South Korean Life Trends | Korea JoongAng Daily

Life and Trends

Latest News

Team Korea's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring during a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago at BYU South Field in Provo, Utah, on May 30, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [NEWS1]

Korea to host K-culture festival in Mexico alongside World Cup

A K-culture festival will be held in Mexico in tandem with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2026.6.4

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Chae Hwi-young speaks during a news conference held in central Seoul on May 28.

Ministry redefines 'K-culture,' adds 100 trillion won to sector's target market size

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism redefined the scope of “K-culture” and adjusted the sector’s target market size from 300 trillion won ($219 billion) to 400 trillion won.

2026.5.28

Popular in Life and Trends

Exposition visitors crowd outdoor spaces of the ″2026 K-Expo USA: All About K-Style″ event in Los Angeles between May 23 and 24. [KOREA CREATIVE CONTENT AGENCY]

More than 40,000 celebrate Korean culture and lifestyle at '2026 K-Expo USA' in Los Angeles

More than 40,000 Angelinos took a deep dive into contemporary Korean lifestyle with hands-on experiences ranging from spicy instant noodles to Korean makeup techniques and K-pop acts during the "2026 K-Expo USA: All About K-Style" event.

2026.5.27

Seoul unveils 13 products featuring city's official 'Morning Yellow' color

The Seoul Metropolitan Government unveiled a new lineup of consumer goods featuring the city’s signature color, “Morning Yellow,” across household items, fashion accessories and stationery products.

2026.5.26

A scene of a beauty booth installed at K-Expo in Toronto in 2025 [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

Gov't ministries unite for massive K-Expo USA in Los Angeles

Jay Park on stage, hoe gimbap (raw fish rice roll) in hand and K-beauty on faces — Los Angeles is set to be swept up in a wave of Korean content and trend through early next week at “2026 K-Expo USA.”

2026.5.22

I'm buried in enzymes during an enzyme spa treatment. [WOO JI-WON]

Buried alive for wellness: Enzyme spas offer hot, claustrophobic way to detox

Enzyme spas in Korea, drawing from Japanese origins, offer a unique detox experience by covering participants in warm enzyme mixtures. While claustrophobic, they are gaining popularity among young wellness seekers.

2026.5.11

New Yorker dives into Jeju tradition as village's foreign 'haenyeo'

For centuries, haenyeo have plunged into the sea — up to 10 meters (32.8 feet) deep without an oxygen mask — to harvest seafood. In Yeongrak-ri, a village in Jeju, the tradition lives on through 16 divers, including New York’s Kylie Genter.

2026.5.7

Blackpink's Lisa poses for photos at the 2026 Met Gala celebrating ″Costume Art″ at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on on May 4. [AP/YONHAP]

Blackpink, aespa's Karina and EJAE among Korean stars at Met Gala — in pictures

From all four members of Blackpink and aespa’s Karina and Ningning to EJAE, one of the voices behind Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” (2025), numerous Korean stars brought sculptural flair and elements of Korean heritage to the Met Gala carpet.

2026.5.5

Mary, a Pekingese, works on strengthening her leg muscles on a reformer. [WOO JI-WON]

Pilates for pups? Pets treated to human-level care as they become core family members.

In Gangnam District, southern Seoul, dog Pilates classes are gaining popularity among pet owners seeking to improve their pets' mobility and strength, particularly for small breeds with weaker bodies.

2026.4.30

Mangwon: A mellow neighborhood in western Seoul embodying the city’s daytime charm

If Hongdae represents Seoul’s nightlife, Mangwon, just two subway stops away, can be seen as the city's quintessential daytime neighborhood.

2026.4.23

South Korean Life Trends | Korea JoongAng Daily

Life and Trends

Latest News

Korea to host K-culture festival in Mexico alongside World Cup

Ministry redefines 'K-culture,' adds 100 trillion won to sector's target market size

Popular in Life and Trends

Korea to host K-culture festival in Mexico alongside World Cup

Korea’s 'insane' new dating trend: Airdropping photos in bars

Taebaek seen not viable as altitude training center

[THIS WEEK IN HISTORY]Failed assassination bid marks start of revolt

Professional football league a must for women’s team

More than 40,000 celebrate Korean culture and lifestyle at '2026 K-Expo USA' in Los Angeles

Seoul unveils 13 products featuring city's official 'Morning Yellow' color

Gov't ministries unite for massive K-Expo USA in Los Angeles

Buried alive for wellness: Enzyme spas offer hot, claustrophobic way to detox

New Yorker dives into Jeju tradition as village's foreign 'haenyeo'

Blackpink, aespa's Karina and EJAE among Korean stars at Met Gala — in pictures

Pilates for pups? Pets treated to human-level care as they become core family members.

Mangwon: A mellow neighborhood in western Seoul embodying the city’s daytime charm