Korean Culture — Regina Kim

"Spotlight (주인공)" by Band Nah (from Yumi's Cells) - Lyrics in Korean and English

Band Nah’s “Spotlight” (from the hit K-drama Yumi’s Cells) is one of my favorite songs, but I couldn’t find a decent English translation of the lyrics online, so I came up with my own!

Why So Many Of Your Favorite K-Dramas Are Based on Webtoons

As webtoons continue to inspire K-dramas, here’s what to know about the digital comics, how they grew in influence, and why creators look to them for story ideas.

The 79 Best K-Pop Songs of 2022

“Envy None” exemplifies Chang’s subtle creativity, masterful wordplay and distinctive flow that have endeared him to many Koreans.

K-pop, Korean Music, Korean CultureTeen VogueDecember 15, 2022Korean culture, Korean music, K-pop, K-indie, Korean indie, indie music, Chang KihaComment

Fin.K.L Forever: The Pioneering Girl Group That Paved the Way For Future K-Pop Idols

One of K-pop's earliest girl groups, and part of its so-called "first generation" of artists, Fin.K.L broke into the music scene in the late 1990s when Korean music executives were trying to figure out what K-pop should look and sound like.

K-pop, Korean CulturePopSugarJuly 20, 2022Korean culture, Korean music, K-pop, Fin.K.L, FinKL, K-pop idols, idol K-pop, K-pop girl group, K-pop starsComment

Think you know Korea because you love K-pop and watched ‘Squid Game’? Think again.

But with global demand for Korean pop culture at an all-time high, it feels like South Korea is kind of losing control over its cultural narrative.

Korean CultureNBC THINKJune 14, 2022Korean culture, Korean dramas, K-dramas, K-drama, Netflix, Squid Game, BTS, K-pop, K-pop idols, K-cultureComment

Everything You Need to Know About the Nth Room Case in ‘Cyber Hell’

Here’s what you need to know about Cyber Hell: Exposing an Internet Horror and the heinous sex crimes that rocked South Korea.

8 Life Lessons We Learned from the K-drama ‘Twenty Five Twenty One’

Twenty Five Twenty One — which shares its title with a 2013 song by acclaimed K-indie rock band Jaurim that is often played in the series — follows five friends who strive to pursue their dreams and navigate early adulthood in the bleak aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis (known as the “IMF Crisis” in South Korea).

‘The Sound of Magic’ Cast and Director Reveal What to Expect in Musical K-drama

Part fantasy, part mystery, The Sound of Magic goes beyond its musical and dance numbers and dazzling visual effects to explore deeper questions like “What does success really look like?” or “What is the meaning and purpose of life?”

Romantic K-dramas Like ‘Twenty Five Twenty One’ and ‘Business Proposal’

Here’s a curated list of popular romantic K-dramas that are specifically geared toward those in their 20s and beyond.

Let’s Have a Lee Jung-jae Film Festival

Long before Lee Jung-jae donned a green jumpsuit that would earn him unprecedented global fame and accolades in Squid Game, he’d already built a storied career as one of South Korea’s most celebrated actors.

21 Chego K-dramas to Fuel Your K-pop Fandom

Whether you’re curious what other titles your favorite stage performers have starred in or are looking for new multi-hyphenate artists to stan, this thorough (but definitely not exhaustive) collection has suggestions for every K-pop fan. So order some chimaek and settle in.

After Two Decades, Epik High Is Still Here and Still Shaping the Future of Korean Music

With K-pop icons such as BTS, Seventeen, and B.I citing them as an inspiration, Epik High is the musicians’ musicians.

Korean CultureVanity FairFebruary 14, 2022Korean culture, Korean music, K-pop, Korean hip-hop, K-hip hop, K-rap, Epik HighComment

How K-Dramas Breathed New Life into Zombie Stories

In recent years, South Korea has been tearing into the genre with international hits like Train to Busan, #Alive and Kingdom. With the release of Netflix’s zombified K-drama All of Us Are Dead, South Korea has added another gruesome global blockbuster to its canon.

Korean CultureNetflix TudumFebruary 4, 2022Korean dramas, K-dramas, K-drama, Netflix, Korean TV show, Hallyu, Korean culture, All of Us Are Dead, zombiesComment

7 Korean Crime Dramas to Watch on Netflix Right Now

The world of K-dramas has traditionally been ruled by tales of romance, historical fiction and family struggles, but in recent years, South Korea has produced a string of hit crime shows that have captivated audiences across the globe.

10 Places to See Gong Yoo Aside From Your Dreams

Though many Western audiences first learned of Gong Yoo when he played the charming recruiter in Squid Game, he’s actually a veteran A-list actor in South Korea and one of the most recognizable faces of Hallyu (aka the Korean Wave).