J. Haan

Winning Doesn’t Mean Profit Korean eSports might look like a successful industry if you only consider international tournament results. In League of Legends, Korean players and teams have long demonstrated …

Hip Alleys Always Look Packed, Right? On a weekend in Seongsu-dong, you’ll spot long lines snaking out of pop-up stores, and the alleys buzz with people hunting for new cafes. …

The Weight of the Phrase ‘Living Heritage’ The word ‘heritage’ (유산, yusan) can easily sound like something that belongs to the past. We think of old buildings, ceramics in glass …

Let’s Start by Taking a Calm Look at the Name ‘PDRN’ You’ve probably seen the ingredient PDRN popping up in K-beauty lately. Myeongin Cosmetics’ Farmstay brand is riding that wave …

The casino recovery has outpaced the return of tourists As the number of Chinese tourists visiting South Korea increases, the foreigner-only casino industry is seeing a faster-than-expected recovery. The market, …

Strawberry Talk in the Middle of Summer? Yep. Walk past the summer fruit section at the market, and you’ll spot watermelons, peaches, and plums right away—they’re the season’s stars. But …

The Blockbuster Squeeze: 50-100 Billion Won Films Disappear Korean cinema faces a structural crisis. The summer 2026 box office tells the story clearly: there is no middle ground anymore. Studios …

Japan’s shelves are tougher to get on than you think Just because more Japanese shoppers are looking for K-beauty doesn’t mean every Korean brand can waltz into a Japanese store. …

100,000 Won Has Become the New Baseline, but It’s Not the Answer One of the first questions foreigners invited to a Korean wedding ask is usually this: “How much should …