Korean hanoks (traditional houses) are not only a unique and traditional way to get to know Korean culture, but these day's they offer very Instagram-able photos too! We take you through our very unique experience and promise you'll love it as well! Follow Dojeon team member, Lewis, with this amazing experience! Recently, I stayed in a Korean hanok for two nights in Gangneung Ojuk Hanok Village in Gangwon province . I have to say, that the hanok exceeded my expectations. The hanok village was home to high level officials during he 2018 Olympics and Paralympics due to it's beauty and level of comfort. The re-design of the hanoks allowed them to fit in with the environment, showing minimalistic features from the outside, but still close to nearby cultural attractions! Most Korean hanoks date back to the 50s and 60s, to around the date of the Japanese colonial period. The outstanding architecture on the hanok's really make way for a unique and comfortable stay, with it's own unique "ondol" or underfloor heating system, which is perfect on a cold winters night. Also, fun fact, but Hanoks are almost only made of natural elements such as (earth, wood and rock) which make them great for the environment! At Gangneung Ojuk village, the level of comfort inside of the hanoks was next to none, it allowed me to have a really relaxing stay and soak in the rich culture that Korea has to offer. A special moment is looking at the hanok at night time from outside, soaking in the peacefulness of the area and looking up at the stars, this was a really reflective moment for me during the stay! The village was also located nearby to the Ojukheon museum which is home to the 50,000 won note. This was definitely worth a visit since it was so close to the accomodations! To find out more about the museum, check out the link below: https://www.gn.go.kr/museum/index.do To make a booking, visit the link below: https://herost.org/listings/gangneung-ojuk-hanok-village/ Let us know in the comments below, if you have ever stayed in a hanok, or plan to this year! #hanok #koreanculture #visitkorea #southkoreatrip

Filled with swag, attitude, and a catchy beat, YG Entertainment's doted girl group BABYMONSTER debuted on April 1 with their single "Sheesh"! But not all fans were all that crazy about this girl group's debut. Mixed with different emotions and reviews, we dive into what made fans like and dislike about this highly-anticipated debut! "Okay, this is not Blackpink, it is truly BABYMONSTER, thank you YG! edit : I was not expecting to start a war. Yes BM have this YG style (like BP, 2ne1) but this dark concept is their own" — YouTube fan Fans and netizens took to online forums and YouTube to express their excitement for YG Entertainment's new girl group BABYMONSTER to make their highly-anticipated debut. Met with stunning choreography, a sick beat, and a catchy hook, "Sheesh" garnered almost 12 million views in just 10 hours! But not all fans were all that happy with the group's debut. Some even called the song "messy" and rather take out the word "Sheesh" from the lyrics. "To put it nicely I think the song is very messy and just reinforces my suspicion that YG doesn’t know what to do to give the girls their own identities . .. It ’s evident that “like that” has been written by someone else because it is actually cohesive and unique in its identity. In the future they need to go down this route" "Take out the Sheesh word and replace it with something nicer and in lower register and I would play it on the loop. I like it outside of that." Many fans and netizens were not attacking the members personally, but more of how the song sounded, how it was written, and the formula YG has been known for as "too predictable". "Girls are amazing with visuals and vocals/rap BUT YG really needs to up their game… Sheesh feels like low effort to me…. Why doesn’t YG utilise their artists potential…" "The formula is predictable to a T, from the vocals to the “click clack click clack” rap, to the party outro. The chorus is a bit too loud, but idk, maybe it’ll grow on me (most probably not though haha)" "I love the beginning of the song, but the chorus is so annoying. It's not just the repeated sheeshes, I honestly believe it would have been better with a sang chorus than a beat drop. The rap is fire but I don't think it meshes well with the song. Actually a lot of the parts of the songs don't flow well. Especially the outro. I do love a good Blackpink-esque girl crush song, but I'm starting to agree that maybe Teddy was the magic touch all along. Anyway, the members look amazing and I'm sure they are talented so I wish them well." With all the criticism from fans and netizens alike, we're sure that the only direction BABYMONSTER can go is "up"! Judging by their debut in "Sheesh" their powerful choreography and attitude is different than many of the girl groups out there today. Maybe this 5th generation needs a little of an "oomph" to get the ball rolling! Comment below with your thoughts on BABYMONSTER's stunning debut and their single "Sheesh"! Do you think they have the potential to be the next BLACKPINK ? #BABYMONSTER #SHEESH_OUT_NOW #AHYEON_IS_BACK  #AHYEON

