Another space for meeting people, built by Wippy in Japan Enlighz, the company behind the Korean dating app Wippy, launched “Wippy Japan” for Japanese users in the second half of …
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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Dating Culture
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K-Food & Dining
K-Food’s Sales Channels Widen to Five Countries as Export Support Results Roll In
by J. Haanby J. HaanDeals in India and Saudi Arabia, promotion across the US and Europe South Korea has announced $24.2 million in export deals discussed with buyers in India and $11 million in …
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Movies & Animation
‘The Assassin(s)’ Controversy Widens Into a Police Complaint, a Hearing Demand and a Protest at an Actor’s Home
by J. Haanby J. HaanA film past 2 million admissions, and a fight that spilled outside the theater The historical dispute surrounding “The Assassin(s),” a film that has drawn more than 2 million moviegoers, …
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Society & Social Trends
For the First Time, Workers Over 50 Outnumber Young Hires at Korea’s Big Companies
by J. Haanby J. Haan18.4% and 18.3%: the generational balance at large corporations flips For the first time, employees aged 50 and over make up a larger share of the workforce at major Korean …
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Webtoons & Web Novels
Korea’s Web Novel Boom Has a Hidden Problem: Most New Releases Never Get Found
by J. Haanby J. HaanKakaoPage’s new releases hit a record high, but the ranking entry rate is just 8% The supply of works in the Korean web novel market has surged to an all-time …
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K-pop & Fandom
Fin.K.L, Fly to the Sky, and the New Shape of First-Generation K-pop’s Return
by J. Haanby J. HaanA single guest appearance set the team in motion again Fly to the Sky’s reunion didn’t stem from a grand industry master plan. It started with the simple act of …
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Dramas
Kim Young-kwang and Chae Soo-bin’s ‘Charge Me’ Brings a Battery-Powered Romance to Netflix on October 9
by J. Haanby J. HaanA 10-episode romance powered by an artificial heart and electric abilities The Netflix original series Charge Me, starring Kim Young-kwang and Chae Soo-bin, premieres on October 9. Spanning 10 episodes, …
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Skincare & Beauty Products
L’Oréal’s Dr.G Brings K-Beauty to US TikTok Shop as Korean Cosmetic Exports Hit a Record High
by J. Haanby J. HaanDr.G officially launches on US TikTok Shop Dr.G, the Korean skincare brand acquired by L’Oréal, officially launched on the US TikTok Shop on October 5. This dynamic storefront allows American …
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Gaming & Esports
South Korea Closes the Asian Games With 5 Esports Medals, Including a Repeat League of Legends Gold
by J. Haanby J. HaanFrom the first medal to the final gold The South Korean national esports team wrapped up the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with a total haul of two gold, one silver, …
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Travel & K-Content Tourism
One Pass for Transit and Admission: Busan’s ‘K-Tour Pass’ Targets Korea’s Seoul-Centric Tourism
by J. Haanby J. HaanBundling Transit and Admission for a Trip to Busan On October 1, 2026, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization launched a pilot “K-Tour Pass” …
