South Korea

GWANGJU, South Korea – November 09, 2026 -- Travelers looking for everyday Korean life beyond the usual sights can wander the alleys of Gwangju's Dongmyeong-dong, a district of restaurants, cafes, workshops and local brand stores that ranks first with American visitors.

Americans top foreign foot traffic in the district

Among the six main countries measured in this year's glocal commercial districts, Americans made up the largest share of foreign foot traffic in Dongmyeong-dong. The source compares the area to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, where distinctive cafes, independent brands and artists' creative spaces sit side by side.

Seoul – November 05, 2026 -- Travelers flying between the U.S. and South Korea on Air Premia now get at least 33 inches of Economy seat pitch on most of the airline's Boeing 787-9 jets, after another aircraft was retrofitted from 31 inches.

One more Dreamliner gets extra Economy legroom

The Boeing 787-9 with registration HL8703 re-entered service on October 31 with a 33-inch Economy seat pitch, up from 31 inches. To make room, Air Premia cut 18 seats, taking the aircraft from 344 to 326 seats. That is a capacity reduction of roughly 5.2% per aircraft.

Eight of the airline's nine 787-9s now offer 33 inches or more in Economy. The last aircraft is scheduled to be reconfigured in the first half of 2027, in line with overseas maintenance and operational timelines.

Seoul – November 03, 2026 -- Epic Seven, the mobile turn-based strategy RPG from Smilegate, has been on Steam since Oct. 29. It arrived with a new server called Foundry, and the Steam version adds controller support.

Foundry opens on Steam, STOVE PC Client and mobile

Foundry is not limited to Steam. Players can also join through the STOVE PC Client and on mobile devices. For a limited time, the server runs independent PvP matchmaking for people starting Epic Seven for the first time.

Settlement events speed up early progress

A Settlement Support Buff Event, live since Oct. 29, accelerates Hero and account growth and includes daily free Hero summons. Logging in or playing through content also earns Equipment, growth materials and Hero Skins.

More than 100,000 players joined the Steam Wishlist Event that began in August.

Seoul – November 01, 2026 -- American fans can now stream "Weirdo," the pre-debut single from HYPEVERSE, a virtual K-pop idol group that Philandart Studio built for U.S. audiences. The track came out October 7 through Universal Music Korea.

Five virtual artists speak native-level English

The group has five artists with roots in Japan, the United States, Korea and Europe. All five speak English at a native level, and they connect with fans through their personalities and humor. Philandart Studio is aiming at Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

Pop, anime-style fantasy and pets share one multiverse

HYPEVERSE blends pop music, anime-inspired fantasy and pet companions. Its multiverse is a place where music connects different worlds. The group invites young fans to treat their differences as strengths. "Weirdo" carries the same message, celebrating individuality and the freedom to love what you love.

SEOUL – – October 31, 2026 -- South Korean skincare brand Chaeyun is preparing two new products for November 2026: a whitening cream and a gel for acne-prone skin. Its operator, SAMILBIO, plans to let visitors test them in person at two November events.

Two November events let shoppers try the products first

SAMILBIO will first appear at the Hoseo University Industry-Academia Cooperation Festival on November 4, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The company will introduce its products and business ideas there. The venue and exhibition layout will be finalized after confirmation.

It will then join the 2026 SME Innovation Week (K-INNO WEEK) on November 18–20 at Cheongju OSCO. At that event, the focus will be cosmetics experience exhibits and product consultations.

SEOUL – October 28, 2026 -- Korean vegan skincare brand FULLY is now sold at more than 580 Sephora stores across the U.S. and online, with six products available since August 20, 2026.

The rollout is part of the OLIVE YOUNG K-Beauty Edit at Sephora. OLIVE YOUNG, which the source describes as Korea's leading beauty and lifestyle retailer, curated the assortment to introduce Korean beauty brands to North American shoppers. For FULLY, it is the largest brick-and-mortar expansion in the U.S. so far.

A 3.5-million-unit clay cleanser leads the lineup

The headliner is the Green Tomato Clay Mask Cleanser, a 2-in-1 product that has sold more than 3.5 million units worldwide. The creamy clay is applied as a mask, then turns into a rich foam with water to remove excess sebum and pore buildup.

Cardi B featured the product on TikTok in 2025. That same year, Women's Health named it Best Clay Mask in its 2025 Skincare Awards.

New York – October 14, 2026 -- New Yorkers can watch 10 feature films and 5 shorts from Korea's independent scene for free from October 15 through 25, 2026, at the KCCNY Theater. The inaugural New York Korean Independent Film Festival (NYKIFF) is presented by the Korean Cultural Center New York (KCCNY). Admission is open to the public, but pre-registration is required.

Twelve filmmakers and film professionals will take questions from the audience

Twelve directors and other film professionals are traveling to New York for post-screening Q&As. The program spans fiction, documentary, thriller and action. It was developed with five Korean festivals: the Seoul Independent Film Festival, Jeonju International Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Muju Film Festival and Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival.

Seoul – October 11, 2026 -- Arirang TV premieres "K-FOOD: Gyeongbuk Edition" on October 14 at 9:00 a.m. (KST), with new episodes every Wednesday at the same time for four weeks. The series follows two celebrity teams through Mungyeong, Pohang, Gyeongju and Andong in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea.

The show is billed as a "taste road variety" program. Regional signature dishes, tourist sights, history, culture and hands-on activities are woven into one travel story. The cast works as a "Taste Crew": they try local food, join tours and activities, and turn their travel photos and videos into social media content for global viewers.

Two teams of three split the journey

Kwon Hyuk-soo, Yujeong and Harin make up Team A. Shindong, Lim Do-hwa and Seungwoo form Team B. The cast also takes on a dance challenge.

Seoul – October 7, 2026 -- South Korean healthcare brand PAINSTUDY Inc. has launched a new line of muscle and joint patches as part of a push to expand beyond online sales into offline retail and overseas markets.

The brand built its base through Coupang and Naver Smart Store

PAINSTUDY developed its consumer following primarily through major e-commerce platforms, including Coupang and Naver Smart Store. The company says it used customer feedback and operational data gathered through these online channels to design the new patch line, applying what it calls quality-controlled ingredients and ergonomic design aimed at improving safety and adhesion.

Seoul – September 27, 2026 -- South Korean functional healthcare brand PAINSTUDY Inc. has launched a new line of muscle and joint patches aimed at consumers who want to manage everyday physical discomfort without visiting a clinic.

The patches target fatigue from work, exercise, and outdoor activity

PAINSTUDY designed the products for people dealing with muscle and joint strain from routine daily settings, according to the company. The patch format lets users apply the product without extra devices or steps, fitting into ordinary schedules.

Development relied on customer feedback from existing products

The company says the new line reflects input gathered from users of its earlier products, combined with its own product development experience. PAINSTUDY states it applied quality-controlled ingredients and ergonomic design to improve safety and adhesion.