Hanni from the pop sensation NewJeans has furthered her collaboration with the global fashion house Gucci becoming their Global Brand Ambassador for Gucci Beauty! Let's take a look at all the gorgeous details! On March 29, 2024, global fashion house Gucci announced their furthering partnership with K-pop idol Hanni by having her represent their beauty line! Hanni has been representing the brand since 2022. Let's take a look at all the cool photos! The 19-year-old Vietnamese-Australian has also recently partnered up with global footwear brand UGG, representing her home country! NewJeans Comeback! NewJeans recently surfed the national headlines making waves among K-pop fans with their comeback in May! The group will also be holding their Japanese debut by hosting the "Bunnies Camp 2024 Tokyo Dome" from June 26 to June 27! So let us know your thoughts on this very cool collaboration! Do you think Gucci will come up with cool makeup concepts for Bunnies ? #GucciBeauty #NewJeans   #뉴진스   #HANNI   #하니 #kbeauty

Filled with drama, suspense, and the unknown, Coupang Play's new thriller Hide starring award-winning actress Lee Bo Young has catapulted to the top of this season's viewership ratings in just the premiere weekend! We break down three reasons why Hide should be at the top of your spring K-drama rotation! Spoilers! Oblivious to her husband's disappearance after a missing court date, Na Moon Young (Lee Bo Young), begins to wonder why he never came back home. Worried after just 24 hours after his disappearance, Moon Young decides to take matters into her own hands to find out what happened. As she begins to investigate the case her husband had been working on, Moon Young begins to put together some shady characters, including some close acquaintances, behind her husband's reported death. Entangled in a strange web of mysterious murders and disappearances, she begins to put the pieces together, risking her safety. We are loving this series so far! We want to share three reasons why you should be watching Hide ! 1. The mysterious storyline will keep you hooked! Interwoven in an intricate string of lies and deception, Hide offers a glimpse of what extent corporations in power have over the people they control. We are immediately thrown into a corporate scandal of Geumshin Development and a slew of missing witnesses and a potentially bribed judge in the first couple of episodes. The more Na Moon Young tries to dig into this mysterious case, the more she finds out about the individuals associated with her missing husband, whom she believes did not kill himself. 2. Lee Bo Young's acting is brilliant! As an award-winning actress, Lee Bo Young dazzles in her role as an attorney and a single mother who just "lost her husband". Painfully denying that her husband, Cha Sung Jae ( Lee Mu Saeng ), committed suicide, she recruits his employees to find out what he has been hiding from her all this time. Driven to get to the bottom of his disappearance and determined to undermine the people behind all of this, she desperately uses her wit and intellect to get to the truth! 3. Every episode keeps us on the edge of our seats! We love a K-drama that keeps us on edge! Although just premiering, Hide does a wonderful job of keeping the audience questioning each character's motives. Na Moon Young's only lead, Do Jin Woo ( Lee Min Jae Crash Course in Romance 2023), is the only person alive she can trust, but what does he really want? It seems like he doesn't want anything to do with her, let alone help her. Ma Kang of Geumshin Development seems to be very suspect in the way he treats her when she accuses him of having something on her husband. The way that Geumshin Development is "handling" all the suspects in the case also makes us wonder if they are really behind her missing husband's case. Just two episodes in and we are already swarmed with questions! We can't wait for episode 3 to come out! Meanwhile, check out the teaser! What are your thoughts about Hide ? Have we piqued your interest yet? Comment below with your thoughts! #Hide #LeeBoYoung #LeeMusSaeng #LeeMinJae #CoupangPlay

