K-Culture Insight

In a strategic move reshaping the animation industry in South Korea, Locus, a prominent animation studio, recently underwent a significant shift in its ownership structure. This move saw Naver Webtoon, previously the majority shareholder, step down to become the second-largest stakeholder. Founder Hong Seong-ho has now emerged as the largest shareholder, reinforcing his influence in the company. The investment that catalyzed this transition was led by Park In-gyu, CEO of Wysiwyg Studios, who will also join Locus as a co-CEO. This development is expected to accelerate synergies in animation projects among Locus, Wysiwyg Studios, and Naver Webtoon. Park In-gyu expressed optimism about the partnership, noting that Locus's capabilities in 3D animation production meet global standards. He believes that the projects underway, based on proven intellectual properties, have the potential to create a new wave in the realm of K-animation. Hong Seong-ho, CEO of Locus, conveyed his ambitions fo...

A recent symposium took place in South Korea to address critical issues faced by academics in their research and publication processes. Organized by Knowledge-Shared Solidarity, the annual symposium focused on the theme of 'Researching in Korea' and aimed to shed light on the challenges faced by emerging researchers in the country. During the event, the discussions revolved around various problems outlined in the book 'Doctoral in South Korea,' authored by Korean researchers. The symposium served as a platform for honest discussions and an in-depth examination of the realities of academic production and distribution structures within South Korea's research community. One notable presentation was delivered by Dr. Kim Byung-joon from the KAIST Digital Humanities and Social Science Center. Dr. Kim provided a quantitative analysis of the publication practices of an academic journal referred to as Journal A. Last year, this journal faced cancellation following an inspect...

The aviation industry in South Korea is showing promising signs of recovery as the number of passengers using Korean flag air carriers surged by almost 24 percent in May compared to the previous year. This significant growth comes as the country moves towards a return to pre-pandemic normalcy. Government data compiled by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport revealed that Korean airlines transported a total of 9.32 million passengers on both international and domestic routes during the month, marking a substantial increase from 7.54 million passengers in May of the previous year. One of the notable aspects of this surge is the substantial growth in international passengers, which witnessed a more than sixfold increase, reaching 3.6 million in May. In comparison, the corresponding figure in the previous year stood at 556,000. While international travel had been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the resumption of international flights by local carriers has played a...

Introduction to Korean Culture Korean culture has gained popularity around the world, and its influence can be seen in fashion, music, beauty, and food industries. It is a unique and fascinating blend of traditional and modern culture that has captivated people from all walks of life. This article will delve into Korean culture in everyday life, highlighting the various aspects of Korean culture that have made it popular around the world. Korean Culture in Everyday Life Food Culture Korean cuisine has a unique flavor profile that is derived from its use of spices, sauces, and fermentation techniques. The most popular Korean dish is Kimchi, a spicy and sour fermented vegetable dish that is served with almost every meal. Korean street food is also gaining popularity around the world, with dishes like Korean Fried Chicken and Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) being some of the most popular. Fashion Culture Korean fashion has gained recognition in recent years, with its unique blend of traditi...

How do South Koreans feel about Japan? It is difficult to make generalizations about the attitudes of all South Koreans towards Japan, as attitudes can vary greatly among individuals and can be influenced by many factors such as personal experiences, education, and cultural backgrounds. However, it is safe to say that many South Koreans have a complex and often difficult relationship with Japan due to the two countries' shared history. South Korea and Japan have a long and complicated history, and there have been periods of both cooperation and conflict between the two countries. Some South Koreans may harbor negative feelings towards Japan due to Japan's colonization of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. During this time, Japan imposed its culture and language on the Korean people and committed numerous human rights abuses. Many South Koreans also feel that Japan has not fully apologized or taken responsibility for these actions, which can contribute to negative feelings ...

Real estate, and specifically apartment prices, have had a significant influence on the Korean economy in recent years. The demand for housing in South Korea has increased significantly in recent decades due to a variety of factors, including population growth, urbanization, and rising income levels. This demand has led to a significant increase in housing prices, particularly in major cities such as Seoul, Busan, and Incheon. One major factor driving the demand for housing in South Korea has been population growth. The country has experienced significant population growth in recent decades, with the population increasing from around 36 million in 1990 to over 51 million in 2020. This increase in population has put pressure on the housing market, particularly in urban areas, leading to an increase in demand for housing and, in turn, an increase in housing prices. Urbanization has also played a role in the demand for housing in South Korea. As more people have moved from rural areas to ...

South Korean Metaverse Redbrick and talent tech startup Glorang succeeded in attracting investment, respectively. According to the venture capital (VC) industry on the 24th, Metaverse creative platform 'Redbrick' recently attracted 18 billion won worth of Series B (investment received in the stage of business expansion).NH Investment & Securities led the investment, and F&F Partners, Ion Asset Management, and YG Investment participated. Founded in 2018, Redbrick is a startup that trains metaverse creators by providing creation tools. It has a block coding technology that anyone can easily create a metaverse world even if they are not familiar with coding. Currently, the number of creators working at Redbrick has surpassed  a number of contents they have developed has reached 500,000. Redbrick plans to accelerate the creation of a Web 3.0-based creator economy ecosystem through this investment attraction. In addition, in strategic cooperation with IPX (formerly Line Frie...

Lulu Lab, an artificial intelligence (AI) beauty and healthcare company based on skin data, announced on the 12th that it has completed a series C investment worth 20 billion won. Lulu Lab is a company that spun off through Samsung Electronics' in-house venture C-lab in 2017. Based on 1 million skin data and AI technology at the global top tier level, it pursues beauty and digital healthcare businesses. A number of investment institutions participated in the Series C, including Hyundai Motor Securities, SK Shielders, Nautic Investment, Elohim Partners, Acurus Group, and Woowa Brothers. They are paying attention to Lulu Lab's AI skin analysis solution. LULU LAB's AI skin analysis solution "LUMINI" scans the skin and analyzes about 10 items such as pores, wrinkles, and acne within 7 seconds. In particular, based on these results, it matches and provides customized beauty products and contents for each individual's skin condition. Lulu Lab also has B2B hardware-b...