BABYMONSTER is trading its signature high-energy performances for a more intimate sound with “DESERVE,” a new digital single released Friday that showcases the K-pop group’s vocals and more mature musical direction. The pop ballad dropped at 1 p.m. Friday, blending lyrical synthesizer melodies and a retro atmosphere with heartfelt lyrics reflecting on past memories and wishing happiness for a former partner, according to the group’s agency, YG Entertainment. The song’s emotional intensity builds toward its chorus, highlighting the members’ expressive singing and marking a departure from the hip-hop and dance-driven tracks that have helped define their stage performances. The release comes about four months after the group’s June single, “SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA,” offering a different perspective on the seven-member act as it continues to broaden its musical range. Its accompanying music video draws on the song’s wistful mood, using cinematic visuals, interconnected character narratives and increasingly dramatic effects to heighten the emotional impact. In a statement ahead

Nongshim is bringing the flavors of Korea’s instant noodles to Japan’s fashion-conscious young consumers, joining forces with fashion platform Musinsa for a 17-day pop-up event in Osaka that pairs Korean food with fashion and beauty. The Korean food company is operating a Shin Ramyun brand booth at Musinsa Osaka Pop-up Store 2026 at VS in Umeda through Nov. 8. The collaboration aims to introduce Japanese shoppers drawn to Korean fashion to Korean food culture through hands-on experiences, with Umeda serving as a busy commercial district frequented by young consumers and international tourists. At the booth, visitors can sample freshly prepared Shin Ramyun Tomba, using an instant noodle cooker modeled on machines popular along Korea’s Han River, where people cook noodles on-site. Visitors who follow Nongshim Japan’s official Instagram account can try the dish, while those who complete a survey after tasting it can receive Shin Ramyun Rose, with additional branded merchandise available through a prize draw. Shin Ramyun Tomba combines spicy seasoning with a creamy flavor and has gain

Beauty of Joseon, Korean beauty brand known for its traditional ingredients and modern skin care, has expanded to 1,263 Boots stores across Britain, marking one of the largest retail footprints for a Korean beauty brand in Europe. The brand, owned by Goodai Global, entered Boots in June 2024 and has since expanded rapidly across the British health and beauty retailer’s network, according to a company announcement Friday. Beauty of Joseon also operates dedicated brand displays in 100 Boots stores, the largest such presence among Korean beauty brands at the retailer. The expansion comes as the brand continues to rank among Boots’ top-selling Korean beauty brands, reflecting growing demand for K-beauty products in physical retail stores beyond online channels. In April, Beauty of Joseon held the first solo pop-up by a Korean beauty brand at Boots, at the retailer’s store in Westfield Stratford in London. During the pop-up month, Beauty of Joseon ranked fifth among about 200 skin care brands sold at Boots and first among roughly 20 Korean beauty brands, according to company data. It also

A curator whose work explores the uneasy relationship between art, technology and society will lead the 14th Seoul Mediacity Biennale, bringing a critical examination of artificial intelligence (AI) and technological power to Seoul’s flagship international art event. Irini Papadimitriou, a curator and creative director specializing in contemporary art, new media and digital culture, has been appointed artistic director of the biennale, which is scheduled to open in August 2027, the Seoul Museum of Art said. Papadimitriou’s proposed theme, “Machines of Repair,” will examine how technology intersects with power, surveillance, resource extraction and social inequality, while exploring how technological systems might be redirected toward public benefit. The exhibition will bring together artworks and public programs that question the values underpinning technological progress and imagine alternatives to systems built around control and domination. Papadimitriou previously served as digital program manager at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, head of new media art development