Four days after actress Kim Sae Ron uploaded the controversial photo of herself and fellow actor Kim Soo Hyun cheek to cheek which sparked netizens scurrying to their keyboards to wonder if the two are in a relationship. We review the self-inflicted incident from the beginning! Sunday, March 24 On the morning of March 24, 2024, Kim Sae Ron posted the controversial photo of herself and actor Kim Soo Hyun without any explanation and deleted it within three minutes. The photo showed her placing her cheek against his in an affectionate manner and although it was deleted in a short time, spread like wildfire on the internet! It was revealed by OSEN's exclusive report that the photo was in the past and concluded that the two were not in a relationship. Kim Soo Hyun's agency denied the rumors saying, " The rumor of love is unfounded. It seems that the photos that are posted online were taken when they were in the same agency in the past." Embarrassed, Kim Soo Hyun said "Her [Kim Sae Ron's] intentions were unknown." Monday, March 25 The next day, a media outlet reported that it had a conversation with Kim Sae Ron claiming, " We are currently organizing our position. We will deliver our position as soon as it is organized." Adding more to the confusion, Kim Sae Ron's social media account has been quiet since the photo was uploaded. Tuesday, March 26 Netizens accused Kim Sae Ron as being "impulsive" and "unstable" with her public image. As the story become progressively more controversial, Kim Sae Ron apologized for her "impulsiveness" and "instability". Kim Sae Ron had cut off any communication with friends and family throughout this ordeal. It seemed that Sae Ron wanted to show her support for Kim Soo Hyun due to his popularity in his current drama Queen of Tears . Wednesday, March 27 A media outlet reported that Kim Sae Ron has decided not to speak on the matter stating, "I think it will be helpful not to say anything." They also concluded that the fact that since she chose not to say anything, she couldn't find anything to say. We feel that lots of media outlets are twisting Kim Sae Ron's words and actions into making this controversy a "big deal". We feel that Sae Ron really did just post a friendly photo in support of her friend and the media has blown it out of context. Let us know your thoughts on this controversial topic! Should Korean celebrities be more careful about what they post on their social media? Or should Kim Sae Ron at least put an explanation below the image to clear up any misconceptions? Comment below with your thoughts! Source: 1 #gossipnews #KimSaeRon #KimSooHyun

BTS Taehyung shared a message through the new music video he was in which caused a stir and gained the hatred of some while the others on the other hand loved it, so what was it about? Let's dive into the details and uncover the story behind the headlines! On March 15th, BTS Taehyung, also known as V , unveiled his captivating pop single, "FRI(END)S" , a departure from his previous work in the "Layover" EP. Complementing the release was a visually striking music video, styled as a dark comedy, where V portrayed a man engulfed in a world brimming with couples, desperately seeking love. In a departure from the norm, V chose to film the "FRI(END)S" music video in the United Kingdom, opting for a British director and actors. This decision allowed for a greater degree of diversity than typically seen in K-pop music videos, which are predominantly filmed in South Korea. Controversy ensued not because of the female companion sharing V's bed or the romantic gestures between them but due to the subtle yet powerful support for the LGBTQIA+ community depicted in the video. Five impactful shots positioned behind V distinctly showcased lesbian couples, with scenes unfolding inside a grocery store and a restaurant. The inclusion of young gay men, lesbian women, and lesbian girls throughout the video hinted at and extended support for the LGBTQIA+ community. These shots have led some to believe that Taehyung is openly expressing and showing his support for the LGBTQ+ community, with a specific emphasis on lesbians and gays. The reactions to these shots have been mixed. While some fans appreciate the inclusive representation and view it as a positive step towards acceptance and equality, others have criticized Taehyung for the endorsement of homosexuality. As discussions unfolded, assumptions regarding V's own sexual orientation began to circulate, further fueling the controversy. Unfortunately, amidst the discussions, the romantic storyline between Taehyung and British actress Ruby Sear seems to have been overshadowed. The focus has shifted primarily to the presence of lesbian actors and actresses, neglecting the broader narrative presented in the music video. It is worth noting that Taehyung's portrayal in "FRI(END)S" is that of a young man in love with a girl, while the surrounding cast includes individuals from the LGBTQ+ community. This has led to accusations of him openly promoting the LGBTQ+ cause, despite South Korea's conservative stance on LGBTQIA+ rights. The controversy surrounding Taehyung's music video raises an important question: should artists be applauded for promoting inclusivity and representation, even if it goes against societal norms? The response to this question has been deeply divided, reflecting the ongoing discourse around LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance in various cultures. What are your thoughts on V's approach? Would you be being as a part of his teams that are promoting LGBTQIA+ visibility? Share your ideas, thoughts, and comments, and participate in what others have to say in the comments section below! #FRIENDS #V_Friends #Fri_end_s #Ruby_Sear #Kim_Taehyung #BTS #Taehyung #BTS_V

