[HanCinema's Digest] Culture Corner

My Korean Husband discuss the challenges of producing their first Korean book, two estranged sisters to compete at the Winter Games for different nations, Korea's beauty culture guides one woman's mission to revitalise her skin care, and is it really K-pop if Koreans aren't singing?

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"How I rebooted my beauty regimen in South Korea, a country that takes skin care seriously"

Skin care is big business in Korea-and it shows. That's why 41-year old Dina Mishev knew it was the perfect country to visit after committing to revitalising her skin's health. After hearing about some of the seemingly strange ingredients that went into K-Beauty products (snail slime?), Dina's curiosity was piqued. Soon she found herself in country's capital, Seoul, with a personal plan: "The deal I make with myself is that I will try anything that isn't permanent or surgery, even if it involves snail excretions. I will be a blank slate".

...READ ON THE WASHINGTON POST

"FIRST TIME SEEING THE BOOK! / A day in the life VLOG"

My Korean Husband is the brainchild of power blogging couple Nichola and Hugh. On their blog, they regularly share stories, often through cartoons and videos, about their intercultural experiences living and loving together in Korea. The couple recently got hold of their first print book for the Korean market and discuss some of the obstacles they had to overcome to get to this point: "It's been such a long time waiting for this book to come out", they write. "Now finally the book will be in stores in Korea!"

...READ ON MY KOREAN HUSBAND

"How two sisters will make it to South Korea's Olympics - but for opposing teams"

The Winter Games is a massive and exciting global event that not only brings the world together in friendly competition, but also sometimes estranged families of the sporting sort. In this article on PRI you'll meet two sisters, Marissa and Hannah Brandt, who will both be competing at next year's Winter Games-only on different teams: South Korea and the United States. "The two sisters would go on to share hobbies and interests, including figure skating and eventually ice hockey. And they will soon add an Olympics to the list".

...READ ON PRI

"Is it K-pop if Koreans aren't singing it?"

K-pop has successfully been exported around the world, but can K-pop also be imported? Does K-pop have to made in Korea by Koreans? In this interesting article on The Korea Times, David Volodsko explores some of the recent controversy surrounding this topic. "It is very similar to Billboard top 40 hit songs. So there is no exactly Korean thing in K-pop. It's a very universal style", said Bae Soon-tak, a critic for MBC's Music Camp. Let us know your thoughts in comment section below...

...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES