[HanCinema's Digest] Culture Corner

Find out why you might want to stay paying attention to K-pop (if you aren't already), fashion designer Carolina Herrera reimagines the hanbok, learn more about North Korea's history of foreign assassinations and kidnappings, and 10 Magazine looks at how South Korea celebrates love with various special days throughout the year.

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"If You're Not Paying Attention to Korean Pop Music, You Should Be"

Daniel Starkey, writing for Geek, examines Korea's popular music scene (K-pop) and why you should be paying attention to perhaps the most "interesting pop music around". Daniel talks about K-pop's success in countries like America, how the government has help to spread it, and to what extent K-pop has been influenced by other cultures and global trends. Are you a fan of K-pop? Let us know what you love about it in the comment section below...

...READ ON GEEK

"Carolina Herrera Creates Three Customized Hanboks for New York and Seoul Installations"

The hanbok is a beautiful part of Korea's traditional culture ("Dating back to the Joseon period, the Hanbok is semiformal or formalwear that is donned for traditional festivals and celebrations"), but the garment's design has not remained static over the years. In modern Korean culture, artists and fashion designers have evolved the hanbok far beyond what previous generations had envisioned. Carolina Herrera, for example, recently unveiled her "x Hanbok Collection" at Columbus Circle, and next month her wares can be seen in Korea's capital, Seoul.

...READ ON WWD

"North Korea's history of foreign assassinations and kidnappings"

Kim Jong-un's half-brother, Kim Jong-nam, was killed recently in Malaysia. Although no evidence has been presented yet, South Korea believes North Korean agents were involved. Interestingly, the DPRK has a long history of dispatching secret agents to do the state's bidding, and in this post on the BBC, you'll learn about five events in North Korea's history where their agents carried out assassinations, kidnappings and other attacks...

...READ ON BBC

"VALENTINE'S DAY IN KOREA: THE LOVED, THE SMITTEN AND THE LONELY"

Valentine's Day: if you're in a loving relationship it's great, if not, well, don't worry about it, because it Korea you get your own special day, too! It's true, Korea does places a relatively high social status to couples (some even enjoy dressing alike), but the country also acknowledges singles by giving them their own special day. In this post on 10 Magazine by Nnehkai Agbor, you'll find out more about Valentine's Day, Black Day, and White Day in Korea. Chocolates and love for all!

...READ ON 10 MAGAZINE