literary scene as Oxford University launches an annual festival to celebrate the works of prominent Korean authors and introduce them to European audiences. The Korean Literature Festival, organized by Cho Ji-eun, a professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Oxford, [...]
PARIS/SEOUL, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) – The K-pop singer and actress Yoona, who attended the Cannes Film Festival this month, has become embroiled in allegations of discriminatory behavior by a female security guard monitoring the red carpet. On May 19, Yoona, formerly of the hugely popular K-pop group Girls’ Generation, drew the spotlight at the 77th [...]
SEOUL, May 25 (Korea Bizwire) – As a court decision looms that could determine the fate of Min Hee-jin, the founder of the ADOR record label and the former manager of NewJeans, a fierce legal battle is unfolding between Min and her critics at Hybe, the K-pop juggernaut. According to K-pop industry insiders, 10,000 members of [...]