Korea's exports, like K-Pop and K-Dramas, have enticed fans to visit the country for a first-hand cultural experience.
Dec 9, 2024 • Subscribe
More like this
How the 2010s Changed K-Pop
The Korean pop music scene has been constantly changing since its cocneption. Nowadays, produced tracks can contain influences from rock, jazz, gospel, R&B, dance, country, folk amongst many…
How to be a K-Pop Fan in Tokyo
The influence K-pop has on young Tokyoites can be felt across the city. With there being an increasing amount of concerts and fan events, there is no better…
Japan and South Korea: what makes them unique?
Japan and South Korea are longtime rivals that appear alike; but if you scratch beneath the surface, you'll find that they're very different. Here we look at their…
Japan and South Korea: what makes them unique?
Japan and South Korea are longtime rivals that appear alike; but if you scratch beneath the surface, you'll find that they're very different. Here we look at their…
South Korea Day 1 | Seoul Tower
Hey hey! It’s the start of a new adventure, this time to Seoul, South Korea. This trip was really random – one day, I just asked my sister…
South Korea Day 2 | Seoul’s Palaces
My impromptu adventure in Korea continues! Day 2 started with a simple breakfast at cafe Tous Les Jours, this awesome little cafe on the same street as our…
South Korea Day 1 | Seoul Tower
Hey hey! It’s the start of a new adventure, this time to Seoul, South Korea. This trip was really random – one day, I just asked my sister…
South Korea Day 2 | Seoul’s Palaces
My impromptu adventure in Korea continues! Day 2 started with a simple breakfast at cafe Tous Les Jours, this awesome little cafe on the same street as our…
Paid in Blood (South Korea, 2021)
Colleen Wanglund reviews Yoon Young-bin's crime drama Paid in Blood.
South Korea Day 3 | Nami Island ♡
Nami Island has got to be one of my favourite places on earth. It was just so beautiful – and we almost didn’t get to go! My sister…
South Korea Day 3 | Nami Island ♡
Nami Island has got to be one of my favourite places on earth. It was just so beautiful – and we almost didn’t get to go! My sister…
![Featured image for Junho (South Korea/USA, 2021) [CAAMFest 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210514/1620968041.12450.37011.jpg)
Junho (South Korea/USA, 2021) [CAAMFest 2021]
John Atom reviews David Boo's topical drama Junho.
Love to Hate You: Adult Relationships in K-Dramas
If you're a K-drama fan, "Love to Hate You" (2023) is a must-watch. It offers a refreshing take on adult relationships, trust, and independence. The characters are relatable…
Escape from Mogadishu (South Korea, 2021) [NYAFF 2021]
South Korean cinema is no longer the producer of small and idiosyncratic films that have to seep through the cracks of international cinema. It hasn’t been for years.…
South Korea Day 4 | Hongdae & KBBQ at Myeong Dong
Day 4 in Seoul was all about the vibes (and you know the girlies love the vibes). Our plan was to go to Hongdae, explore Itaewon and finally…
That Side of K-pop #2: Born to Be
The newsletter pivots to K-pop to discuss the new Itzy album, the songs of NewJeans and the Hallyu Wave exhibit at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, plus great…
Life in Nature Documentaries: Narrating Counterurbanization and Masculinity in Post-Developmental South Korea
The post Life in Nature Documentaries: Narrating Counterurbanization and Masculinity in Post-Developmental South Korea appeared first on The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus.
In South Korea, Japanese Restaurants Break Law with Japanese Signs
Japanese food is trending in South Korea - and many restaurant owners are technically breaking the law to make the experience authentic.
The Controversial Oral Tradition Called “Waedeoksan” in Jindo, South Korea
The post The Controversial Oral Tradition Called “Waedeoksan” in Jindo, South Korea appeared first on Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus.
Exploring My Feelings on K-Pop
Like all people not living under rocks, I’ve noticed the rise and sustained international popularity of Korean pop, with a fanbase nigh-unmatched in current times. I first caught…
Pocky Day, Singles' Day & Pepero Day (Japan, China & South Korea) | WooKong
A day where Chinese people spend billions of dollars online, while at the same time a South Korean and a Japanese company fight to become the Chocolate king…
Let’s Open SuperM Albums :) || K-pop Unboxing
Hey guys, this is an unboxing of those SuperM albums I picked up a while ago! I was thinking to do something cool with them, but I decided…
I Actually Watched K-pop Demon Hunters
As someone who doesn’t swim with the mainstream, I tend to feel pressure from all sides to consume media that passes a certain threshold of global success. I…
A Welcome to New Visitors
My name is Se Dice Bisonte, and I’ve been having fun with Is That You, Moatilliatta? for about a month now. ITYM? was accepted onto the Anime Nano…
K-pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut is Coming in 2025!
As seen in the PQube Asia Showcase, PQube are thrilled to announce our partnership with Wisageni Studio to announce K-pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut! A demo is…
How To Find Yuri Events, Pop-ups and Signings in 2026
In the past 20+ years of writing here at Okazu, I have created several guides to shopping online for Yuri or finding Yuri manga in Japanese bookstores back…
The Role of Unique Voices in VTubing, K-Pop, and More
“Is it more important to me for a group song to sound good or have distinct voices?” This is something that’s been on my mind lately as I’ve…
I Finally Listened to K-pop: Impressions of Dreamcatcher, the Korean BABYMETAL(?)
