K-culture fans are also thinking about Korean hospitals Nearly 63 percent of consumers living abroad say Korean culture affects their decision to use Korean medical services, and 61.2 percent say …
J. Haan
J. Haan
I'm J. Haan, the writer and editor behind KoreaUpClose. Each story is built from vetted local and international reporting, official sources, and public data — not just trend recaps.
-
-
Fashion
Mickey and Donald in minhwa: why Disney chose Korea as a global collaboration hub
by J. Haanby J. HaanDisney characters step into Korean folk art At Yosae Dosan in Gangnam, Seoul, Disney’s characters appeared in a look that was both familiar and new: Donald Duck in a gat …
-
Movies & Animation
‘The Intern’ knocks ‘Odyssey’ out of first place after a 42-day box office run
by J. Haanby J. HaanA new leader on opening day “The Intern,” starring Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee, drew 61,038 moviegoers on its opening day to debut atop the South Korean box office. According …
-
K-Food & Dining
Brand names on the mess hall tray: the fight for choice in Korea’s 2 trillion won military food market
by J. Haanby J. HaanFranchise burgers for dinner at a recruit training battalion At dinner time in the recruit training battalion of the Army’s 35th Infantry Division in Imsil County, North Jeolla Province, soldiers …
-
Society & Social Trends
Koreans stay in the black from 28 to 60: what the 2024 National Transfer Accounts show
by J. Haanby J. HaanEarning more than they spend from 28, back in deficit at 61 On average, South Koreans start earning more from work than they spend at age 28 and stay in …
-
K-pop & Fandom
Rosé’s ‘new trick’ arrives as the centerpiece of Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro campaign
by J. Haanby J. HaanRosé’s first solo single in 16 months BLACKPINK’s Rosé released her new solo single “new trick” on streaming platforms on September 18, 2026, at 8 a.m. Korean time (7 p.m. …
-
Dating Culture
Rotation Blind Dates Are Starting to Look Like Matchmaking, and Regulators Are Taking Notice
by J. Haanby J. HaanRooms Where You Meet the Next Person Every Few Minutes In a rotation blind date space in Seoul, groups of men and women sit facing each other in a set …
-
Skincare & Beauty Products
mixsoon Lands in Over 600 Target Stores Across the US
by J. Haanby J. Haanmixsoon Lands in Over 600 Target Stores Across the US Korean skincare brand mixsoon has officially joined Target’s new prestige beauty destination, ‘Target Beauty Studio.’ The brand announced its launch …
-
K-Drama & Screen
South Korea’s 30 Trillion Won Blueprint for Life After Squid Game
by J. Haanby J. HaanA New Industry Blueprint Targeting 30 Trillion Won by 2030 The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism unveiled the ‘7th Mid-to-Long-Term Plan for the Promotion of the Broadcasting and Video …
-
Daily Life & Society
GTX-C Finally Breaks Ground: What Its 86.6-Kilometer Route Could Change for Commuters
by J. Haanby J. HaanNot Just a Ceremony: Actual Construction Has Begun On September 15, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the actual start of construction for the Great Train eXpress (GTX) …
