Korea Now: Seoul Events, K-pop & Local Guide | NowHitz · 20

What 95% means

Researchers evaluated 38 videos found through five search terms in May 2026, and almost 95% contained at least one potentially misleading claim. The finding comes from a small, selected sample presented at a conference; it does not mean 95% of Korean cosmetics are unsafe or that all beauty videos are wrong.

Evidence and conditions of use

The issue is what evidence and conditions of use accompany videos promoting layered routines. An attractive result and a reliable explanation are separate matters. This report draws on the late-September presentation, not a new study released on October 11.

The riverside instead of a restaurant

On October 3, a DongA Ilbo reporter found picnickers at Yeouido Hangang Park eating raw fish bought in Noryangjin. Hoecnic combines hoe, Korean raw fish, with picnic, turning the riverside into the dining table. A September 30 Hankyung Business report also described trips from Noryangjin to Yeouido or Nodeul Island.

Sharing a route

Incross’s October 7 analysis noted that choosing, packing and carrying the fish has become part of the experience. As people share pickup spots, routes and side dishes, a menu recommendation becomes an outing itinerary.

Before going

Seoul’s official address for Yeouido Hangang Park is 330 Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu. Prices, contents and pickup times vary by seller.

A mat and a bag for taking rubbish home are needed, and sellers can advise on transport and storage.

Chart rank and review

FlixPatrol lists the series third with 442 points; it was second with 525 points on October 9. These are third-party chart points, not viewer totals released by Disney.

In his October 11 South China Morning Post review, Pierce Conran criticized familiar romcom situations and thin characterization. It is one critic’s assessment.

Story and cast

Korean spatial planner Lee Yu-bin loses everything and travels to a Japanese island, where he meets strawberry farmer Shirahama Karin. Ji Chang-wook and Mio Imada lead the cast, alongside Nam Yoon-su and Rinka Kumada.

The Korean-Japanese pairing and the contrast between city and island life anchor the series.

Where to watch

Disney+ Korea lists an October 7 release. Nippon TV names Disney+ and TVer for Japan, and Disney’s official U.S. lineup lists an October 7 premiere on Disney+ and Hulu.

Availability, subscription plans and released episodes can differ by territory.

The exhibition

COLORNATION with WEKINO presents combinations of furniture and living space. WEKINO was founded in Seoul in 2014, with Kwangho Lee as creative director. His DDEE Sofa is among the designs on show.

Visitor information

The exhibition runs October 2–25, 11 AM–8 PM JST, at CIBONE, GYRE B1F, 5-10-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. It is about four minutes on foot from Omotesando Station Exit A1 or three minutes from Meiji-jingumae Station Exit 4.

The exhibition

Korea: 2,000 years of creativity opened on October 1 and runs through January 31, 2027 in Room 35. According to a September 21 announcement from the National Museum of Korea, the British Museum, NMK and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea jointly organize the show, which has 100 entries, including Jeong Seon’s Clearing after Rain on Mount Inwang.

Divided reviews

The Standard’s Martin Robinson praised the historical journey and its modern-art conclusion. In a September 30 review, Time Out’s India Lawrence gave three stars out of five, admiring the historic objects but finding the modern historical context insufficient. These are two critics’ assessments, not a measure of British audiences as a whole.

Questions and visitor note

The split points to a recurring question in presenting Korean culture abroad: how much historical context should accompany the works. The exhibition closes on December 1–2 for a display rotation.

Two flavors, 220 mL each

Dongwon F&B’s fruit-puree milk comes in strawberry and banana flavors, each in a 220 mL bottle. The product image distinguishes them with pink and yellow packaging.

What “15 strawberries” means

The manufacturer states 3.6 g of soluble dietary fiber in the strawberry version and 4.6 g in the banana version, which it compares with roughly 15 strawberries and two bananas. The figures do not mean that many whole fruits went into each bottle.

The basis for “40%” less sugar

The reduced-sugar claim compares the product with the processed-milk average cited by the company, 9.1 g of sugar per 100 mL, and states a reduction of approximately 40%. It is neither a sugar-free claim nor a comparison with plain milk.

Launch at 7-Eleven Japan

Developed by hy and PALDO with BTS involved in naming, flavors and packaging, ARIH began a phased rollout at participating 7-Eleven stores in Japan on August 20, 2026. The range covers 16 products in three categories: noodles, energy drinks and soda.

3.61 million units

On September 16, hy reported approximately 3.61 million units sold in Japan as of September 8, the twentieth day of the rollout. These are company-reported early sales, not a count of buyers or repeat purchases, and they do not establish lasting demand for Korean food overall.

Differing verdicts

In a tasting article updated August 28, macaroni editor Inoue wrote that butter softened the gochujang heat and likened the vongole noodles to a Korean-developed pasta served without broth. On August 31, @BAILA contributor Maho Hiraoka wrote that the gochujang butter was spicier than expected and named truffle bulgogi as her favorite.