I was in vocational school when a goofy man in shades invented a goofy dance called “Gangnam Style”, laying the groundwork for South Korea’s global conquest. Since then,…
Chinese Dramas and Rambles
the Otaku Central Podcast Hello everyone! I have returned back in audio form, here to update my podcast. I should probably rename my post cast "Dude who Rambles",…
PDF Travel Brochures and Resources For Visitors to Tokyo and Japan
There is a world of information on the internet about visiting Japan. This blog is one example. Getting information about a destination is...
Ranking Every K-Pop Album I Bought in 2021 by How It Stores the CD
After years of not listening to k-pop, I have started listening again. I personally attribute it to one specific album. It stood out at the bookstore because the…
That Side of K-pop (Flipped) #3: Too Bad
We're a K-pop newsletter now, and covering music of old generations from Taemin's solo debut, 4 songs from before 2018, and G-DRAGON's latest number-one, plus the hip-hop throwbacks…
What to See and Do at Gundam Base Korea
Did you know there are 18 Gundam Bases in the world? Each of these official stores offer elaborate themed Gundam displays and exclusive P-Bandai models. They are located…
What About Korea and China?
I make my allegiance to Asia pretty obvious on this blog, but God of High School makes it apparent the situation is a lot trickier than I make…
PART 1 – ON THE SYSTEMATIC RAPE OF BLACK / FOREIGN / UNDERAGED GIRLS IN SOUTH KOREA
Part 1 of a 3-part series on K-pop drama. Foreword by everyone’s hero, D_S: This isn’t anime, but K-pop is close enough. Also, these opinions are all Sapphi’s…
Pop Culture References And Infantilization Are The Bane Of Politics
What if the sad thing on the news could be made funny with le heckin‘ pop culture reference tho???
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Among Most Played Games of 2023 in Japan, South Korea
Gamers in Japan and South Korea love Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel and spent a significant amount of time playing the hit game in 2023. That’s the word from Gamelight,…
![Featured image for Afternoon Landscape Dir: Sohn Koo-yong (2020) South Korea [Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20211012/1634030555.23080.49427.jpg)
Afternoon Landscape Dir: Sohn Koo-yong (2020) South Korea [Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2021]
Afternoon Landscape is an absorbing exploration of the quiet areas of Seoul that evoked memories of my own. It plays as part of the Yamagata International Documentary Film…
![Featured image for Aloners 혼자 사는 사람들 Director: Hong Sung-eun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220502/1651490576.35545.64214.jpg)
Aloners 혼자 사는 사람들 Director: Hong Sung-eun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]
Aloners 혼자 사는 사람들 Director: Hong Sung-eun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]
More GHOST9! – PRE EPISODE 2 : W.ALL || K-pop Album Unboxing
GHOST9’s second album makes a splash onto the K-pop scene. Here’s the unboxing!
Pop and Populism
Japan’s far right won big in yesterday's elections. What's it mean for pop culture?
Anime tourism grows as visitors return to Japan
Plus: Experimenting with NFTs in manga businesses; Saudi media group invests in anime production committees; Contracts in anime voice acting; and more
Anime tourism grows as visitors return to Japan
Plus: Experimenting with NFTs in the manga businesses; Saudi media group invests in anime production committees; Contracts in anime voice acting; and more
Anime tourism grows as visitors return to Japan
Plus: Experimenting with NFTs in manga businesses; Saudi media group invests in anime production committees; Contracts in anime voice acting; and more
![Featured image for The Slug 태어나길 잘했어 (2020) Dir: Choi Jin-young (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210310/1615411059.6022.29226.jpg)
The Slug 태어나길 잘했어 (2020) Dir: Choi Jin-young (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2021]
Hands down, one of the best films at the Osaka Asian Film Festival 2021, I cried multiple times during this heartfelt film about overcoming existential loneliness. The Slug…
![Featured image for Boundary: Flaming Feminist Action 바운더리 Dir: Yun Ga-hyun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220320/1647761314.33156.61274.jpg)
Boundary: Flaming Feminist Action 바운더리 Dir: Yun Ga-hyun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]
Boundary: Flaming Feminist Action is a timely reminder 바운더리 Dir: Yun Ga-hyun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]
Ateez The Fellowship: Map the Treasure Concert DVD || K-pop Unboxing
EIGHT MAKES A TEAM!!!
Nara Governor Defends Free K-Pop Concert for “Poor” Japanese Youth
A free K-Pop concert planned for next year in Nara Park is drawing a ton of controversy for its short duration and huge expense.
How To Build a Series: The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Reawakened
Okay, the Saiki K. series is a whole franchise built around a gag manga, and like any gag-based show, as long as the jokes keep coming, so do…
Anime, Dramas, Movies and more I’m looking forward to in 2021
After the shitshow that was 2020, I’m hoping that 2021 will be less terrible. I’m not delusional thinking that COVID is suddenly gone, climate change has stopped, or…
Tokyo Babylon, BABYLON, Fruits Basket, Natsume's Book of Friends, Natsume Yuujinchou: Ishi Okoshi to Ayashiki Raihousha