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  • January 2026 K-Drama Watchlist: From Ji Sung’s Return to Netflix Originals

    January 2026 is set to be a blockbuster month for K-drama enthusiasts, with several highly anticipated titles making their debut.

    Leading the way is MBC’s The Judge Returns, starring Ji Sung, which premiered on January 2 to kick off the new year’s television season.

    Additionally, Spring Fever, featuring Ahn Bo-hyun and Lee Joo-bin, is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video on January 5, offering a heartwarming romance for international viewers.

    Netflix will feature the long-awaited romantic comedy Can This Love Be Translated?, written by the famous Hong Sisters and starring Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung, with its global release set for January 16.

     On the same day, the fantasy series No Tail to Tell, starring Kim Hye-yoon and Lomon, is also slated for release on both Netflix and SBS.

    2026 also marks the return of globally successful sequels. All of Us Are Dead Season 2 is aiming for a Netflix release within the year after a significant hiatus, while Disney+ has confirmed that A Shop for Killers Season 2 will premiere in late 2026, continuing the thrill for action fans.

  • 2026 K-Beauty Trends: The Rise of Microbiome Skincare and Sustainable Innovation

    In 2026, K-beauty industry is being propelled by “Microbiome” technology, which enhances the skin’s natural resilience, alongside sustainable “Eco-Friendly Refillable Packaging.” Beyond conventional cosmetics, “Slow-Aging” products that balance the skin’s microbial ecosystem are gaining significant traction among global consumers.

    Leading Korean beauty brands have introduced sophisticated “Semi-Permanent Refillable Containers” to minimize plastic waste, successfully capturing the interests of the global Gen Z, who prioritize ethical and value-based consumption.

     Industry experts predict that K-Beauty will reach new heights this year by integrating biotechnology with packaging innovation, moving beyond ingredient safety to holistic sustainability.

  • KOREAN NEWS | 30,000 Gather in Seoul to Welcome the New Year Despite -10°C Chills❄️

    As the “Bosingak Bell” tolled to announce the “Year of the Red Horse,” January 1, 2026, officially began.

    Despite the freezing temperatures of -10°C in Seoul at midnight, approximately 30,000 citizens gathered in front of the Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno to welcome the new year.

    This year’s bell-ringing ceremony was especially meaningful, featuring 11 civilian representatives—recognized as the unsung heroes of society—including Kim Gwi-sun, a counselor at a suicide prevention lifeline.

    Simultaneously, Gwanghwamun Square hosted the “Stage of Light,” a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors. A grand countdown show on massive LED screens and vibrant media facades illuminating the building exteriors transformed the night of Seoul into a work of art, delivering profound emotion and hopeful wishes for the new year to the citizens.

    💡ONLINE-KOREA Insight

    Happy New Year 2026!

    We wish you a healthy and prosperous year ahead, and may all your endeavors bear fruitful results.

  • Year-End Greetings for Christmas

    As we celebrate Christmas, we would like to send our warmest greetings.
    Another year is already drawing to a close.

    We sincerely thank everyone who has visited and supported ONLINE-KOREA throughout the year.
    Every bit of interest and encouragement you shared has meant a great deal to us.

    We hope you finish the remaining days of 2025 on a happy note,
    and that 2026 brings you many smiles and joyful moments.

    Wishing everyone lots of happy moments in 2026.

  • Nongshim’s Shin Ramyun Campaign with aespa Sets New Viewership Record

    Nongshim’s advertisement featuring Shin Ramyun global ambassador aespa is recording remarkable view counts across social media platforms.

    According to Nongshim, the ad has surpassed 130 million cumulative views on YouTube, achieving the milestone just one month after its release—the highest performance in the history of Shin Ramyun advertising.

    The campaign has drawn attention for breaking away from conventional ramen advertising formats and adopting a music-video-style approach that maximizes aespa’s appeal. The background track is a remake by aespa of “Spice Up Your Life,” originally released in 1997 by the iconic British pop group Spice Girls.

    The ad also sparked buzz with the “Shin Ramyun Dance,” a playful choreography that cleverly incorporates actions such as opening the ramen package and pouring in water. The YouTube comment section features more than 1,000 posts, with viewers praising the “addictive melody and choreography,” the “fresh music-video-style structure,” the “album-level production quality,” and calling it “a revolutionary example of ramen advertising.”

    Alongside the campaign, Nongshim has been rolling out the “Shin Ramyun aespa Special Package” since November in Korea, Australia, and other markets. Multi-packs feature group images of aespa, while individual packs showcase member-specific designs. Each package includes a photo card containing the members’ pictures and handwritten messages.

    A Nongshim official said the 100-million-view milestone demonstrates that Shin Ramyun has established itself as a cultural icon beyond food in the global market, adding that the company will continue working with aespa to further strengthen Shin Ramyun’s image as a leading K-food brand worldwide.

  • Korea Welcomes Record-Breaking 18.5 Millionth Foreign Visitor

    On the 23rd, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a welcome ceremony at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 under the theme “K-Tourism Embracing the World,” celebrating the arrival of the 18.5 millionth inbound tourist, marking a record high in foreign visitor numbers.

