The Rise of Traveling to Korea Without Passing Through Incheon For a long time, Incheon International Airport was the undisputed first stop for foreigners visiting Korea. However, recent arrival data …
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.
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Travel & K-Content Tourism
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A New Shopping Route on the Hills of a Wealthy Enclave Hannam-dong in Yongsan District, Seoul, has long been known as an affluent neighborhood home to embassies and luxury residences. …
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Movies & Animation
Spider-Man and Odyssey Aim for South Korea’s First ‘Double 10-Million’ Hollywood Hits
by J. Haanby J. HaanThe Fierce Competition Behind Yongsan’s Sold-Out Streak Large multiplexes in Yongsan, Seoul, are currently capturing an extraordinary box office race. At CGV Yongsan—the only theater in the country capable of …
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K-Food & Dining
Fruit-Flavored and BTS-Branded: How Soju Is Winning Over America as Korea Drinks Less
by J. Haanby J. HaanSoju and the Toad Take Center Stage at a California Festival At the ‘Jinro Chimaek Fest’ in California, various types of soju were lined up right next to Korean-style fried …
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Society & Social Trends
AI Smart Glasses Are Slipping Into Korea’s Exam Halls, and Regulators Are Racing to Catch Up
by J. Haanby J. HaanFive Cases Caught at Test Centers Nationwide in Just Two Months Between May and June 2026, five instances of test-takers using AI-equipped smart glasses were uncovered during South Korea’s national …
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K-pop & Fandom
K-pop Ticket Scalper Made $319,000 With a Macro Program. Now Resale Fines Can Reach 50 Times the Price
by J. Haanby J. HaanA 2,600-Ticket Scalping Scheme Involving BTS Concerts The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s cyber investigation unit has referred a woman in her 30s to the prosecution without detention for allegedly using …
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Dating Culture
Finding a Connection Blindfolded: Why 4,225 People Flocked to Naksansa Temple’s ‘I am Jeollo’ Dating Event
by J. Haanby J. HaanTrusting a Stranger on an Unseen Path At Naksansa Temple in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, a participant took cautious steps while wearing a blindfold. The partner standing next to them guided …
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Skincare & Beauty Products
First Dedicated K-Beauty Industry Promotion Act Passes National Assembly, Supporting Everything from R&D to Exports
by J. Haanby J. HaanEstablishing a Separate Legal Foundation to Foster the Cosmetics Industry On August 20, 2026, the South Korean National Assembly passed the enactment bill for the “Cosmetics Industry Promotion and Support …
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K-Drama & Screen
Global Success of ‘This Damn Love’ Continues Despite Pro-Japanese Controversy Surrounding Ha-young’s Great-Grandfather
by J. Haanby J. HaanTopping Netflix’s Non-English TV Series Chart The Netflix original romantic comedy This Damn Love, starring Jung Hae-in and Ha-young, continues its global winning streak even amidst the controversy surrounding its …
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Daily Life & Society
Office Workers Heading to the Cafeteria: Why Korean Consumer Sentiment Dipped for the First Time in Four Months
by J. Haanby J. HaanCutting Back on Lunch and Summer Vacations First Choi, a 33-year-old office worker in Yeouido, Seoul, finds himself eating lunch at the company cafeteria more often these days rather than …