Dogs dressed as Joseon-era night watchmen will take to Seoul’s historic streets Saturday, bringing an unusual twist to neighborhood safety patrols and offering visitors a new way to explore one of the capital’s increasingly popular alleyways. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will deploy 12 teams from its volunteer dog patrol program along a 1.1-kilometer route connecting Jongmyo Shrine’s outer gate, Seosulla Street and Yulgok-ro, beginning at 10 a.m. Oct. 24. The approximately 70-minute patrol will recreate the rounds once conducted by "sunragun," guards who monitored streets during the Joseon Dynasty, with participating dogs wearing costumes inspired by the historical patrolmen. Accompanied by their owners, the dogs will inspect alleyways for potential safety hazards and inconveniences while promoting responsible pet-walking practices, including proper leash use and consideration for other pedestrians. Two professional dog trainers will join the event to provide safety guidance before departure and supervise the teams along the route. Seosulla Street runs alongside the western wal

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will deploy artificial intelligence crowd (AI)-monitoring cameras, airborne drones and mobile command buses across 14 major nightlife hubs starting Friday as part of an intensive safety management campaign ahead of Halloween. The special safety management period, running from Friday through Nov. 1, comes as city officials brace for large weekend crowds fueled by a surge in international tourism. Monthly foreign visitor arrivals to Korea recently topped 2 million for three consecutive months, bringing total inbound travel between May and September past 10 million. The heightened vigilance reflects lingering national trauma from the October 2022 crowd crush in Itaewon, which claimed 159 lives in a narrow, sloped alleyway. That tragedy prompted a sweeping overhaul of Korea’s municipal safety protocols, transforming Halloween from a loosely managed commercial event into one of the country's most heavily policed and technologically monitored public gatherings. The targeted zones include eight high-density priority areas — Itaewon, Hongdae, Seongsu-dong,

Seoul is turning its dining scene into a weeklong celebration, with 124 restaurants, cafes and bars offering special menus, discounts and complimentary desserts as the city seeks to draw diners into neighborhood establishments and high-profile eateries alike. Seoul Restaurant Week begins Friday as part of Taste of Seoul 2026, a citywide program featuring food markets, culinary tours, cooking classes and awards recognizing contributors to the capital’s dining culture. This year’s participating venues include 23 Korean restaurants, 28 Western establishments, 11 Asian restaurants, seven grill restaurants, three vegetarian eateries, 35 cafes and dessert shops, two bars and pubs, and 15 establishments in other categories. The event runs through Oct. 29. Forty-one participants have been selected for Seoul’s 100 Taste of Seoul list or its 50 Best Cafes and Desserts list. For the first time, the city is partnering with Naver Pay to offer a payment promotion that gives customers points worth 50 percent of their bill, up to 10,000 won ($7.55), for one transaction per person at participating

Lotte World employees put their emergency response skills to the test Wednesday, competing in rapid firefighting and CPR challenges designed to sharpen their readiness when lives are at stake. The amusement park operator held its 2026 Fire Safety Competition in partnership with the Songpa Fire Station. The annual exercise comes as theme parks and high-density public venues face growing scrutiny over crowds and facility safety, prompting major operators to move beyond routine compliance and build real-time tactical readiness among frontline staff. The competition centered on two core scenarios: rapid initial suppression using indoor hydrants and emergency first aid. In the firefighting challenge, employees simulated an active blaze by quickly connecting hydrant systems, deploying hoses and executing the critical steps needed to contain flames before first responders arrive. The medical segment tested teams on sudden cardiac arrest scenarios. Participants were evaluated on their precision and speed while performing CPR on training mannequins and deploying automated external defibrillators

LG Electronics is taking its smart factory technology beyond manufacturing and into renewable energy, partnering with Korea Water Resources Corp. to develop artificial intelligence systems for one of the country’s largest power facilities. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday at Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Plant’s cultural center in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, to explore AI-driven operations at the facility, which has the world’s largest installed capacity among tidal power plants. The partnership will combine K-water’s power plant operating experience and data with LG Electronics’ expertise in smart factories, digital twins, robotics and AI, the companies said. Under the agreement, they will examine a digital twin-based integrated operating system that creates a virtual model of the plant and incorporates real-time information from generating equipment and surveillance cameras. The system could help forecast electricity output, simulate operating scenarios and diagnose equipment conditions, enabling operators to identify problems and assess performance before m