Jaw-dropping and head-scratching! The latest episode of Wonderful World has us spinning in a whirlwind of lies and cruel intentions as we finally understand what is going on between Kwon Seon Yul ( Chae Eun Woo ) and Eun Soo Hyun's ( Kim Nam Joo ) mysterious relationship! We break down what really happened and what we think! Spoilers! Just when you thought a regular scheduled K-drama romance might happen between the two leads, Wonderful World smacks us back into reality to make us follow the tragic plotline of Eun Soo Hyun losing her son in a fatal accident! Right off the bat, Eun Soo Hyun meets up with Kwon Seon Yul to let him know she knows everything about him and who he really is. With a smirk and smile, Seon Yul tells her, "You think you know, but you have no idea." In very meticulous detail, Kwon Seon Yul's revenge plan is revealed in episode 8 which brings us back to the very beginning reminding us that the core of Wonderful World is evil-driven. From attending Eun Soo Hyun's trial to volunteering at her jail to finally meeting her in person after she is released, Kwon Seon Yul reveals his vengeful intentions and tries to hurt Soo Hyun at her core, to get close and rip her heart out when she least expects it. Not only is it exciting to find out that Seon Yul's plan has been executed flawlessly, but it is also revealed that we finally get to see who Soo Hyun's husband, Kang Soo Ho, had an affair with while she was in prison! It is no other than... Soo Hyun's younger step-sister Han Yu Ri! Ok, well we can all kind of agree that this was going to happen since the interaction between Yu Ri and Soo Ho was a little awkward when they had dinner together with Soo Hyun earlier. What makes episode 8 even more exciting is how Kwon Seon Yul knows everything about Eun Soo Hyun! We finally get to see how he was able to run his plan to make sure every calculated detail of this cat-and-mouse game was executed to the "T". Regardless of what Kwon Seon Yul does to Eun Soo Hyun, we can't see him actually hurting her more than she has already been hurt. Rather, other characters in the show are more evil than Kwon Seon Yul, namely politician Kim Joon. We're curious to see what happens later, will Kwon Seon Yul and Eun Soo Hyun forgive each other and join forces? What will happen between Eun Soo Hyun, her husband, and her step-sister? This will definitely be a wild ride you don't want to miss! Comment below with your thoughts on Wonderful World and tell us what has been your favorite moment/scene so far! #WonderfulWorld #Disneyplus #ChaEunWoo #KimNamJoo   #LimSeMi   #KimKangWoo

Bunnies (the official fandom name of NewJeans ) and K-pop fans are you ready for one of the hottest pop groups on the planet to drop more music? The recently crowned "Group of the Year" at Billboard's Women in Music just dropped a huge bombshell of the year! They're making a comeback! And not just a regular comeback, it's going to be huge! We're covering all the details! HYBE's most popular girl group, NewJeans, made news headlines today as their comeback was announced on national television! Multiple Korean news outlets announced that the group will make a comeback on May 24, 2024 ! The superstar girl group will be releasing two mini-albums, the first one on May 24 entitled How Sweet with the title track "Bubble Gum" ! The second mini-album is scheduled to be released on June 21 entitled Supernatural with the title track "Right Now" in time for their Japanese debut ! "Bubble Gum" will be released first in Japan and will be featured in a commercial and TV program in April! "Right Now" will be pre-released in Korea and Japan in May. In honor of their Japanese debut, NewJeans will hold a two-day fan meeting with Bunnies called "Bunnies Camp 2024 Tokyo Dome" from June 26 to June 27! Check out the video teaser! NewJeans brought in the New Year and performed at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in the United States, the first K-pop group to do so! Additionally, they dropped the winter " NJWMX" remix album of their hit singles including "OMG", "Ditto", and "Hype Boy"! Comment below with your favorite NewJeans song and what you are anticipating from their comeback! #newjeans #comeback #BunniesCamp   #BunniesCamp2024TokyoDome   #NewJeans_is_Everywhere