Reading the reactions

These are real Japanese tasting responses, not a representative consumer survey. That the same product struck two writers so differently shows a range of reactions that sales figures alone do not capture.

A portrait in wire

Announced by organizer Gaia on October 6, the work builds a face from the density of crossing wires instead of paint. Dense crossings read as shadow and sparse ones as light, bringing the portrait into view. The museum’s outer wall now introduces a local painter.

Visiting

The museum website directs visitors to Naver for admission reservations. It has not been confirmed that the outdoor work can be viewed at any time, so operating days and viewing hours are best checked with the museum. Visitor details are in Haejoum Art Museum’s official visitor information under Sources & context below.

A century of Hunmaengjeongeum

Park Du-seong promulgated Hunmaengjeongeum on November 4, 1926; November 4, 2026 marks its centenary. Alongside the original Braille chart are drafts on the origins of Korean Braille and of Hunmaengjeongeum, showing corrections and pasted additions.

A 1954 letter in English Braille sent to Dr Boulter of the American Foundation for Overseas Blind records the system’s links with educators abroad.

Tactile models and audio guides

The exhibition is jointly organized by the host museum, the National Hangeul Museum and Songam Braille Library. Labels include Braille, key exhibits are reproduced as models that can be touched, and audio interpretation is available. Original objects cannot be handled; touching is limited to designated tactile exhibits.

Writing in Braille

In the fourth section, visitors can read Braille and tactile books and use a Braille chart to write their names. In the final space, a Braille slate and stylus let them leave comments.

Visitor information

The exhibition runs October 7, 2026–February 14, 2027 in the museum’s first-floor special exhibition gallery. Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m., with last entry at 5:30 p.m.

The museum closes on Mondays, January 1 and the days of Seollal and Chuseok. When a Monday is a public holiday, it opens that day and closes the next weekday. Address: 217 Central-ro, Incheon (Songdo-dong 24-8). Exhibition enquiries: 032-290-2031. The official exhibition and visitor pages below post any changes.

Key features

Available on iOS and Android, the Korean edition displays the original Japanese dialogue alongside an AI Korean translation when a line is tapped, with contextual vocabulary and grammar explanations and Japanese audio. Saved expressions in My List can be filtered by difficulty or manga title.

34 titles

The launch announcement lists 34 titles, including ONE PIECE and NARUTO, a different catalog from the English-learning service offered in Japan. The selection depends on Korean distribution rights, and titles and release schedules may change.

Pricing and AI explanations

Some content is free, and Langaku+ offers monthly and annual paid subscriptions; free-access limits and subscription terms are listed in the app. Mantra warns that AI explanations can contain inaccurate information.

Three Lima dates, then Santiago

BIGHIT MUSIC’s official schedule lists the Estadio San Marcos shows in Lima on October 7, 9 and 10, local time. Starnews’s figure is the total for the three shows; the number of distinct attendees has not been established. The tour moves to Estadio Nacional in Santiago on October 14, 16 and 17, local time.

Economic impact is a forecast

In an October 7 report based on an interview with a Lima Chamber of Commerce official, RPP cited a forecast of S/150 million–200 million in economic activity. The estimate assumed about 118,000 attendees and was made before the shows, so it is not a result based on the later attendance figure.

The usage ranking

The figures cover visits made through the KB free-admission project from July 1 to October 6, 2026. Korea Minhwa Museum, the Korean Lamp Museum and Daegu’s Museum Hyur placed first, second and third for exhibition visits. It is not a ranking of total attendance at Korean museums.

KB and the Korean Museum Association launched the project in September 2025 and extended it to private museums and art museums from July this year. The October 11 release lists 72 participating institutions.

The Korean Lamp Museum

The Korean Lamp Museum in Yongin uses lighting implements to show everyday life before electricity became widespread. According to its official gallery guide, the first floor recreates a kitchen, food-storage room, sarangbang reception room and inner room, with lamps displayed alongside period household objects. Upstairs, lamps are compared by period, shape, material and use.

Getting a coupon

Coupons are issued in KB Star Banking under National Wallet (국민지갑), in the museum/art-museum free-admission menu (박물관·미술관 무료 관람). According to official participant instructions, users log into the app, issue a coupon and show the screen to staff at the institution. An admission coupon does not cover every activity, and coupons can run out. The issuing screen shows the institution, what the admission or activity coupon covers and its validity period.

Conditions by institution

The Korean Lamp Museum lists its season-II participation period as July 1, 2026–February 28, 2027. In Paju, Han Hyang Lim Onggi Museum offers combined admission with Han Hyang Lim Ceramic Museum. It warns that the offer may end early when the budget runs out, and groups of 15 or more must arrange dates in advance by calling 070-8872-0465. Conditions vary by institution.

Visiting the Korean Lamp Museum

From October to March, the museum opens Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m. It closes on Mondays except public holidays, as well as January 1 and the days of Seollal and Chuseok. The address is 8 Neunggok-ro 56beon-gil, Mohyeon-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do; enquiries: 031-334-0797. Its official visitor information and free-admission notice are under Sources & context below.