Browsing: South

In this episode, we explore the modern revival of South Korea’s cultural traditions, from the reimagined hanbok to Jeju’s legendary haenyeo

South Korea’s cultural exports hit a historic high last year as the global demand for its entertainment ecosystem drives staggering economic returns. Bolstered by explosive music growth and digital platforms, Korean Wave exports touched $18.98 billion USD, marking a 15.9% year-on-year increase, also fortifying the nation’s status as a cultural superpower. 

The National Museum of Korea’s merchandise brand, MU:DS, has set commercial records, generating ₩21.8 billion (~ $14.5 million USD) in MU:DS’s first-half sales for 2026. This depicts a 90% increase from the ₩11.48B (~ $7.6M) recorded during the same period last year. The upward financial trajectory shows that traditional Korean heritage souvenirs can also complement…

In fast-secularising South Korea, Buddhism is regaining popularity thanks to a “hip” trend wooing Gen Z with festivals, fashion, robots and DJs, even as some fear for the fundamentals of the faith