The Korean Baseball (KBO) season is back, and here is why you should head to a game this season for a simply only-in-Korea experience! Our YouTube host Lewis shows you the "ins and outs" of what to do for an amazingly fun experience! Before coming to Korea, I knew little to nothing about Baseball, as in the UK it's not a very popular sport, unlike in the U.S. and South Korea. Though, watching a Baseball game had always intrigued me, and it was a must-do on my bucket list. Ever since watching my first game in 2022, Samsung Lions , I simply haven't looked back and I think heading to a baseball game is so worth going to! This year, the Korean Baseball season (KBO) has started one week earlier than usual (it started on March 23rd, 2024), due to the international tournaments which are set for November this year. The opening matches for the 2024 season were: the Lotte Giants at the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul; the Hanwha Eagles at the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul; the LG Twins at the KT Wiz at KT Wiz Park in Suwon ; and the NC Dinos at the Samsung Lions at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu . Since I am in Daegu, Samsung Lions is my home team, and each year I love to visit a couple of times and watch a game. For me, although baseball is fun, it's more about the atmosphere! A staple of a good baseball game is the chicken and beer and I love how motivated the crowd are to support their teams! In South Korea, a baseball game could be described as a sensory overload! Each player has a fight song, and cheering squads — including drummers and dancers who stand on platforms near the stands facing the spectators — and please take note that there is near-constant chanting. Imagine being at a ballpark where every player, even a rookie, gets the star treatment, this is, the case here in Korea, and for me I think this level of overload makes heading to a baseball game that much more interesting and enjoyable! To check out the full list of games near you, visit the link below: http://eng.koreabaseball.com/ ? Samsung Lions: https://samsunglions.com/en/ Let us know in the comments below if you will be heading to a baseball game this season, and don't forget to tag us in your photos! #KBO #koreanbaseball #samsunglions

Are you ready for some seriously entertaining, finger-licking, "I don't know what just happened" comedy? Netflix's new mystery/comedy Chicken Nugget starring the beautiful Kim You Jung has got us rolling in our seats! We break down what happened to her and more in the first episode! Now if your not familiar with the show, Chicken Nugget is a new comedy K-drama that you are is set to leave you laughing at its far-fetched scenes. Let's take a look at what had us grabbing our stomachs in laughter! Spoilers! In Episode 1, we learned that there was a strange machine in Choi Min Ah's ( Kim You Jung My Demon 2023) father's office, which was undergoing renovation. This mysterious machine that had appeared in the office was delivered that same day and was not yet plugged in. With the far-fetched scenes in the drama, and of course comedy and mystery combined, the machine led to a few more unexpected scenes later on! Later in the show Choi Min Ah while taking a lunch break stepped into the mysterious machine and of course, as you naturally would, started to press some buttons all before, she said the famous words "chicken nugget" which then activated the machine, at which point when her co-workers were looking for her, she literally was turned into a "chicken nugget". Determined to overturn this bizarre poultry fiction, Choi Sun Man and Ko Baek Joong team up, to try and work out what to do. Together, they embark on a hilarious and heart-warming journey to unravel the mystery and transform their daughter back into a human (hopefully before she ends up on someone's dinner plate! (Which did almost happened)! But that was not it! Later in the show unaware of the situation, a hungry co-worker sets eyes on "nugget-Min Ah" and decides to eat it, adding a new layer of worry to the already frantic co-workers and father! This then meant that they realized they may not have the chance to bring Min Ah back from a "nugget" to a human! For me, the heroic and heartwarming relationships in the show made it great to watch, and I am looking forward to watching them grow as the season goes on! So, buckle up for a wild ride filled with laughter, suspense, and perhaps a newfound appreciation for the simple joys of being human, and let's find out what will happen in episode 2, of this new hilarious drama! Let us know in the comments below, if you tuned in for episode 1 of Chicken Nugget and your thoughts on the show! #chickennugget   #chickennuggetkdrama   #kimyoujung   #ryuseungryong   #ahnjaehong