    The 18.5 millionth visitor to Korea this year was Charmaine Lee, a Singaporean national and a fan of K-pop Demon Hunters. She said she wanted to visit the locations featured in the series first.

    The figure of 18.5 million surpasses the previous pre-pandemic record of 17.5 million set in 2019 by one million visitors. Following a sharp decline to 11.03 million foreign tourists in 2023 due to the pandemic, arrivals rebounded to 16.37 million last year before setting a new record this year. With about a week remaining until the end of the year, total arrivals are expected to exceed 18.7 million.

    Driven by the global popularity of K-pop Demon Hunters as a catalyst for the K-wave, Korea’s tourism landscape has undergone a noticeable transformation, with assessments suggesting the country has fully shaken off the lingering effects of the pandemic.

  • EXO Returns After 2.5 Years with New Album ‘REVERXE’

    EXO is set to return after two years and six months, marking their comeback with a special showcase.

    The group will release its eighth full-length album, REVERXE, on January 19, 2026. All nine tracks will be unveiled across major music streaming platforms at 6 p.m. KST, followed by a showcase event starting at 7:30 p.m. at Kyung Hee University’s Peace Hall in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul.

    At the showcase, EXO will perform songs from REVERXE and share various behind-the-scenes stories related to the album, celebrating their long-awaited comeback together with fans in the same venue. With the group’s first full album release in over two years, anticipation among fans is running high.

  • CJ Olive Young Unveils ‘FULLMOON’ as Its 2026 K-Beauty Trend Keyword

    CJ Olive Young has selected “F.U.L.L.M.O.O.N (Full Moon)” as the key keyword shaping the K-beauty and wellness industry in 2026, unveiling eight major trends centered on the idea of becoming one’s “whole self.”

    The report highlights how wellness trends that encompass not only outward beauty but also inner balance and recovery are spreading globally.

    The “early wellness” trend, particularly among the MZ generation, stands out.

    According to Olive Young’s purchasing data, customers aged 15 to 24 who buy wellness products have recorded double-digit annual growth every year since 2022. This group favors “healthy pleasure,” enjoying wellness in accessible ways, which has driven increased consumption of easy-to-take wellness snacks such as candies, jellies, and beverages. As the emphasis on quality rest grows, sales of sleep-related health supplements have surged by more than 300 percent year-on-year.

    Clear changes are also evident in the makeup segment.

    “Skincaring makeup,” which combines skincare functions with color cosmetics, is gaining traction, with consumers placing greater importance on ingredients and efficacy when choosing makeup products. Searches related to soothing, skin barrier, and hydration functions have increased by more than 150 percent.

    Alongside these shifts, Olive Young presented next-generation trends including K-beauty integrated into global daily routines, professional self-care, Gen Z luxury beauty, and AI-based hyper-personalized concierge services, forecasting that hyper-personalized value-driven consumption will further intensify.

  • Will Korea Have a White Christmas This Year?

    Rain is expected nationwide over the weekend, followed by a sharp drop in temperatures into sub-zero levels, bringing a brief cold spell. However, snowfall is unlikely on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day next week, making a white Christmas difficult to expect.

    Ahead of Christmas, another round of rain is forecast across the country.

    On December 23 and 24, cloudy skies and rain are expected nationwide due to the influence of a trough. With temperatures remaining higher than average, most regions—including Seoul—are likely to see rain, while snow may mix in only in Gangwon Province and high-altitude mountainous areas.

    Even on December 25, a white Christmas is considered unlikely. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, a high-pressure system is expected to expand again after the trough passes, resulting in generally clear conditions. As of now, the possibility of snowfall remains low.

  • Seoul Implements Special Safety Measures for Christmas and Year-End Crowds

    The Seoul Metropolitan Government will implement “special safety management measures” through January 4 next year in key areas and events expected to draw large crowds during Christmas and the year-end holiday season.

    With winter festivals seeing a sharp surge in visitors—about 1.08 million people attending the Gwanghwamun Market and the Seoul Lantern Festival alone—the city has launched preemptive actions to prevent safety incidents in busy districts and event venues.

    The safety management plan covers six high-traffic areas where crowds are expected around Christmas, including Myeongdong, the Itaewon Tourism Special Zone, Seongsu-dong Café Street, the Hongdae Tourism Special Zone, Gangnam Station, and Apgujeong Rodeo Street, as well as three major events such as the New Year’s Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony and sunrise events at Achasan and Namsan.

    Through the 24th, the city, district governments, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, police, and fire authorities will conduct joint inspections focusing on crowd control, traffic measures, rescue and emergency systems, and facility safety.

    On December 24–25 and December 31, Seoul plans to monitor on-site conditions in real time using the disaster safety communication network and a mobile situation room, and to immediately notify citizens if risks arise. On the day of the New Year’s Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony—an event that draws more than 100,000 people annually—an emergency duty system will be activated to reinforce order and on-site safety management.

    The city aims to ensure that residents and visitors can enjoy the year-end holiday season more safely through these measures.