September 13 Finals, First Round of Ticketing Begins The first round of ticket sales for the 2026 League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) Finals officially opened on August 28 at …
J. Haan
J. Haan
I'm J. Haan, the writer and editor behind KoreaUpClose. I live in Korea and report each story with local sources and on-the-ground context — not just trend recaps.
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Gaming & Esports
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Dramas
The Rivalry and Friendship of Two Piano Geniuses: tvN’s New Drama ‘Four Hands’ Premieres
by J. Haanby J. HaantvN’s New Weekend Drama ‘Four Hands’ Premieres tvN’s new weekend drama, ‘Four Hands,’ aired its first episode on August 29, 2026, at 9:10 PM. Officially titled ‘Four Hands, Two Sonatas’ …
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Skincare & Beauty Products
The Real Engine of K-Beauty Exports: The Manufacturing Infrastructure Behind the Brands Rises
by J. Haanby J. HaanBrands Opened the Market, Manufacturers Are Expanding It For a long time, the global growth of K-beauty has been told through the success stories of a few popular brands. The …
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Travel & K-Content Tourism
One in Five International Visitors to South Korea Arrives via Regional Airports
by J. Haanby J. HaanThe 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 …
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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 …