Steeped in rich authentic Korean culture and great for mental health, Korea's temple stay is an unforgettable experience! We give you our experienced reasons why 2024 should be the best year to start! Korea is home to many ancient Buddhist temples which all offer unique experiences and opportunities for you to experience first-hand the traditional Korean culture! Activities custom fit to your needs Many temple stays up to now, have only used Korean as the main language , but as tourism in Korea continues to grow, English at some temple stays is also available. A temple stay is a great way for foreign travelers to learn about the sacred Buddhist beliefs and ideology, as well as take some time to reflect on themselves, plus it can also be a fun and fulfilling activity. The temple stay program was launched in 2002 for the World Cup, and received great success, to date and is one of the most successful culture and tourism programs in Korea. So why miss out? We let you know why exactly you should be doing it as well! During your time at a temple stay, you will often learn how to embrace a very modest lifestyle, and you can generally opt for different types of packages during your stay, to make it more suited to you and what you want to get out of it. This can range from early morning prayers, meditation, tea ceremonies, chanting, and eating a monk's cuisine , in some cases even preparing it with them. How cool is that?! Time to cross off that bucket list! For me, I have always wanted to try this immersive experience, though I have never had the time to do so. I do for sure plan on visiting a temple stay this year as it has been on my bucket list since moving to Korea in 2020. Waking up to that beautiful view in the morning would be amazing, and I have heard firsthand from people who have experienced this program that it is something not to be missed as it left a special memory with most of them! No matter where you are in Korea, you can find a temple stay. Check out the link below to find out how to book a temple stay near you! https://eng.templestay.com/temple_info.asp?t_id=donghwasa Let us know in the comments below, which temple stay you will be heading to this year! Don't forget to tag us in your photos! #SouthKoreatravel #SouthKoreaTravelGuide #templestay #koreanculture

Don't you just love characters that no matter how hard they try to hate each other, end up becoming more attracted to each other than they originally did? Being insanely good-looking is a perk, but we're into something deeper than just the surface! Read on to find out why Queen of Tears has everyone talking as the best drama this spring! Spoilers! tvN's latest romantic drama Queen of Tears is hitting South Korea by storm! Usually, a K-drama that does well is contributed by viewership ratings outside of the country, but this time, tvN has struck gold in this re-igniting of chemistry between two people caught in a loveless marriage. The drama's first six episodes have each peaked at number one in nationwide and Seoul viewership ratings, according to Nielsen Korea. No matter if you going to a Kimbap Heaven (김밥천국), a tteokbokki (Korean spicy rice cake) shop, or even a Korean BBQ restaurant , you can't help but notice all the TV screens are playing the same drama, Queen of Tears . Why is this drama so popular? And why is it so addicting? Both leads are incredibly attractive There's no argument here. You've read the title. Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun are eye candy. Their acting skills are a bonus and that's what makes this drama so darn addicting! Be it Hong Hae In's ( Kim Ji Won My Liberation Notes 2022) cold demeanor towards practically everybody, including her husband, Baek Hyun Woo ( Kim Soo Hyun It's Okay to Not Be Okay 2020), or Hyun Woo's plead to be a "good caring husband" by pretending that he actually cares about Hae In's health, both leads do an incredible job in portraying an "acting couple" who just get along for the sake of a "business marriage". The cliché turning point Although not the most original, the cliché turning point of Queen of Tears is when Hong Hae In discovers that she has a brain tumor and has only three months to live. Of course, that is enough to scare anyone, including the cold-hearted Hae In, into changing their habits and their way of thinking. Hyun Woo, with his original plan of thinking that if Hae In is to pass away, he might be able to slide into the role of CEO of the Queen Department Store, quickly discovers his initial feelings for Hae In in the first place. Rediscovering old suppressed feelings for each other The most rewarding part of Queen of Tears has got to be Hae In and Hyun Woo's rediscovering their initial feelings for each other. Thrown into a conglomerate family, there are not many expectations from Hyun Woo, but when one of her family members throws shade at him, Hae In is always there to back him up. With the most recent episode (episode 6) airing, will this newfound romance last? Or will there be someone from Hae In's past to recapture her heart and throw a wrench in this struggling marriage? We feel that the journey to rediscover these lost suppressed feelings over many years of marriage has many Koreans intrigued and possibly questioning how to reignite the same passion in their marriages! This is why it has become so successful in Korea! Queen of Tears is currently airing on tvN and TVING every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM KST. Let us know why you love Queen of Tears and what you're looking forward to the most in the upcoming episodes! Comment below with your thoughts! #QueenofTears #KimJiWon #KimSooHyun